To be fair, Gloryhammer sucked ass even before the group chat became public. XD

Between Jon Blow, Phil Fish, Peter Molyneux and the like, it seems like there's a whole generation of game creators who made one good game, developed a God complex from it, and then spent the rest of their career acting like an asshole towards everyone else without actually making anything good to justify their behaviour. And in case anyone needs clarification... yes, I am saying that The Witness is a crap game (I still love Braid though). ;)

For Mario Wonder, if you press L on the world map to bring up the courses, you know if you've 100% a level if there's a green tick stamp. That helps you know about secret exits

Everyone should play Jusant on Game Pass! :P

It’s really important you know that they’re on your side.

Games we played this week include: 
Lies of P (16:00)
Solar Ash (17:35)
F-Zero 99 (20:20)
Nun Massacre (27:10)
No One Lives Under the Lighthouse (27:35)
Blood Wash (31:40)
Trombone Champ (39:55)
Gloomhaven (42:05)
MythForce (47:05)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Microsoft leaks everything, like, everything, on FTC website (52:42)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/19/23880165/xbox-leak-ftc-documents-new-xbox-series-x-controller-next-gen
Ubisoft Montreal workers get screwed by sudden “return-to-office” demands (1:13:15)
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/09/11/xbox-mastercard/
Unity makes a crap “apology” for runtime fees, but has not reversed course yet (1:37:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/unity-apologises-for-confusion-and-angst-over-fee-changes
Terraria developer Re-Logic donated $200k to alternative game engines Godot and FNA (1:25:35)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/re-logic-donating-100000-to-godot-and-fna-in-response-to-unity-backlash
Bobby Kotick might be only person outside of Nintendo to play a Switch 2
https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/18/23878412/nintendo-switch-2-activision-briefing-next-gen-switch
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise 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/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

Podquisition 456: Extra Vocal Support

Worship that? Never.

Games we played this week include: 
Payday 3 (12:30)
Amanda the Adventurer (18:25)
Rewind or Die (24:30)
Sniper Killer (26:40)
Train Sim World 4 (34:00)
Pinball Wicked (36:55)
Xenotilt (38:55)
Trombone Champ (41:10)
Halls of Torment (46:50)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
CMA withdraws major objections to Microsoft acquisition of ABK (52:42)
https://gamerant.com/microsoft-activision-acquisition-cma-preliminary-approval/
More layoffs at Embracer Group, including Crystal Dynamics  (50:45)
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/09/embracer-group-more-tough-decisions-to-come-as-crystal-dynamics-suffers-layoffs
Capcom issues statement on Microsoft desire to acquire them (57:55)
https://www.eurogamer.net/capcom-would-gracefully-decline-an-acquisition-offer-from-microsoft
SAG-AFTRA votes to approve voice actor strike (1:00:00)
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/hollywoods-video-game-performers-authorize-strike-if-labor-talks-fail-2023-09-26/
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise 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/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

Podquisition 457: Absentee Landlord

I want something else. Like a bed.

Games we played this week include: 
El Paso Elsewhere (8:30)
Amanda the Adventurer (30:00)
Model Builder (35:00)
Deep Rock Galactic Survivor (49:30)
Forza Motorsport 2023 (56:20)
Dynasty Warriors 9 (1:02:10)
Helldivers (1:05:30)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Epic lays off 16% of workers, gutting studios and seeking to liquidate assets (1:17:05)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/epic-laying-off-more-than-800
Hatoful Boyfriend dev claims two years of royalties unpaid by Epic  (1:21:30)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/hatoful-boyfriend-dev-accuses-epic-of-unpaid-royalties
Fortnite to implement individual age ratings for all third-party content (57:55)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/3/23899988/fortnite-creative-age-ratings
Team 17 also lays off workers (1:27:15)
https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/10/02/worms-dredge-publisher-team17-is-the-latest-to-be-hit-by-layoffs
Naughty Dog quietly severing developer contracts early
https://kotaku.com/naughty-dog-ps5-playstation-sony-last-us-part-3-layoffs-1850893794
Former Ubisoft executives arrested on charges of sexual assault (1:33:55)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/4/23901575/ubisoft-executives-arrest-sexual-harassment-investigation
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise 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/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

Podquisition 458: Semi-Conscious Life

This is all on the up and up, we promise.

