GO: tell them Stephanie sent you - needs to be on a T-shirt

Miracle of Sound Gavin Dunne rejoins the cast for a one-off Elden Ring special. Yes, we promised it years ago, and we delivered! Enjoy!

Spoiler(ish)cast: Elden Ring With Gavin Dunne

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

We’re taking this show to a new level.

Games we played this week include: 
Elden Ring (8:30)
Weird West (17:40)
Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines (28:55)
Resistance Burning Skies (34:40)
Despotism 3k  (39:30)
Chibi-Robo Zip Lash (46:22)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
Undead Labs employees allege discrimination and abuse despite Microsoft buyout (51:55)
https://kotaku.com/state-of-decay-3-xbox-series-x-s-sexism-microsoft-undea-1848728682

Ubisoft stops development of Breakpoint, tells NFT buyers they “own” a piece of history (56:20)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-04-06-ubisoft-ends-ghost-recon-breakpoint-development-working-on-nfts-for-other-titles

NFT game using Formula One license shuts down after they can’t renew the license (1:03:35)
https://kotaku.com/f1-formula-1-one-delta-time-nft-crypto-cursed-shut-down-1848748953

Ron Gilbert returning to Monkey Island for new sequel due this year (1:05:30)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-04-05-ron-gilbert-working-on-new-monkey-island-game

Rearranged Kirby song wins Grammy Award (1:07:20)
https://kotaku.com/kirby-grammy-award-8-bit-big-band-meta-knights-revenge-1848745709

---
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 380: Finding the Perfect Bush

No gods, no underwater masters

Games we played this week include: 
Pokémon: The Trading Card Game (11:10)
Roombo First Blood (17:40)
House of the Dead Remake (19:55)
Yu-Gi-Oh! Worldwide Edition: Stairway to the Destined Duel (28:30)
Skul: The Hero Slayer (30:50)
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (32:05)
Tearaway (39:30)
Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon (49:10)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
California Governor alleged to have interfered in DEFH suit against Activision Blizzard (52:40)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-13/california-lawyer-says-governor-interfered-with-activision-suit

Activision-Blizzard pay bump for QA feels oddly like a union busting tactic (58:10)
https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/7/23015033/activision-blizzard-full-time-qa-game-tester-20-dollars-hourly

ABK workers walk out over company changes to vaccine policy (1:05:35)
https://www.polygon.com/23010343/activision-blizzard-vaccine-mandate-demands-abetterabk

Bungie announces remote work for most current and future roles (1:08:25)
https://kotaku.com/bungie-remote-work-home-pandemic-covid-destiny-sony-off-1848785738

Twitch pulled paid Boost Train feature after users landed porn on the home page (1:10:45)
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/twitch-halts-paid-channel-boosts-after-people-pay-to-get-porn-on-the-front-page/

The Quarry will have a low-interactivity “movie mode” that skips all the gameplay (1:14:00)
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-quarry-has-a-movie-mode-so-you-can-watch-it-instead-of-playing-it/

---
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 381: Take a Deep Breath

Careful what you reach for.

Games we played this week include: 
Two Point Hospital (8:50)
Nobody Saves the World (13:15)
Cho Aniki (25:50)
Pix’n Love Rush (31:00)
Pokémon Go (32:40)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
Sonic Origins needed a table to explain its launch DLC (39.55)
https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-origins-fans-arent-happy-with-locked-off-dlc-content

Nintendo of America alleged to have violated worker’s right to unionize (45:30)
https://www.axios.com/nintendo-nlrb-complaint-3bb227c7-40c3-40c5-9578-5190e595a00e.html

Activision Blizzard surveyed players to gauge interest in crypto and NFTs (50:45)
https://gamerant.com/blizzard-nft-survey-online-store/

Square-Enix still determined to shove the blockchain into their games (1:00:35)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/square-enixs-president-reiterates-desire-to-make-play-to-earn-blockchain-games/

Hideo Kojima up to his bullshit again, this time about a rumored acquisition by Sony (1:02:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/kojima-insists-kojima-productions-is-independent-after-posting-a-playstation-studios-banner-that-suggests-otherwise

Kim Kardashian threatens to sue Roblox after son finds an ad in game for her sex tape (1:06:10)
https://kotaku.com/kim-kardashian-roblox-sex-tape-advertisement-experience-1848811161

---
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 382: That’s Not Yogurt!

No more slouching for us!

