Virtual Economy
197 episodes - English - Latest episode: 26 days ago - ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsThe business of video games can be complicated. In each episode of Virtual Economy, hosts and analysts Amanda Farough and Michael Futter break down the biggest business news in the video game industry.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Episode 170: Embracer Group Fire Sale Burns Labor (News Show)
March 29, 2024 20:43 - 1 hour - 119 MBWe’ve come full circle. Embracer Group just took a massive loss to get some much-needed cash in hopes of filling a seemingly bottomless hole of debt. Saber is gone. Zen is gone. 4A is gone. Gearbox is gone. Also, SAG-AFTRA may strike against video game companies, some new studios are popping up, but many others are still laying off and closing. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:00:30] - GDC and PAX East ...
Episode 169: The AAA Video Game Industry is in Freefall (News Show)
March 03, 2024 01:19 - 49 minutes - 57.5 MBTriple-A game development as we know it is unsustainable. It doesn't matter if a game succeeds or fails, the corporate machine is grinding developers up and spitting them out by the thousands. Things need to change. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:29] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for January 2024 [00:07:04] - Investment Interlude [00:18:43] - Quick Hits [00:21:25] - Labor Repo...
Episode 168: Switch 2 Switcharoo Could Thwart 2024 Recovery Hopes (News Show)
February 23, 2024 17:56 - 1 hour - 131 MBThe console market is going through major changes as hardware prices stay high and first party needs to pivot audience strategy. Nintendo may be struggling to find a break-even for its Switch successor, prompting a later release than we anticipated. Also: Embracer Group woes continue, Hasbro loses a ton. This is episode is sponsored by Magic Mind, a supplement shot that includes ingredients to lower your stress, reduce fatigue, and boost your immune system. You can get 20% off your order o...
Episode 167: Did Microsoft Trigger the FTC’s Trap Card? (News Show)
February 14, 2024 15:58 - 1 hour - 104 MBMicrosoft’s layoffs have sent the FTC into a tizzy, adding fuel to the ongoing fire. Also: It’s earnings season, with EA, Microsoft, Capcom, Nintendo, Square Enix, Paradox, Take-Two, Sega, and Meta reporting. We also cover the latest in the layoff storm that continues to drown the industry and Disney’s $1.5B investment in Epic. This is episode is sponsored by Magic Mind, a supplement shot that includes ingredients to lower your stress, reduce fatigue, and boost your immune system. You can ...
Episode 166: We Were Wrong About Microsoft and Activision (News Show)
January 31, 2024 15:13 - 1 hour - 70 MBIn the wake of 2020’s bombshell revelations about Activision’s miserable culture and history of defending sexual abusers, we hoped that Microsoft would be a better steward for the company’s 13,000 employees. With 1,900 laid off post-acquisition, we are disappointed and saddened at how wrong we were. This is episode is sponsored by Magic Mind, a supplement shot that includes ingredients to lower your stress, reduce fatigue, and boost your immune system. You can get 20% off your order of Mag...
Episode 165: So… 2024, Huh? (News Show)
January 24, 2024 19:46 - 1 hour - 113 MBIt’s been less than one month, and the industry has already suffered more than 3,500 lost jobs. Also: The Circana report for December 2023 and the full year, a few investments, and a discussion about some challenging changes to the U.S. tax code. Oh, and a bit about that weird Palworld game. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:11:08] - Circana report on U.S. Video Game Spending for December and Full Year 2...
Episode 164: The Game Awards Needs to Change (Season Finale)
December 27, 2023 20:13 - 1 hour - 100 MBIt’s been a hard year, folks. As we say goodbye to 2023 and turn our attention to a (hopefully) brighter 2024, we’re recapping recent gaming events, November’s Circana report, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:02:17] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for November 2023 [00:09:11] - GameStop Earnings for Q3 2023 [00:13:28] - What’s Going on in China? [00:19:37] - Twitch: Closing ...
Episode 163: Embracer Group Claims Layoffs are How “We Will Win” (News Show)
December 15, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour - 117 MBEmbracer Group gorged itself during the pandemic when debt was cheap. Now, it’s scrambling to lay off hundreds of people to “win.” Also, Circana report for October, Epic wins against Google, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:04:03] - Embracer Group Q2 Earnings [00:20:32] - Starbreeze Q3 Earnings [00:24:59] - Epic wins in court against Google [00:27:27] - Circana U.S. Video Game Spending R...
