Tag: Valve

Fallout 76, Red Dead Redemption 2, & Are Loot Boxes Gambling? – Episode 029

VGCollectaholic Leave a comment

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More

After a lengthy hiatus following the close of Season One, Masters of Unlocking returns!  In this episode, we explore potential legal problems for Fallout 76, initial thoughts on Red Dead Redemption 2, ask the question “Are Loot Boxes gambling?” and more…

Show Notes

  • Epic Set List:
    • Discussion of what games we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts
      • Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
      • Fallout 76
      • Red Dead Redemption 2
  • Black Friday & Cyber Monday Pickups:
    • We discuss our recent gaming-related pickups and scores from the 2018 Thanksgiving shopping holiday
  • What’s News:
    • Fallout 76’s bug-riddled release prompts one class action specialist law firm to investigate “deceptive trade practices”
    • Valve discontinues Steam Link hardware
    • Game guide publisher Prima Games will shut down in Spring 2019
    • Sony will skip E3 2019 – are they prepping for a 2019 Playstation 5 announcement?
    • Resident Evil movie reboot plans to return the cinematic adaptation to it’s horror roots
    • Eiji Aonuma teases a Zelda: Skyward Sword release on Nintendo Switch
    • Microsoft rumored to be releasing an Xbox One S console without a disc drive
  • Main Event:
    • We dive into an impromptu discussion of whether Loot Boxes are gambling, prompted by the United States’ Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announcing that they will investigate the practice of Loot Boxes

Can the All-Digital Future of Gaming Have a Used Market? – Episode 021

VGCollectaholic Leave a comment

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More

If gaming has an all-digital future, then digital re-selling will have to be a thing.  Robot Cache, a new startup from the founder of Interplay and InXile launches with an eye on tackling re-selling of digital content.

Show Notes

  • Epic Set List:
    • Discussion of what games we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts
      • God of War
      • Night in the Woods
      • A Way Out
  • Pickups:
    • Caleb contemplates God of War
  • Collector Tips: Tracking & Managing Your Collection
    • Scott discusses the video game collecting database app and software suite Collectorz
  • What’s News:
    • Sony sets an end date to physical Vita cart production in the West
    • Nintendo Switch Online runs $20 annually, includes cloud saves, online gaming
    • Nintendo releasing a $20 play & charge stand for the Switch
    • Nintendo is being sued by Gamevice over the Switch’s design
    • Electronic Arts has record year & CFO calls SAAS model (aka digital sales & DLC) “the bedrock of our business”
    • Microsoft to launch a disability-friendly Xbox controller
  • Main Event:
    • If gaming has an all-digital future, then digital re-selling will have to be a thing.  Robot Cache, a new startup from the founder of Interplay and InXile launches with an eye on tackling re-selling of digital content.

Who Had a Better 2017, Sony or Nintendo? – Episode 020

VGCollectaholic Leave a comment

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More

Sony & Nintendo recently released their 2017 fiscal year earnings reports – spoiler: they both did pretty damned well!  We dive into the results and ask what’s next?

Show Notes

  • Epic Set List:
    • Discussion of what games we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts
      • Okami HD
  • Pickups:
    • Scott buys ~900 OG Xbox games and a bunch of sealed Lynx games
    • Caleb buys Nintendo Labo and gives his thoughts
  • What’s News:
    • Fortnite Scholarships: coming to a university near you
    • Atari VCS (formerly Atari Box) pre-orders announced… why you shouldn’t care
    • Capcom & iam8bit partner for Mega Man NES/SNES repros
    • Game collector finds drugs inside NES carts
    • Loot Boxes deemed illegal gambling in Belgium
    • Valve acquires Firewatch developer Camp Santo
    • The Loss Levels – a game about shock, grief, and powerlessness
  • Main Event:
    • Nintendo and Sony’s Playstation division both post fiscal year profits of $1.6 billion.  We break down the numbers and explore what’s on the horizon for the two gaming behemoths.

What Do Gamers Think About Gaming in 2018? – Episode 015

VGCollectaholic Leave a comment

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More

Caleb & Scott dive into a new report by social site Qutee about what video gamers think about gaming in 2018.  They examine the results of the report and ask whether it actually tells us anything scientific about gamers or the game industry.

Show Notes

  • Gaming Archaeology:
    • Caleb and VGCollectaholic recap their recent game pickups
  • Epic Set List:
    • Discussion of what we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts
  • What’s News:
    • Google rumored to be creating a new game console?
    • Hawaii introduces new Loot Crate legistlation
    • Did Nintendo download a ROM and sell it to us?  If so, is it legal?
    • Assassin’s Creed: Origins’ new “Discovery Tour” mode goes live
    • Using IFTTT to find free video game deals online
    • Valve pulls a developer from Steam for reviewing its own games
  • Main Event:
    • Social site Qutee releases a “study” on what video gamers think about gaming in 2018… we discuss the findings and our thoughts.

Which Game Publisher SHOULD Microsoft Acquire? – Episode 014

VGCollectaholic Leave a comment

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More

The rumor mill is running wild about Microsoft buying EA, Valve, or PUBG.  We look at why those don’t make sense and propose three new contenders for who we think House Xbox SHOULD acquire.

Show Notes

  • Epic Set List:
    • Discussion of what we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts
  • What’s News:
    • Toys R Us closing 20% of its stores – we reminisce about TRU and Kay*Bee Toys
    • I spent 453 hours in Fallout 4 and all I got was this stinking inner peace
    • A truly unique piece of Zelda: Breath of the Wild art
    • Mario Kart coming to a smartphone near you
    • Red Dead Redemption 2 delayed
    • Nintendo Switch’s online service finally gets a date
    • Father of Playstation stepping down as Sony’s CEO
  • Main Event:
    • Rumors abound about a potential looming video game publisher acquisition by Microsoft.  We look at the rumored names – EA, Valve, and PUBG Corp – and then ask who SHOULD Microsoft acquire?  Turns out… it’s not one of those three.