Dense Pixels

We really hope you enjoyed last week's video game love-fest because we're back to the miserable news around the game industry. Sony gets a two-fer thanks to Polyphony making Gran Turismo 7 intentionally grindy and the exposure of sexual harassment within PlayStation. The Initiative has been dealing with a ton of turnover and we talk about what should be expected from the new Perfect Dark. We can scorn on Elden Ring trolls, and get sidetracked on the topic of quality of life features in video games.   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

We're almost entirely ignoring the news this week because we just want to talk about Elden Ring. Micah is hooked, and he and Brad rave about what makes Elden Ring just so damn transfixing. Brad would have played much more, but he's also been sidetracked by Gran Turismo 7 - perhaps the most earnest game he's ever played. Brad discusses Puzzle Quest 3, we talk video game companies pulling out of Russia, and if Capcom is shooting themselves in the foot by putting out some very restrictive organized play rules around Street Fighter's competitive scene. We also reflect on the pro wresting genius who was Scott Hall.   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

Brad is transfixed by Elden Ring in the first dozen hours he's spent with the game. The real question is - can Micah resist buying it during the show in the face of such praise? We got the surprise announcement of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet which is coming out this year! The rumored features of PlayStation Spartacus is as underwhelming as we expected. And Gabe Newell is out here spitting hot truth about NFTs.  TGS returning to in-person showFinally, some good fucking foodSpartacus might be soon and it’s predictably a little underwhelming (report)Gabe’s the only one out here with any sense about NFTsActivision Blizzard sued by shareholders over Microsoft buyoutPokemon news:Arceus got a free updateAlolan Pokemon coming to Pokemon GoGen 9 revealed   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Ne

This week, Carrie talks about her continued thoughts on Pokemon Legends Arceus now that she's completed it, and how they truly make you a Pokemon big game hunter. Of course we have thoughts on the Street Fighter 6 reveal and the new character designs they are rolling with. The SEC filings that Activision had to turn over for the merger have seen the light of day and we get some interesting tidbits on Phil Spencer moving quickly to buy Activision...and Bobby Kotick's secret Republican donation companies? The post office has us talking about underrepresented stories in video games and why Cody Rhodes sucks.   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

We have a Cyberpunk 2077 next-gen update sighting...and it's here to download! We can't fathom why it's coming out just ahead of Horizon Forbidden West and Elden Ring, but at least it's here. We had a hell of a Nintendo Direct including exciting Splatoon 3, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Mario Strikers Battle League news! There's also NFT's backfiring on Team 17, possible Sony censorship, and is Street Fighter 6 imminent?   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

We impressions of new games this week! Carrie tells us if Pokemon Legends: Arceus is the beginning of new and exciting future for the Pokemon franchise. Micah discusses why Sifu will be a game truly in the eye of the beholder. We also discuss Grand Theft Auto V's astronomical success, Activision-Blizzard bleeding players, and why surely no developer would leave Ubisoft now! There’s a Nintendo Direct tomorrowLegends: Arceus is selling a lot of fucking gamesGTA6 “in active development”Lawsuit over stolen photos in Resident Evil resolvedBlizzard active user numbers continue to fallA story that really makes you want to work at Ubisoft!   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/ad

We're back to our regularly scheduled programming of industry-shaping acquisitions and NFT's! We discuss what Sony is actually buying in Bungie and generally about consolidation in the game industry. We also have a ton of NFT stories; both encouraging - like some early converts like Troy Baker and EA seeing the error of their ways - and massively depressing in what Ubisoft and Atari are bringing to the news.   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

We're settling down from the bomb that was dropped on the game industry last week, and we discuss some of the stories that have basked in the afterglow, like Phil Spencer's carefully-worded Call of Duty statement, the wild reactionary nature of stock markets, and Bobby Kotick's wild move to get better press for his beleaguered company. Brad raves about Nobody Saves the World, the best ARPG this side of Diablo. And never fear gamers - we're back with a bevy of NFT news. Plus Royal Rumble...predictions?   Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