Episode 162: The Stark Contrast Between Positive Earnings and Gruesome Layoffs (News Show)
November 15, 2023 21:49 - 1 hour - 104 MBWe’re in the thick of earnings season, and it’s hard to swallow positive financial news amid an avalanche of heartbreak labor stories. On this week’s show: Sony EA, Nintendo, Take-Two, Remedy, Sega, and Square Enix earnings. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:02:35] - Sony Earnings for Q2 FY2023 [00:08:50] - EA Earnings for Q2 FY2024 [00:17:00] - Nintendo Earnings for Q2 FY2024 [00:27:08] - Take-Two...
Episode 161: Phil Spencer is Bobby Kotick’s Daddy Now (News Show)
October 30, 2023 15:51 - 1 hour - 111 MBWith Microsoft’s Activision acquisition closed, the Xbox leadership team has reorganized in some unexpected ways. Also: Microsoft and Capcom earnings, more layoffs, Paradox says goodbye to Harebrained Schemes, Unity boots John Riccitiello, and we have the latest Circana report on U.S. Game spending. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:02:49] - Circana report on U.S. Video Game Spending for September 2023 ...
Episode 160: A Bad Year for Game Creators is a Bad Year for Games (News Show)
October 08, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour - 107 MBThe industry’s labor situation is reaching a boiling point, as Epic Games sacrifices employees on the altar of its fight against Apple and Google. Also: Unity has burnt its goodwill to the ground, voice actors prepare to strike, a leadership shake-up at PlayStation, and Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard now seems like a sure thing. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:00:31] - The State of the Ind...
Bonus Episode 9: The State of Indie Publishing with Z from Serenity Forge
October 01, 2023 17:01 - 31 minutes - 34.5 MBAt PAX West, we spoke with Serenity Forge founder and CEO Z about the risks, challenges, and opportunities in the indie publishing world. With brutal macroeconomic headwinds and massive consolidation, the pressure is on for small publishers. Find out how Serenity Forge is weathering the storm.
Episode 159: Unity Says, “Nice Game You’ve Got There… It’d be a Shame if Something Happened to It” (News Show)
September 20, 2023 13:58 - 1 hour - 90 MBUnity couldn’t have made a bigger mess of its reputation in the game development community. Also: Microsoft’s big leak, GameStop earnings, Circana report for August, SAG-AFTRA fires a shot at video game publishers, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:02:45] - PAX West [00:25:15] - GameStop Earnings [00:27:50] - Unity’s Foolish Moves [00:51:32] - Investment Interlude [01:18:59] - Quick Hit...
Episode 158: Microsoft, Activision, and Ubisoft are a Thrupple Now (News Show)
August 26, 2023 13:28 - 1 hour - 76.3 MBThe Microsoft/Activision deal is still alive. And now, Ubisoft has been folded into the conversation with control of cloud streaming rights. Also: Earnings (Square Enix, Sony, Take-Two, Embracer Group), The July 2023 Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending, Xbox’s new moderation system, and a listener question about the Xtra Small Small. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:36] - Square Enix Q1 F...
Episode 157: The ESRB Is Getting Weird (News Show)
August 06, 2023 16:19 - 1 hour - 105 MBThe Entertainment Software Ratings Board wants to use facial scanning to keep your kids from playing GTA and other adult-focused games. Also, it’s earnings season, with Microsoft, Capcom, Sega, and EA kicking us off. We also cover two more instances of the dreaded “payoffs for layoffs,” and a heap of listener questions! You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:1:55] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending ...
Episode 156: Xbox Live is Dead, Long Live Xbox Game Pass (News Show)
July 22, 2023 15:13 - 1 hour - 123 MBThe FTC is down for the count after losing in court and seeing an emergency injunction denied. We discuss where things go from here as the UK CMA stands alone. Also, a bunch of new studios were announced, Bungie wins a big victory against a toxic troll, and Xbox works to make it harder for harassers online. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:02:52] - Pathfinder Open Gaming License [00:09:39] - New Xbox ...
Episode 155: FTC Cage Match (News Show)
July 03, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 106 MBThis week saw the long-awaited showdown between the FTC and Microsoft, as the U.S. Government seeks an injunction to prevent the Activision acquisition. Also; new studios opening amidst an otherwise grim labor report, the latest Circana U.S. spending report, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:17] - Circana U.S. Video Game Spending Report for May 2023 [00:19:41] - Twitch Partner Plus [00:2...
