minor correction: it was Taiwan he apologized for acknowledging as a country when he promoted it as the location of the world premiere for whichever Fast And/Or Furious movie was coming out at the time. It was very cringe.

This trope, I think, originates in Arkady & Boris Strugatsky's Novel, Roadside Picnic. Which itself is the inspiration for Stalker (the russian language film), and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. the game series.

congratulations, Mat Pat talks wonders about you on his Last FNAF video.

The future is inevitable.

Games we played this week include: 
Tekken 8 (23:35)
Grand Theft Auto V (26:50)
Midnight Suns (40:55)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Switch flash cartridge announced, internet immediately links Gary Bowser to it (14:55)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/jailed-nintendo-hacker-gary-bowser-denies-link-to-new-switch-flash-cart/
Square Enix will commit even harder to AI in 2024 (47:10)
https://kotaku.com/square-enix-president-artificial-intelligence-ai-games-1851133573
As Kotick leaves ABK, former employees point out how he made games worse (1:21:50)
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2024/01/former-call-of-duty-dev-says-decisions-made-by-bobby-kotick-made-our-games-worse
---
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: Hamed Saber

Podquisition 470: Crone's Unease

What a terrible strain.

Games we played this week include: 
Piñata Smashlings (5:35)
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (16:15)
Last of Us Part II Remastered (28:15)
Palworld (33:35)
Home Safety Hotline (48:05)
Luck Be a Landlord (53:30)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
MiG Switch flash cart could lead to bans for second-hand game buyers (59:05)

Rockstar and Remedy logo thing got settled late last year (1:05:05)
https://www.eurogamer.net/take-two-and-remedy-in-trademark-dispute-over-r-logo

Developer Piranha Bytes seemingly dropped by Embracer Group (52:15)
https://www.pcgamer.com/embracer-owned-elex-studio-piranha-bytes-is-trying-to-save-itself-from-closure-dont-write-us-off-yet/

Riot lays off more than a tenth of its staff (59:40)
https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/2024-rioter-update

After selling off all their previously acquired IP, Square Enix things it needs more diverse offerings (1:10:00)
https://www.ign.com/articles/square-enix-president-says-the-company-wants-to-release-fewer-more-diverse-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.

Photo Credit: Rebecca Brown / CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED

Podquisition 473: Phlegm Filter

We’re just not qualified.

Games we played this week include: 
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (10:30)
Metroid Dread (26:50)
Granblue Fantasy Relink (32:50)
Interaction Isn’t Explicit (35:30)
Go Mecha Ball (40:30)
Celeste 64 (51:50)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Microsoft lays off 8% of its game division despite 49% revenue increase in Q2 (59:05)
https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/25/24049050/microsoft-activision-blizzard-layoffs

Eidos Montreal staff laid off, previously unannounced Deus Ex game canceled (1:05:05)
https://www.polygon.com/24054575/deus-ex-game-canceled-layoffs-eidos-montreal

SEGA of America to drop 61 employees in March (52:15)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sega-of-america-to-lay-off-61-employees

Early Suicide Squad players had the game finished for them (59:40)
https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-game-pulled-offline-1235890502

Bloodborne Kart won’t be Bloodborne Kart anymore (1:10:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/bloodborne-kart-isnt-allowed-to-be-called-bloodborne-kart-anymore-but-it-is-still-coming

---
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 474: Horny Goat Jokes

A crisis averted.

Games we played this week include: 
Silent Hill: The Short Message (7:15)
Yakuza: Like a Dragon (27:30)
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (37:25)
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (39:03)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
Rumors swirl around possible changes to Xbox first-party exclusivity (53:20)
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-microsoft-rethinking-exclusivity-plans-to-bring-starfield-and-indiana-jones-to-ps5

Development of The Day Before was allegedly a shitshow (1:02:10)
https://www.eurogamer.net/new-the-day-before-report-alleges-employees-fined-for-making-mistakes

Square Enix has decided it wants to make better games (1:04:05)
https://www.eurogamer.net/square-enix-reviewing-overall-game-development-to-improve-quality

---
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 475: A Quiet Place

The bar has been raised yet again.

