Episode 717: Fake Xbox Live

This week, the gang follows up on Tim Sweeney from last week, and also discuss Dark Souls 2 modding, the “photorealistic” ant RTS Empire of the Ants, and Resident Evil 4 Remake crossing 7 million copies sold.

The news also includes:

  • Saber Interactive confirms “a number of titles” still in development
  • Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection players tear into Aspyr
  • Halo 2 online matchmaking returns in March thanks to community modders

Let us know what you think.

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Gaming Podcast 167: Waiting in LineGaming Podcast 167: Waiting in Line

The gaming podcast this week includes a little reaction on PAX East and a bit of history on Vanguard. For the news, this week, we’re busting through a few key news stories:

  • Sony taking out “other OS” feature
  • DSIWare games not transferable to DSi XL
  • Nintendo announces Nintendo 3DS
  • Sony thinks 3D belongs on consoles and not hand helds
  • Major Nelson’s gamer tag was hacked

Derrick explains a bit about his opinion of PAX East and how such an event might not be exactly built for him. We’re also busting through some great community feedback. Special thanks to the community of 2old2play.com, Wombat from Cheap Ass Gamer and Lady J of SFX 360 for the PAX Panel.

This weeks Question of the Week: “Everyone loves shoot em ups. What was your favorite shoot em up? Xevious? Space Invaders? Galaga? Ikaruga?”

Electronic Arts Issues 1,000 Pink SlipsElectronic Arts Issues 1,000 Pink Slips

Electronic Arts is planning to lay off 1,000 employees, approximately 10% of their employees. In this layoff their also consolidating EA Black Box back into EA Canada. EA Black Box was spun off as a studio outside of EA Canada to work on such titles as Need for Speed but, with the layoffs arriving, they’re going to be merging the remainder of EA Black Box into EA Canada by June 2009. The remaining EA Black Box employees will continue working on Skate 2.

The pink slips should be issued by March 31, 2009 and we’re hoping the folks that have lost their jobs will find new jobs as soon as possible. An Electronic Arts representative said:

“This does not mean that the Black Box studio is closing. The studio is moving to our Burnaby campus to share the facility with EAC and other EA teams that operate out of our state-of-the-art facility. We will operate two distinct studios, each with their own distinct culture and teams, out of our Burnaby facility.” (gamespot)

EA hasn’t mentioned any specific franchise cancellation but we’re going to assume something is going to slip, it’s hard to imagine a company can lose 1,000 employees without impacting business operations. If EA was able to layoff 1,000 people without impacting day-to-day business, then they’re definitely hurting in the management department because that would be a ton of waste.

Big companies may cut costs during hard times but they said they’re, “implementing a plan to narrow its product portfolio to focus on hit games with higher margin opportunities. The company remains committed to taking creative risks, investing in new games, leading the industry in the growing mobile and online businesses, and delivering high-quality games to consumers.”

We’re curious just how much EA is willing to risk on “creative” endevours considering publishers are already hesitant to break new ground. The next few years should yield great opportunities for smaller developers to put on their creative hat and open new doors and opportunities for themselves.

Episode 716: Xbox Partner PreviewEpisode 716: Xbox Partner Preview

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This week the gang covers the Xbox Partner Preview, while also discussing the closing of Rooster Teeth.

The news includes:

  • Apple kills Epic’s iOS developer account
  • Xbox Partner Preview announcements
  • Rogue-like poker hit Balatro sells half a million copies in ten days

Let us know what you think.

The post Episode 716: Xbox Partner Preview first appeared on Gaming Podcast.