Episode 154: What Happens When a $2B Deal Evaporates Overnight? (News Show)
June 11, 2023 19:43 - 1 hour - 112 MBOn the eve of its earnings announcement, Embracer Group saw a nearly-signed $2B deal fall apart. We discuss the potential impact. Also: GameStop back in crisis, a huge number of layoffs, and the strange tale of Disco Elysium continues. Note: We discuss Cyberpunk 2077 and the Phantom Liberty DLC during this episode. While we were confused that Phantom Liberty was a no-show during Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest presentation, the game did make an appearance during the Xbox event. You ca...
Episode 153: The UK CMA Throws a Temper Tantrum Over the Activision Acquisition (News Show)
May 23, 2023 17:39 - 1 hour - 89.8 MBOne day we’ll be free of the Microsoft/Activision deal, but that day is NOT today. Also: Nintendo, EA, Starbreeze, Square Enix, Capcom, and Take-Two Earnings, acquisitions, the Circana US Video Game Spending report for April 2023, more layoffs, and a Double FAFO. Support Miranda Due, former Unity employee, who is looking for work. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:00:48] - Nintendo Earnings FY23 [00:08...
Episode 152: Sega’s Angry Birds Acquisition and Life After Microsoft/Activision (News Show)
May 05, 2023 18:58 - 1 hour - 96.9 MBAfter years of stumbling in the mobile space, Sega decided to throw $775M at the problem with the acquisition of Rovio. Also: Lots of layoffs, some acquisitions, a bunch of earnings, and the March Circana report on U.S. video game spending. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:06] - Epic v Apple… The End [00:04:03] - Microsoft Earnings for Q3 FY23 [00:14:21] - Sony Earnings for FY23 [00:18:13] - Re...
Bonus Episode 8: The UK CMA Murdered the Microsoft/Activision Deal
April 26, 2023 17:13 - 42 minutes - 48.1 MBIt's a very special, very weird episode from sunny Dubrovnik, Croatia! We're thrilled to have the one, the only ANDY PAN join us for a discussion about the UK Competition and Markets Authority's decision to deny Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard on the basis of the cloud gaming business. You can read the full decision here: Microsoft / Activision deal prevented to protect innovation and choice in cloud gaming. For the full context, listen to our recent legal issues episode fr...
GDC 2023: I Fought the Law 2 - Legal Rumble in the Bay
April 23, 2023 19:33 - 1 hour - 86.4 MBAt GDC 2023, we got the gang back together for another down-and-dirty legal issues conversation. We're grateful to Brandon Huffman, founder of Odin Law & Media, and Ryan Black, partner at DLA Piper, for joining us again this year. On the docket for this year: The Rise and Fall of Web3 at GDC (Good riddance!) The state of mergers and acquisitions in the industry and beyond The growing need for unionization and the current labor initiatives across the industry The future of non-compe...
Episode 151: E3 Can’t Claw Itself Out of the Grave (News Show)
April 05, 2023 01:36 - 1 hour - 91.7 MBThe new ReedPop-run E3 died before it could live… or was it… MURDERED?! (Spoiler: It was murdered.) Also: GameStop leans on cost cutting to finally turn a modest profit, Microsoft is one step closer to closing its Activision deal, established studios expand, while layoffs also run rampant. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:54] - E3 is DED! (Again!) [00:17:46] - Circana US Video Game Spending Report ...
Episode 150: Square Enix Says No Flippin’ Thanks to its Web3 CEO (News Show)
March 17, 2023 13:34 - 51 minutes - 63.7 MBSquare Enix is having a time of it, as its Web3-loving CEO is leaving and Luminous Productions is no more. Also: Ubisoft and Activision messing up labor issues again, and the US is investigating extremism in online games. Also, Manda is going to talk to you about The Lord of the Rings, and Mike will do his best Gollum impression. Maybe. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:04] - Square Enix Needs to Sort...
Episode 149: The Great Games as a Service Massacre (News Show)
February 20, 2023 18:18 - 1 hour - 86.8 MBIt’s been a bloody couple of weeks for service-based games, and we suspect the murderer is still on the loose. Also: IT’S EARNINGS SEASON, BAYBEEE! We’ve got a meaty plate of all your favorite cold cuts: EA, Capcom, Sony, Nintendo, Square Enix, Take-Two, Capcom, Sega, Embracer Group, Starbreeze, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:02:28] - Sony Q3 FY22 Earnings [00:06:22] - Nintendo Q3 FY23 Ear...