Games we played this week include: 
Elden Ring (6:10)
The Force Unleashed (13:20)
Nobody Saves the World (18:40)
Lost in Random (25:40)
Chernobylite (28:00)
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (32:30)
The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe (40:10)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg alleged to have helped bury story about Bobby Kotick restraining order (45:20)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/sandberg-facebook-kotick-activision-blizzard-daily-mail-11650549074

Activision names two women to board despite their best effort not to (50:50)
https://www.axios.com/activision-blizzard-board-women-lulu-cheng-meservey-bc7824aa-cfa8-4ab9-ab9b-392e8af8a543.html

Raven QA testers gear up for vote to formalize union (53:15)
https://www.eurogamer.net/call-of-duty-qa-testers-getting-closer-to-unionisation-regardless-of-activision-blizzard-wishes

Nintendo responds to claim of union busting (56:40)
https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-hit-by-worker-complaint-over-right-to-unionise
https://twitter.com/katiecasper/status/1518763066661425152

Thousands of Joy-Cons a week were being sent to Nintendo for repair weekly at height (1:00:50)
https://kotaku.com/nintendo-switch-joy-con-drift-fix-repair-center-replace-1848828886

SEGA delisting original Sonic trilogy ahead of re-release in Sonic Origins (1:03:20)
https://www.eurogamer.net/sega-delisting-standalone-versions-of-sonic-1-2-3-and-cd-ahead-of-sonic-origins-arrival

Gender discrimination lawsuit against Sony to proceed after some counts dismissed (1:06:05)
https://www.eurogamer.net/playstation-gender-discrimination-lawsuit-falters

PlayStation hiring someone to get more games on PC (1:08:10)
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/sony-is-hiring-a-senior-director-for-pc-planning-and-strategy/

Elden Ring demake in development (1:08:55)
https://www.eurogamer.net/playable-elden-ring-game-boy-demake-on-the-way

---
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 383: Corsets For Everyone

Just being honest.

Games we played this week include: 
The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe (7:55)
Vampire Survivors (13:45)
Peglin (26:25)
Nintendo Switch Sports (29:40)
Revita (36:45)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
Dragon Age QA team seeking to form a union (43:30)
https://kotaku.com/bioware-keywords-studios-qa-union-mass-effect-dragon-ag-1848847955

Square Enix selling off studios and IP to fund its crypto future (47:50)
https://www.eurogamer.net/square-enix-sells-off-western-studios-and-ip-including-tomb-raider-and-deus-ex

Reggie Fils-Aimé calls himself a “big believer” in blockchain (54:55)
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/04/reggie-fils-aime-is-a-big-believer-in-blockchain-and-play-to-own

The global chip shortage is expected to continue on (56:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-hit-by-worker-complaint-over-right-to-unionise
https://twitter.com/katiecasper/status/1518763066661425152

Yuji Naka claims Square Enix knowingly released Balan Wonderland in unfinished state (1:00:50)
https://www.eurogamer.net/sonic-creator-yuji-naka-was-removed-as-director-of-balan-wonderworld-before-disastrous-launch

---
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 384: We’d Rather Be Playing Vampire Survivors

Take the good, take the bad, roll it up and there you have the rail system.

Games we played this week include: 
Steam Deck (9:50)
Vampire Survivors (14:45)
Revita (26:22)
Nightmare Reaper (31:30)
Evil Dead: Regeneration (40:40)
Sonic Lost World (49:10)
Death Trash (56:50)


---
News things talked about in this episode:
Reggie Fils-Aimé distancing himself from contractor claims against Nintendo of America (59:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/reggie-fils-aime-distances-himself-from-nintendo-contract-worker-reports


Activision-Blizzard’s continued anti-union messages just keep getting sadder (1:03:00)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/05/09/activision-union-vote-begins/


Blizzard names a new VP in attempt to quell discrimination claims (1:04:35)
https://www.eurogamer.net/blizzard-hires-new-vice-president-of-culture-amid-ongoing-company-controversies

VR technology must be stopped (1:07:25)
https://www.pcgamer.com/scientists-add-mouth-haptics-to-vr-complete-with-spiders/

---
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: Brian Robert Marshall / Commuter train towards Reading, Kintbury / CC BY-SA 2.0

Podquisition 385: Tales Of British Trains

Don’t rain on our brown parade.