Games we played this week include: 
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (10:50)
Helldivers 2 (16:30)
Mouthwashing (31:10)
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (34:25)
Final Fantasy Rebirth (40:45)
Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed (47:15)
Hardcoded (49:20)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
MS to address rumors around console exclusivity (56:10)
https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/12/24070445/microsoft-xbox-business-update-event-future-february-15

French worker unions call for strikes at Ubisoft (58:10)
https://www.pcgamer.com/unions-call-for-strikes-at-ubisoft-studios-in-france-to-protest-wages-we-cannot-tolerate-being-treated-as-expendable-to-mitigate-their-bad-decisions

Microsoft layoffs hit Toys For Bob hard (1:04:05)
https://www.eurogamer.net/microsoft-layoffs-affect-86-staff-at-spyro-crash-bandicoot-studio

The FTC seems irritated by Microsoft’s layoffs (1:01:30)
https://www.polygon.com/24065269/ftc-microsoft-activision-deal-layoffs-appeal

Voice actor responsible for PEGI rating stingers was paid 200 Euros for the gig (1:05:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/the-voice-actor-behind-pegi-18-says-he-was-paid-just-200

---
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 476: The Best Kind of Feedback

We welcome it.

Games we played this week include: 
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore (6:35)
Helldivers 2 (16:15)
Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed (21:05)
Cookie Cutter (25:00)
Heartworm (31:15)
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (34:25)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
MS really bungled their cross-platform announcement (46:45)
https://www.techdirt.com/2024/02/20/xboxs-business-update-event-attempts-to-address-rumors-vaguely/

Embracer-owned Flying Wild Hog joins with Polish Gamedev Workers Union (53:55)
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/embracer-owned-studio-flying-wild-hog-has-unionized

ZA/UM continues to be a mess (1:04:05)
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-za-um-will-lay-off-25-percent-of-staff-after-project-cancellation

---
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 477: The Sweet Embrace of Death

It’s a lovely day for a drive.

Games we played this week include: 
Pacific Drive (8:00)
Geometry Survivor (30:00)
Pocket Card Jockey Ride On (33:20)
Pepper Grinder (37:30)
Penny’s Big Breakout (38:45)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
WWE 2K24 seems to be dropping a couple of significant wrestlers (42:05)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/wwe-2k24s-confirmed-final-roster-seemingly-removes-vince-mcmahon-and-brock-lesnar/

Nintendo sues developer of Yuzu emulator (49:05)
https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/27/24085075/nintendo-switch-emulator-yuzu-lawsuit

---
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 478: Taking the Scenic Route

Yeah, that’s right. We said it. What do you intend to do?

Games we played this week include: 
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (4:30)
Supermarket Simulator (33:00)
The Outlast Trials (41:05)
Warhammer 40k: Boltgun (51:10)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
Warner Bros. continues to learn the wrong lessons about live services (42:05)
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/warner-bros-discusses-volatile-aaa-console-games-will-lean-into-free-to-play-and-mobile/1100-6521597/

Yuzu and Citra emulators quickly fold under legal action from Nintendo (49:05)
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-lawsuit-shuts-down-switch-emulator-yuzu-and-3ds-emulator-citra/1100-6521589/

A complex scam involving imitated games hits Steam (1:15:50)
https://www.ign.com/articles/valve-pulls-fake-steam-helldivers-2-games-but-devs-express-concern-they-appeared-in-the-first-place


---
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: Forest Runner / CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED

Podquisition 479: Courting Controversy

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.

Podquisition 482: A Cool Breeze

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.

Podquisition 483: Destrucity

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.

Podquisition 484: Crime Pays

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

Podquisition 478: Taking the Scenic Route

Jimquisition

Recent comments

Oscar Garza

Matt Dear Game Audio

Gnome de Plume

Gnome de Plume

Related tracks