Episode 148: Dungeons & Dragons, New Coke, and Other Terrible Mistakes (News Show)
January 30, 2023 22:10 - 1 hour - 80.9 MBWizards of the Coast squandered goodwill to find itself right back where it started. Also: Earnings season has begun, the GDC State of the Industry report shows developers put the smackdown on Web3, NPD for December shows a bit of lift, and (as we grimly expected) we’re in the layoff bad times. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:17] - Learnings for the GDC State of the Industry Report [00:26:42] - Wi...
Episode 147: Ubisoft in Crisis (Season 4 Premiere)
January 17, 2023 23:58 - 1 hour - 108 MBWe’re back for Season 4! Good thing we’re not on HBO Max, amirite? The ghosts of Ubisoft’s failure to care for its employees are now haunting its financial performance. Also: Let’s talk about D&D and Hasbro’s huge, shortsighted missteps with the OGL, Epic has been slapped with a fine over Fortnite, Zenimax QA workers unionize, while Activision Blizzard moves to make things hard for workers at recently acquired Proletariat. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also pur...
Episode 146: GameStop’s Still Hemorrhaging Money (News Show)
December 16, 2022 20:09 - 1 hour - 93.8 MBIt’s our season finale! GameStop has more than a little red on it, with losses continuing to mount on a crypto deal gone bust. Also: Microsoft makes nice with Nintendo (again) to pressure Sony, layoff continue to plague the industry, Zenimax QA workers on the path to unionization, and a fresh FAFO. Oh… and we have a tiny, little announcement. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! The views and opinions expressed on this pod...
Bonus Episode 7: What to do When Your Brand Isn’t Working for You Anymore
December 06, 2022 19:49 - 39 minutes - 41.8 MBBrad Wildes, CEO of video game accessories maker PDP, joins us to discuss the company’s recent rebrand and the complicated process of reshaping your brand identity. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!
Bonus Episode 6: How Equity Funding Works (With Kelly Wallick)
November 28, 2022 19:20 - 52 minutes - 64.5 MBIndie Megabooth founder and 1UP Ventures partner Kelly Wallick joins us to discuss how studios can access equity funding and what they should know before pitching. In this conversation, we discuss the different types of funding, what different rounds of funding typically mean, and how venture capital works. If you’ve ever been curious about how studios (rather than games) get funded, this is the episode for you! You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Vir...
Episode 145: NetEase Thinks Activision is a Big Jerk (News Show)
November 23, 2022 21:53 - 1 hour - 79.7 MBA NetEase exec has pulled no punches after the Chinese giant’s Blizzard relationship hits the skids. Also: NPD spending report for October 2022, Embracer group earnings and reorganization, more on Microsoft’s plans to acquire Activision, new studio announcements, and more! You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:26] - NPD US Video Game Spending Report for October 2022 [00:09:11] - Embracer Group Q2 FY 202...
Episode 144: Weird Corporate Shenanigans (News Show)
November 13, 2022 18:22 - 1 hour - 113 MBWe’re SO close to the end of earnings season. This week: Square Enix, Nintendo, Take-Two, Unity (and a discussion about that brutal Bloomberg expose about CEO John Riccitiello). Also: Strange happenings at Studio ZA/UM, Remedy details Control 2 publishing deal, the EU gets prickly about Microsoft’s proposed Activision acquisition, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:02:03] - Square Enix Earnings ...
Episode 143: Microsoft and Sony Stumble on Subscriptions (News Show)
November 02, 2022 20:29 - 1 hour - 92.5 MBWith Microsoft and Sony falling short on subscriptions, is our future still an all-you-can-eat buffet? Also: Earnings for Microsoft, Sony, Capcom, Paradox, Remedy, and Sega; Embracer shutters recently acquired and rebranded Studio Onoma, and Marvel Snaps up huge mobile revenue. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:] - Microsoft FY23 Q1 Earnings [00:] - Sony FY23 Q2 Earnings [00:] - Capcom FY23 Q2 Earnin...