Games we played this week include: 
PS5 Access Controller (8:30)
Elemental Survivors (22:15)
Warhammer 40k: Darktide (33:50)
Stardew Valley (36:55)
GWAR: Rumble in Antarctica (40:30)
Forza Motorsport 2023 (44:10)
A Tiny Sticker Tale (55:00)
Whisker Squadron: Survival (57:05)
Another Crab’s Treasure (58:50)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Bungie sued for wrongful termination by former HR manager (1:17:05)
https://www.ign.com/articles/former-bungie-hr-manager-is-suing-for-wrongful-termination-after-she-reported-potential-racial-bias
BioWare accused of underpaying severance for laid off workers  (1:21:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/former-dragon-age-staff-seek-further-compensation-following-layoffs
Recently unionized QA workers for BioWare all lost their jobs (57:55)
https://www.polygon.com/23903782/dragon-age-dreadwolf-qa-workers-laid-off-keywords-studios
Game developer union forms in Poland, including staff at CD Projekt Red (1:27:15)
https://www.eurogamer.net/cd-projekt-red-devs-unionise-after-its-third-round-of-layoffs-in-three-months
John Riccitello quietly slinks away from CEO post at Unity (1:13:50)
https://www.wired.com/story/john-riccitello-retires-unity-ceo-controversy/
Everything is okay at Ubisoft now, says Ubisoft, using Ubisoft surveys as evidence (1:16:20)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/4/23901575/ubisoft-executives-arrest-sexual-harassment-investigation
As ABK merger set to close, Kotick inflicts one more torment on employees (1:22:00)
https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/activision-offers-a-timeframe-for-xbox-game-pass-inclusions-ahead-of-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3s-launch
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise 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/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

Podquisition 459: Live Reptile Birth

Utterly drenched.

Games we played this week include: 
Super Mario Bros. Wonder (8:30)
Sonic Superstars (18:30)
Amanda the Adventurer (37:15)
Spider-Man 2 (39:50)
Lords of the Fallen (47:30)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Microsoft acquisition closed, Kotick expected to leave by end of year (1:17:05)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/10/13/activision-blizzard-ceo-bobby-kotick-set-to-leave-in-december-heres-what-to-know-about-his-controversies/
Microsoft promises not to interfere with union organizing for a couple months (1:21:30)
https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2022/06/02/employee-organizing-engagement-labor-economy/
PS5 Slim needs a $30 stand to go vertical (57:55)
https://www.thegamer.com/sony-playstation-5-slim-vertical-stand-sold-seperately/
Modders have already made Mario Wonder flower say naughty words (1:27:15)
https://www.ign.com/articles/super-mario-bros-wonder-mod-turns-talking-flowers-foul-mouthed-nintendo-quickly-takes-action
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise 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/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

Podquisition 460: Let's Get Wet

We ask the hard questions... hard like an erect penis (boner).

The Trashgirl Diaries: Has Porn Gone Woke?!?!?

That part isn’t supposed to do that.

Games we played this week include: 
Super Mario Bros. Wonder (8:15)
Sonic Superstars (38:45)
Sorry, We’re Closed (40:10)
Ebenezer and the Invisible World (44:25)
Vampire Survivors (49:25)
Meta Quest 3 (49:50)
Smash Drums (51:05)
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection (52:55)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Game about drunk driving pulled from eShop for 3+ age rating (1:01:05)
https://www.techradar.com/gaming/nintendo-switch/drink-and-drive-simulator-pulled-from-switch-eshop-after-releasing-with-a-pegi-3-age-rating
Skull Island devs were given a year to develop, most of it crunch (1:03:20)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/20/23925326/skull-island-rise-of-kong-development-gamemill-entertainment
Doug Bowser says Nintendo of America employees too happy to want a union (1:09:05)
https://www.inverse.com/gaming/doug-bowser-super-mario-bros-wonder-switch-2-nintendo-union
Embracer Group cuts staff at Zen Studios (1:13:20)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/zen-studios-reportedly-has-more-than-30-redundancies
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise 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/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

Photo Credit: Hellerhoff / CC BY-SA 3.0

Podquisition 461: The Bad Pop

Somebody is going to need to step up.