Games we played this week include: 
Steel Assault (14:25)
Ravenous Devils (24:00)
Evil Dead: The Game (25:10)
Pokémon Go (34:55)
Steam Deck (36:15)
Fight Knight (42:20)


---
News things talked about in this episode:
Organizing QA contractors for BioWare will not be forced to return to offices (45:10)
https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/9/23063933/bioware-keywords-studios-contractors-unionize-return-office

Nintendo of America’s Doug Bowser is “troubled” his contractors aren’t happy (46:35)
https://www.axios.com/2022/05/12/nintendo-contractors-investigation

PlayStation boss Jim Ryan wrote a weird and bad email to staff about abortion rights (48:20)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-12/sony-playstation-staff-fume-over-ceo-s-abortion-comments

Images claimed to be from new Silent Hill project leak (59:55)
https://www.eurogamer.net/looks-like-silent-hill-concept-art-has-leaked

Fall Guys going free-to-play, coming to PS5, Switch and Xbox (1:04:35)
https://www.eurogamer.net/fall-guys-goes-free-to-play-in-june-arrives-on-switch-and-xbox-at-the-same-time

---
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 386: Someone’s Enzymatic Dalliance

You can get in, but can you get out?

Games we played this week include: 
Pokémon Go (7:45)
Vampire Survivors (8:40)
Riddled Corpses (14:45)
Trek to Yomi (21:45)
Steam Deck (24:40)
Days Gone (25:45)
Jurassic World Evolution 2 (31:50)
Roller Champions (34:45)
Lost Epic (40:00)


---
News things talked about in this episode:
Raven QA workers successfully vote in favor of unionization (45:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/qa-testers-at-activision-blizzard-studio-raven-software-successfully-vote-to-unionise

Activision-Blizzard worker committee forms, sends list of demands to management (50:50)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/05/24/activision-blizzard-breastmilk-harassment/

Sony sexual discrimination case lives on in new suit filed following dismissal (55:30)
https://www.axios.com/2022/05/20/playstation-gender-discrimination-lawsuit-returns

Sony restricting subsidiary companies from making statements supporting reproductive rights (57:50)
https://www.eurogamer.net/sony-reportedly-will-not-approve-any-statements-from-playstation-studios-on-reproductive-rights

Bungie claims they won’t be “muzzled” in midst of acquisition by Sony (1:06:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/bungie-says-there-will-never-be-a-muzzle-big-enough-to-stop-us-from-standing-up-for-whats-right

Electronic Arts seems thirsty to get acquired, but wants Android Wilson at the helm (1:09:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/ea-is-reportedly-pursuing-acquisition-and-merger-options-with-a-number-of-potential-suitors

The Sims 4 now allows players to customize pronouns for their Sims (1:11:45)
https://www.polygon.com/23140040/the-sims-4-custom-pronouns-create-a-sim

---
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: diamond geezer / Milton Keynes Central station / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Podquisition 387: Milton Keynes

We’re waiting with baited breath.

Games we played this week include: 
Core Keeper (7:10)
Satisfactory (11:00)
Card Sharks (17:10)
Pac-Man Museum+ (24:20)
Hardspace Shipbreaker (30:30)
Pocket Crystal League (33:45)
Days Gone (37:20)


---
News things talked about in this episode:
Sony planning to ramp up number of PC releases in coming years (45:05)
https://www.eurogamer.net/playstation-expects-nearly-50-of-game-launches-to-be-pc-and-mobile-by-2025

EA won’t make a statement on abortion or trans rights, but isn’t stopping individuals (47:20)
https://kotaku.com/ea-roe-v-wade-abortion-trans-rights-fifa-apex-legends-1848977494
https://www.eurogamer.net/ea-execs-individually-speak-out-on-womens-and-trans-rights

Microsoft’s corporate culture maybe hasn’t undergone the dramatic improvements they claim (55:10)
https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-toxic-culture-ceo-satya-nadella-sexual-harassment-pay-disparity-2022-5

Phil Spencer says Microsoft will recognize Raven QA union following acquisition of ABK (1:00:20)
https://www.vg247.com/xboxs-phil-spencer-reiterates-company-will-recognize-ravens-union-once-activision-blizzard-deal-is-complete

Shareholder group publishes open letter asking for Activision-Blizzard board to be voted out (1:01:35)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-05-27-soc-urges-shareholders-to-vote-against-reelection-of-activision-blizzard-directors

---
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 388: Pride Watch 2022

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

Podquisition 382: That’s Not Yogurt!

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