Episode 142: The Console Supply Must Flow (News Show)
October 26, 2022 01:25 - 49 minutes - 60.3 MBAfter two years, it seems like new-generation console supply is starting to meet demand. We discuss in our coverage of the September NPD report. Also: the latest Activision Blizzard shenanigans (including two big Ls for the publisher), more on the Bayonetta 3 story, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:02:06] - NPD US Video Game Spending Report for September 2022 [00:18:25] - Investment Interlud...
Episode 141: We Need to Talk About the Voice Acting and Bayonetta Brujaha (News Show)
October 18, 2022 23:02 - 1 hour - 102 MBBayonetta voice actor Hellena Taylor shared troubling allegations of her treatment during negotiations, but new reports suggest things aren't quite what they seem. We discuss voice acting rates and what the $4,000 offer means for SAG-AFTRA union members. Also: Microsoft and Sony continue their war in the UK over the Activision acquisition, more troubling layoffs for games media, and Meta acquires a trio of studios while announcing absurd pricing for its next headset. You can support Virtu...
Episode 140: E3, WISE FWOM YAW GWAVE (News Show)
October 03, 2022 17:21 - 1 hour - 107 MBE3 lives, Stadia dies, and Twitch continues to make bad moves that alienate its community. Also: Saudi Arabia and Tencent look to step up investments, and a beefy labor report. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:02:21] - Twitch Has a Child Predator Problem (That it Tried to Cover Up with Different Bad News) [00:28:39] - Investment Interlude (Netflix, Saudi Arabia, Tencent, Fandom) [00:44:10] - Quick H...
Episode 139: Yves Guillemot Can’t Fix Ubisoft’s Culture Problems (News Show)
September 22, 2022 01:54 - 1 hour - 127 MBUbisoft leadership has all but given up on fixing the company’s culture as Tencent increases its ownership stake. Also: NPD for August 2022, GameStop bleeds, 343 loses its leader, and Microsoft and Sony continue to butt heads in the UK over Activision acquisition. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:00:39] - GameStop Earnings [00:15:31] - NPD for August 2022 [00:26:12] - Investment Interlude [00:45:3...
Episode 138: Amazon and EA: Will They Do The Horizontal Mambo? (News Show)
September 01, 2022 14:37 - 1 hour - 54 MBA drama-filled Friday saw the huge news of a major acquisition… followed by a debunking and walkback that we’ll be talking about for some time. Also: Sony jacks the price of PS5, Chinese giants make investments in Quantic Dream and FromSoftware, and a discussion on how M&A is impacting smaller publishers. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:16] - PS5 Price Increase [00:07:43] - Investment Interlude ...
Episode 137: Embracer Ate Middle-earth Enterprises for Second Breakfast (News Show)
August 23, 2022 17:51 - 1 hour - 73.4 MBEmbracer Group’s latest spending spree nets them one of the world’s most recognizable IPs (and much more). Also: Unity slumps amid hostile takeover, Take-Two posts losses on Zynga acquisition, Nintendo is in the hot seat again, Activision commits to the union-busting bit, and NPD for July 2022 as spending continues its slide back to pre-pandemic levels. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:42] - U...
Episode 136: Activision Is Bleeding Players (News Show)
August 09, 2022 18:37 - 1 hour - 93.8 MBCall of Duty is in a slump, and Activision is waiting out the clock until the acquisition having reportedly canceled a long in-development mobile World of Warcraft game. Also: Earnings, GameStop’s terrible NFT marketplace, Square Enix’s bananas comments about its former Western teams, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:02:06] - Activision Q2 FY22 Earnings and News [00:19:59] - Paradox Q2 FY22 ...
Episode 135: Minecraft Tells NFT Twerps to Go ‘Block’ Themselves (News Show)
August 02, 2022 22:56 - 1 hour - 75.5 MBMinecraft is taking a hard line against those who would abuse the game with crypto and blockchain schemes. Also: Earnings season begins with Capcom, Microsoft, and Sony, ABK workers walkout again, Rockstar on the mend, and Meta jacks the price of the Quest 2 by $100. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:17] - Capcom Earnings [00:10:38] - Microsoft Earnings [00:16:55] - Sony Earnings [00:22:22] - In...
Bonus Episode 5: Equity and Underrepresentation in Game Development with Code Coven
July 26, 2022 15:51 - 56 minutes - 68.7 MBWe talk a lot about diversity, equity, and inclusion on this show. Manda sat down with Code Coven’s founder, Tara Mustapha, and marketing coordinator, Myleah Lofland, earlier this year to discuss how Code Coven is changing the industry for the better by helping to foster and develop the talent that will lead gaming to its fullest potential. Code Coven is definitely going to take over the world. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchan...