Games we played this week include: 
Alan Wake II (6:10)
Dave the Diver (47:22)
Robocop (54:14)
Spin Rhythm XD (1:07:50)
Lords of the Fallen (1:09:25)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Bungie lays off a hundred employees, delays projects (1:15:55)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/30/23938990/bungie-sony-layoffs-delays-destiny-final-shape-marathon
Microsoft warns it will soon disable unlicensed peripherals on Xbox (1:03:20)
https://variablemag.com/games/microsoft-banning-unauthorized-xbox-controllers-and-accessories/
Nintendo announces new restrictions on events involving their products (1:22:45)
https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Legal-information/Community-Tournament-Guidelines-2467744.html
Ubisoft Chief People Officer announces her departure (1:24:10)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/zen-studios-reportedly-has-more-than-30-redundancies
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise 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/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

Podquisition 462: Looking for Daddy

Like (smuggling) ships passing in the night.

Games we played this week include: 
Alan Wake II (5:05)
Thirsty Suitors (17:05)
Robocop: Rogue City (35:05)
Dave the Diver (38:55)
WarioWare: Move It (1:07:50)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Out of the blue, a live-action Zelda film is announced (52:10)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/7/23951339/the-legend-of-zelda-movie-live-action-nintendo
Microsoft going all-in on AI game dev tools (55:35)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsoft-and-inworld-team-up-to-create-ai-game-dev-tools
Nintendo denies anyone has seen Switch 2 (1:07:05)
https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-addresses-switch-2-reports-denies-it-has-briefed-developers
SEGA executive wants Sonic to surpass Mario as a franchise (1:10:40)
https://noisypixel.net/sega-wants-sonic-games-movies-surpass-mario/
Epic Store still losing money, expected to own half of PC market by now (1:14:30)
Ubisoft lays off another batch of employees (1:16:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-montreal-latest-studio-struck-by-layoffs
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise 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/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

Podquisition 463: Missed Connections

It would take so little to change the tone.

Games we played this week include: 
Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (9:55)
Karmazoo (18:40)
Alien Hominid Invasion (36:10)
Backpack Hero (45:55)
Bladestorm (51:05)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Call of Duty Modern Warfare III only given 16 months dev time (1:02:05)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-09/cod-modern-warfare-3-faces-bad-reviews-after-rushed-development
Strauss Zelnick said a bunch of troubling stuff about AI, pricing (1:08:25)
https://www.inverse.com/gaming/gta-6-generative-ai-take-two-ceo
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/gta-6-publisher-ceo-thinks-videogame-prices-are-very-very-low-for-what-they-offer
Nintendo continues to suggest Switch 2 coming next year while not confirming its existence (1:14:15)
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/10/nintendo-president-reiterates-switch-software-support-into-fy2425
Layoffs hitting Free Radical, Humble Games, and Unity (1:15:45)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/9/23954709/unity-layoffs-q3-earnings-runtime-program
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/timesplitters-devs-free-radical-are-reportedly-the-next-embracer-studio-facing-closure
https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/humble-games-layoffs-report
Sony significantly cuts plans for live service games (1:29:55)
https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2023/11/09/sony-has-delayed-half-of-its-planned-playstation-live-service-games


---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise 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/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

Podquisition 464: Rapscallion Behavior of the Nineties

We get the job done.

Games we played this week include: 
PS Portal (5:40)
Liyla and the Shadows of War (13:40)
Karmazoo (17:05)
An Arcade Full of Cats (23:40)
FlipWitch: The Forbidden Sex Hex (25:55)
AMC’s The Walking Dead: Destinies (34:45)
Quantum Break (49:00)
Dave the Diver (59:25)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Sexual bias case against Niantic moving forward (1:07:00)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/22/23972339/niantic-sexual-discrimination-lawsuit-gender-bias-arbitration
Epic rollout of age-restricted content in Fortnite has not gone well (1:08:40)
https://www.pcgamer.com/epic-admits-fortnites-new-age-ratings-didnt-hit-the-mark-says-a-new-system-is-coming-soon-as-part-of-a-big-in-game-event/
Unity releases early access AI tools for developers (1:17:15)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/unitys-push-for-responsibly-sourced-ai-tools
SEGA allegedly threatened its unionized workers with layoffs (1:15:45)
https://kotaku.com/sega-sonic-union-layoffs-persona-yakuza-1851026309
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise 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/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

Podquisition 465: Consummate Professionalism

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

Podquisition 461: The Bad Pop

Jimquisition

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