Episode 531: Is Bethesda Evil?

This podcast was also delayed in publication due to real-life issues, but there’s a lot of banter involved, including a discussion of Bethesda’s missteps and the upcoming The Elder Scrolls VI, whatever it is.

  • Report: Xbox Game Pass not happening on Nintendo Switch anytime soon
  • Resident Evil 2 remake was nearly first-person
  • Kingdom Hearts director says Marvel and Star Wars would be tricky to add

Let us know what you think.

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Episode 519: Red Dead ArrivalEpisode 519: Red Dead Arrival

Jonah and TJ finally got to play Red Dead Redemption 2, and discuss how great it is and how disappointing it is at the same time. Great and disappointing can also describe the Gaming Flashback with 2008’s Mirror’s Edge, along with its awesome theme song, which Jonah is addicted to.

The news this week includes:

  • Nintendo recommits to “keep the business going” for 3DS
  • Capcom has “high expectations” for Devil May Cry 5 and Resident Evil 2
  • Pachter: Red Dead Redemption 2 coming to PC in April

Let us know if you’ve been playing Red Dead Redemption 2.

Episode 270: Same Bat Time…Episode 270: Same Bat Time…

This week is the battiest episode Gaming Podcast has ever done, and it’s not just because the crew argue over the first news item more emotionally than usual, but because it’s full of Batman. Lots of Batman. Plenty of Batman. In addition, the winners of the Spec Ops: The Line contest were also picked.

The news items this week include:

  • Square Enix exec says long console lifespans “biggest mistake”
  • No fee to be charged for connecting to Wii U network
  • Next Rocksteady Batman game will feature Silver Age Bats
  • Michael Fassbender pegged to star in Assassin’s Creed flick

All that and the question of the week, “Which Batman would you most like to see a game made from?”

Sony, Next Big Software Company?Sony, Next Big Software Company?

Every day we’re hearing of a company running through a round of layoffs or going out of business, it’s really not a happy time. Sony is not immune to the economic troubles either. Sony is talking restructuring and that involves a potential head count reduction of 16,000 jobs due to plant closings.

floppyThis leaves Sony with some hard decisions. Restructuring can mean drastic changes that effect all their product lines. The PlayStation 3 isn’t currently a shining example of high profit margins. The console needs time to reduce its overall cost, chip sizes and bring profitability. Is it in danger?

“Sony’s not in a position to halt all domestic production but it has to do something that drastic,” said Mitsushige Akino, chief fund manager at Ichiyoshi Investment Management. “If it announces plans to move production overseas while keeping only planning and development functions in Japan, that would be a positive.” (gamestooge)

The yen is losing value in our global economy making it more difficult to export the product and build any type of profitability plan. “A source said this month the company will likely suffer an annual operating loss of about $1.1 billion, its first such loss in 14 years” (news.yahoo.com) All this noise is making CEO Howard Stringer contemplate Sony’s involvement as a “software only” company, making us recall the changes at SEGA to this same result.

The Financial Times reported Sony will unveil details of its restructuring steps on Wednesday or Thursday. It said Chief Executive Howard Stringer was meeting with resistance from some executives to shifting the company’s focus to software from hardware and cutting jobs in Japan. (news.yahoo.com)

Is this just a case of a fearful executive trying to lay plans for a more stable future? Software is easier to develop, pays for itself quickly and becomes pure profit as it ages. Hardware requires constant upkeep at manufacturing facilities, chip reductions and a boat load of quality planning for first shipment. Would Sony go full software?

Let’s face it, Sony isn’t SEGA, they’ve been developing hardware for consumers since anyone can remember and they’ve been doing it with quality and market penetration. It seems absurd to think they’d forgo hardware designs in replacement of a full software solution to the problem. In addition, Sony has already invested a large amount of cash into seeing PS3 through it’s 10-year plan and letting that die now is realizing a huge loss on investment.

If Sony pushes through the economic and maintenance course, the PS3 will become highly profitable, much like the PS2 last generation (with a slower ramp up for sales). Even if they break even after ten years it seems a lot better than throwing all the effort away.

Perhaps Howard Stringer is talking “software” for the next generation home console? You think Sony will create a PlayStation 4?