Episode 99: Maybe Don’t Abuse Steam’s Refund System (News Show)
Release Date: 08/30/2021
Episode 105: Corporations Are Not Your Friends (News Show)
Virtual Economy
This week, we’re talking about big corporations, performative allyship, and why brands aren’t your friends. Yes, that social media account is funny and has a rainbow version of their logo. No, the executives often don’t know or care about it. On this episode, we discussed Twitch, MercurySteam, the latest on the Activision Blizzard lawsuits, and trouble at Paradox.
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Episode 104: So… We Heard You Like Money (News Show)
Virtual Economy
WE’RE BACK! We’re catching up with a bunch of investment news and quick hits to set the table for a return to our regular schedule on Saturday. In this episode: Sony (finally) confirms its acquisition of Bluepoint, Netflix makes moves, and there’s some weirdness around a rumored Nintendo 4K dev kit.
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Episode 103: Bobby Kotick Got Subpoenaed By The SEC… LET’S GOOOOOO! (News Show)
Virtual Economy
Activision Blizzard is pissing off all the wrong people, including government regulatory agencies. Also: Twitch covers its butt with the music industry, high fashion comes to Fortnite, and Apple shuts down Epic’s hope of recovering its developer accounts and getting Fortnite back on the App Store.
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Episode 102: Activision Blizzard Did a Labor No No… Again (News Show)
Virtual Economy
Activision Blizzard is the subject of employee-driven National Labor Relations Board charges of anti-worker activity. Also: An update on Paradox and its union survey of work conditions in Sweden, NPD for August 2021, and App Annie is slapped with an SEC fine.
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Episode 101: How to Destroy Your Studio’s Reputation With One Tweet (News Show)
Virtual Economy
On this week’s show: Tripwire Interactive CEO tanks his studio’s reputation with a single tweet before showing himself the door, Epic vs Apple is over (and Apple mostly won), Twitch sues hate raiders as it scrambles to do evidence it’s doing anything to stop harassment on its platform, Paradox employees speak out against toxicity, and more.
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Episode 100: We Did Not Make an NFT of This Show (News Show)
Virtual Economy
It’s our 100th episode! Thank you to everyone who has listened and supported us! This week: The graded collectible game bubble, the scar of Cyberpunk 2077’s failed launch, China’s tightened youth gaming restrictions, and more.
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Episode 99: Maybe Don’t Abuse Steam’s Refund System (News Show)
Virtual Economy
Steam’s refund policy is great… until people start abusing it and hurting small developers. Also: EA offers up accessibility patents for free, Apple does the bare minimum to ward off lawsuits, and Unity employees take a stand.
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Bonus: #TwitchDoBetter with RekItRaven
Virtual Economy
Twitch is failing marginalized creators as instances of hate raids, harassment, and virulent toxicity have spiked on the platform. Content creator and #TwitchDoBetter originator RekItRaven joins us to discuss.
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Episode 98: Fighting For the Little Guy… By Stealing Their Ideas (News Show)
Virtual Economy
Epic Games is under fire for wholesale copying Innersloth’s Among Us for a new Fortnite Mode. Also: the latest on Activision Blizzard, earnings updates (Starbreeze, Remedy, Paradox, Unity, Roblox, Embracer Group), NPD, and more.
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Bonus: Raw Fury’s Future with Jonas Antonsson
Virtual Economy
Raw Fury has agreed to a majority acquisition by Swedish investment group Altor. We spoke with Raw Fury founder Jonas Antonsson about the publisher’s growth, its path to acquisition, and how funding will accelerate new projects.
info_outlineSteam’s refund policy is great… until people start abusing it and hurting small developers. Also: EA offers up accessibility patents for free, Apple does the bare minimum to ward off lawsuits, and Unity employees take a stand.
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TIME STAMPS
- [00:01:01] - EA makes five accessibility patents available for free
- [00:14:38] - Unity employees speak up about company’s military contracts
- [00:32:49] - Investment Interlude
- [00:42:06] - Quick Hits
- [00:50:48] - Activision Blizzard in more hot water with the DFEH
- [00:53:51] - Apple makes small concession in attempt to settle lawsuit
- [00:55:56] - How Steam’s refund policy hurt one small developer
SOURCES
- Using our patents to drive positive play (EA)
- EA’s Patent Pledge for Increasing Accessibility
- EA's efforts to catch up to its responsibility (GamesIndustry)
- Unity Workers Question Company Ethics As It Expands From Video Games to War (Vice)
- California expands lawsuit against Activision Blizzard (Axios)
- Apple loosens rules for developers in major concession amid antitrust pressure (Washington Post)
- Coalition for App Fairness Statement on Apple’s Sham Settlement Offer
INVESTMENT INTERLUDE
- Unity Acquires OTO to Foster Safer Gaming Environments
- Our stock begins trading on Nasdaq today, as the SPAC deal is finally closed (Nexters)
- Apphic Games received investment from WePlay Ventures with a valuation of 14 Million TL
- absurd:joy announces $5.35 million raise for new virtual office/collaboration platform built around privacy, comfort and creativity