We spent A LOT of time on the seismic Microsoft acquisition of Activision-Blizzard: the details, what it means for these companies, and how Microsoft is going to find the value in this immense deal. As if that weren't enough, we also give you our individual top 5 games of 2021. What could be our number ones? The answer shouldn't surprise you!   Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

We talk about perhaps the most acceptable(?) form of police misconduct that we've heard about. Konami find new and exciting ways to whore out their popular IP's for as many cynical Schrute-bucks as they can gather. Carrie has Walked to the End of Final Fantasy XIV, and Take-Two "Micah's" their way to mobile gaming dominance. Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

Holy hell we have NFT news to sort through this week, so we're definitely doing that. Brad also is a proud Xbox owner now so he and Micah talk the unbridled fun that is Halo Infinite multiplayer and why Forza Horizon 5 not being a great racing game really isn't a problem. Brad has been hooked on some unexpected Switch game in Unsighted and One Step from Eden. Ubisoft is reaping what they sowed, and Riot is back in the news with some good news for the suit brought against them.   Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

Activision Blizzard employees seem on the cusp of the first big unionization effort in the games industry. You'll never guess what Activision corporate is trying to do in response! We have impressions of Loop Hero, Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon, The Matrix Awakens, and Halo Infinite. We also talk about the Game Awards being relatively lackluster, and Brad walks Micah through what is probably going to be the craziest F1 season ending you'll ever see, and who's to blame?    Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

Final Fantasy XIV might have the best community in the video game universe. Activision can't stop collecting bad press with layoffs at Raven Software. A now-former Sony executive got to star in a low budget version of a Chris Hansen show, and we wax poetic over one of the greatest games of its day.   Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

Terrence is back after a slow news week that sees us talking about Mortal Shell, Darkest Dungeon, Hades, Days Gone, and Spider-Man in Marvel's Avengers. Mass Effect is going to become an Amazon show, and we're scared. Is Cyberpunk 2077 on a No Man's Sky-esque redemption arc? And we vote for The Game Awards live on the show!   Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

We of course dig deep into the Bobby Kotick story, why you should never trust a rich, white CEO, and how Activision's defense of him will cost them in the long run. We have a bevy of game impersonations including for the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy, Shin Megami Tensai V, Halo Infinite, Ruined King, the Steamworld series, and Outriders.    Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

The future of monetization in games looks pretty bleak as the biggest publishers voice their support of the NFT bandwagon. We discuss why this is likely to be a historically bad idea. Devolver Digital is now publicly traded; how could this change their goals? We also give our take on the Shin Megami Tensei V kerfuffle, and how could WWE get it so wrong with Keith Lee?   Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

No one has any reason to miss one of the best under-the-radar games of two console generations ago! Bobby Kotick makes a meaningless gesture to appease the Activision board while finally making at least one meaningful reform. Nintendo finally nails Bowser but it might be a lean Switch Christmas. We also talk about our most embarrassing gaming moments and what games had our opinions fluctuating as well played them.   Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

We discuss why the Uncharted movie misses the point, how Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy benefitted from low expectations, why Fortnite had to die so that other Apple developers may prosper, the Switch Premium Online rocky start, and why overcoming fear is overrated.   Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

It may be our 400th episode, but it's business as usual for us, and for Ubisoft apparently as Micah shamelessly purchased and played FarCry 6. We also talk Back 4 Blood and put a bow on Metroid Dread. Carrie patiently explains to the olds on the pod what the hell an NFT is, Brad rages about Nintendo's greed, and Sony says "bet" to a company looking to step to them in the world of unlicensed accessories.   Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement

Brad got himself a Switch OLED and Metroid Dread...is the slight upgrade worth it and is Metroid still relevant in the golden age of more -vania-style games? We pick apart the tone-deaf defense EA put forward of their loot boxes in FIFA. We also discuss how we squeeze gaming in around all of life's other responsibilities.    Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels We have a Discord server! - www.densepixels.com/fans You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd Carrie - supitscarrieThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941715/advertisement