Episode 134: GameStop and Unity Want Those Payoffs for Layoffs (News Show)
July 21, 2022 17:42 - 1 hour - 108 MBGameStop and Unity are making ugly moves, drawing the ire of consumers and developers. Also: E3 returns as the ESA gives up on being an event organizer, a surprisingly meaty list of new investments, NPD for June 2022, another Activision studio moves to unionize, and a double FAFO! You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:10] - The Return of E3 [00:14:59] - NPD for June 2022 [00:24:37] - Investment Interl...
Episode 133: The Video Game Industry Celebrated Pride with a Bear Market (News Show)
July 03, 2022 20:31 - 1 hour - 79.3 MBThe Video Game Industry Celebrated Pride with a Bear Market (News Show): The pandemic boon is quickly becoming a memory as inflation, rising prices, and a thin release slate put pressure on developers and publishers. Also: Activision workers list demands for workplace safety, the Communications Workers of America back Microsoft’s Activision acquisition, and Québec may be set to quash its local game scene. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Econ...
Episode 132: Slurping From The Game Firehose (News Show)
June 25, 2022 18:21 - 1 hour - 130 MBThere was a lot to learn from the 2022 Keigh3 / Not-E3 / Game Mess showcases, and we’ve got beefy trend analysis for you! Also: NPD for May 2022, Microsoft takes more union-positive steps, EA and Ubisoft slash executive compensation, Activision shareholders do lots wrong (but one thing right), and a double FAFO! You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:50] - Summer Game Showcase Breakdown and Analysis [00:...
Episode 131: GameStop is Bleeding (News Show)
June 09, 2022 21:47 - 34 minutes - 41.4 MBGameStop revenues are up, but other indicators are looking ugly. Also, Microsoft takes steps toward supporting unions, Xbox cloud gaming evolves, EA tries to repair Pride damage and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:00:29] - GameStop Earnings [00:06:35] - Investment Interlude [00:10:15] - Quick Hits [00:14:13] - Labor Report [00:23:41] - The Xbox Showcase Pre-Briefing SOURCES GameStop R...
Episode 130: A Soft Boiled Quarter (News Show)
June 01, 2022 16:15 - 57 minutes - 68 MBThis episode is a bit of all of your faves. We have some interesting earnings stuff to discuss (Embracer Group, EG7, Thunderful, and CD Projket), the labor report is getting saucy, and we get to talk about funding for indies! You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:41] - Embracer Group Earnings [00:15:12] - EG7 Earnings [00:20:32] - Thunderful Group Earnings [00:24:49] - CD Projekt Earnings [00:26:5...
Episode 129: Jim Ryan’s Tone Deaf Meow Meow Storytime Hour (News Show)
May 24, 2022 16:35 - 1 hour - 112 MBThere’s a right way to respond to a civil liberties crisis. PlayStation boss Jim Ryan went a different way. Also: NPD for April 2022, Raven workers vote to unionize as Activision Blizzard draws the NLRB’s ire, Sony discrimination lawsuit is back in play, developers revive anticompetition suit against Valve, Saudi Arabia takes a bite of Nintendo, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:42] - The At...
Bonus Episode 4: A Conversation About Preservation with Limited Run & Hit Save
May 21, 2022 18:00 - 58 minutes - 70.6 MBAs the video game industry matures, it's important that we preserve our history to understand where we've been and where we're going. In this conversation with two preservation-minded organizations, we welcome Josh Fairhurst and Joe Modzeleski from Limited Run Games, as well as Jonas Rosland, the Executive Director of video game preservation non-profit, Hit Save. The conversation covers the work both groups are doing in the name of preservation and the tools they are using to save our histor...
Episode 128: You Can Stop Buying GTA V Now (Earnings Show)
May 17, 2022 15:53 - 1 hour - 120 MBNo really. They’ve sold 165 million copies. Do you really need more? It’s a busy earnings show, but we coast through it smooth as Strauss Zelnick’s haircut. On this episode: Zynga, Nintendo, Sony, EA, Roblox, Bandai Namco, Starbreeze, Remedy, Capcom, Unity, Sega, Square Enix, and Take-Two. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:46] - Zynga [00:08:58] - Nintendo [00:26:01] - Sony [00:38:30] - EA [00...