Real Time Strategy

What’s Happening at Annapurna Interactive?

Why did Annapurna Interactive’s staff resign? Kaitlyn and Sam dig into that question on this week’s episode. Then the pair breaks down GamesIndustry.biz’s great post-pandemic analysis of the games industry before concluding with a new segment about the hype for Nintendo’s next console.

 

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:07:17 – Annapurna Interactive Staff Resigns

00:23:05 – Read of the Week: GamesIndustry.biz on “How the games industry turned pandemic success into disaster”

00:51:23 – Developer Cites “Future Nintendo Platforms” in Game Announcement. Was That a PR Tactic?

00:59:44 – Outro

 

Stories/media discussed:

Bloomberg – Annapurna Video-Game Team Resigns, Leaving Partners Scrambling 

Eurogamer – Developers rush to reassure players of forthcoming releases following Annapurna Interactive mass exodus

GamesIndustry.biz – Cheap money and bad bets: How the games industry turned pandemic success into disaster

IGN – My Time at Portia Dev Announces Sequel for PC, Xbox Series X and S, PS5 and ‘Future Nintendo Platforms Yet to Be Announced’

Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

PlayStation’s Rollercoaster Week of Concord, Astro Bot, and PS5 Pro

PlayStation dominated headlines this week with the surprise shutdown of Concord, critical acclaim for Astro Bot, and the announcement of the $700 PS5 Pro. Kaitlyn and Sam dissect this rollercoaster week by discussing why Concord failed, why people are loving Astro Bot, and whether the backlash against the PS5 Pro’s price is deserved.

 

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:04:16 – PlayStation Shuts Down Concord. Why Did It Fail?

00:30:49 – Why Is Astro Bot Such a Hit?

00:47:00 – PS5 Pro Announced

00:57:55 – Outro

 

Stories/media discussed:

PlayStation.Blog – An important update on Concord

IGN – Why Concord Failed

The Guardian – Sony’s big-budget hero shooter Concord failed spectacularly – here’s where it went wrong

Game File – Sony’s new game Concord has an unexpectedly lovely map 

GameSpot – Astro Bot Is The Best-Reviewed Game Of The Year So Far

Bloomberg – PlayStation’s 'Astro Bot' Is a Model for the Video-Game Industry

Ars Technica – Sony announces PS5 Pro, a $700 graphical upgrade available Nov. 7

The Verge – Sony’s PS5 Pro is a pricey test of next-gen consoles

Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

Game Informer’s Legacy and What’s Next for Brian Shea and Alex Van Aken

Game Informer closed earlier this month, but its legacy will live on. Former online content director Brian Shea and video editor Alex Van Aken join Sam to discuss what they learned from their time at Game Informer, the state of games media, and what they have planned next, including Alex’s game documentaries at Viewport and Brian’s All Things Nintendo podcast.

 

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:02:43 – Brian and Alex’s Favorite Game Informer Issues

00:08:45 – Brian and Alex’s Journey to Game Informer

00:32:03 – Learnings from Game Informer

00:46:07 – How is Games Media Changing?

00:59:30 – Viewport, Alex’s Game Documentary Project

01:04:51 – All Things Nintendo, Brian’s Nintendo Podcast

01:11:13 – Outro (Where to Find Alex and Brian)

 

Stories/media discussed:

OK Beast – How Fortnite Battle Royale Reconnected a Family - Why We Play 

All Things Nintendo – Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom New Details, Japan Storytime w/ Wesley Leblanc

All Things Nintendo – Genesis and the '90s Console Wars w/ Blake J. Harris  

 

Follow Alex @itsVanAken, watch his gaming documentaries at Viewport: Inside Looks At Video Games, and support his channel on Patreon.

 

Follow Brian @BrianPShea, and listen to and support All Things Nintendo on Patreon.

 

Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

Borderlands vs. Deadpool & Wolverine: A Movie Adaptation Marketing Study

Borderlands and Deadpool & Wolverine are two of this summer’s biggest movie blockbusters, but they had wildly different outcomes. Kaitlyn and Sam discuss whether Borderlands’ poor performance means anything for gaming’s future in Hollywood and what other adaptations can learn from Deadpool & Wolverine’s hugely successful marketing campaign. Other topics include Krafton acquiring Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks and the pair’s favorite summertime games.

 

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:08:04 – Breaking Down Borderlands’ Critical and Commercial Reception

00:25:50 – Why Deadpool & Wolverine’s Marketing Was So Strong

00:42:59 – Krafton Acquires Hi-Fi Rush Developer Tango Gameworks from Xbox

00:49:33 – Read of the Week (Eurogamer’s Summer Gaming Feature)

01:01:38 – Outro

 

Stories/media discussed:

Variety – Box Office: 'It Ends With Us' Beats Expectations, 'Borderland' Flops 

The Town – 'Deadpool & Wolverine' and Marketing Disney's First R-Rated Marvel Movie 

Variety – 'Deadpool & Wolverine' Crosses $1 Billion at Global Box Office 

Campaign – How these 6 brands are collaborating with ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

Polygon – Microsoft just gave the Xbox controller a huge ass

GamesIndustry.biz – Krafton acquires Tango Gameworks and Hi-Fi Rush IP from Xbox

Eurogamer – Can video games match the warmth of summer? No, but an Odyssey and a Wildlife Adventure are the next best thing

 

Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

Game Informer Is Gone. What Does That Mean for Games Media?

GameStop shut down Game Informer last week, laying off its staff and unceremoniously ending the best-known gaming magazine in the U.S. Sam and Kaitlyn discuss what the publication’s closure means for games media, why it happened, and how games PR should react. Then they discuss another gutting layoff story—Bungie cutting its staff by 17%—before ending on a positive note with a discussion about Polygon’s music-focused FM column and their favorite gaming soundtracks.

 

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:04:00 – GameStop Shuts Down Game Informer

00:19:11 – What Does GI’s Closure Mean for PR?

00:26:49 – Bungie Lays Off 220 Employees, or 17% of Staff

00:42:51 – Read of the Week (Polygon FM and our favorite video game soundtracks)

01:00:23 – Outro

 

Stories/media discussed:

Porter Robinson – Smile! :D

Kotaku – GameStop Shuts Down Game Informer, The Longest-Running Gaming Magazine In The US

The Verge – Bungie is laying off 220 employees and moving others to PlayStation

IGN – Bungie Devs Say Atmosphere Is ‘Soul-Crushing’ Amid Layoffs, Cuts, and Fear of Total Sony Takeover

Game File – Bungie's deep job cuts were in the works prior to Destiny's most recent release, sources say 

Bloomberg – Sony’s Bungie Faces Reckoning After Mass Layoff 

Polygon – Polygon FM 

Polygon – When the soundtrack is better than the game, we all benefit 

 

For physical game publications, support Patch and Lost in Cult.

Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

Gaming Actors on Strike, Roblox’s Safety Problem, and San Diego Comic-Con

SAG-AFTRA video game performers are on strike, and Roblox reportedly has a child safety problem. Sam and Kaitlyn break down these stories, then interview entertainment journalist Collier “CJ” Jennings about covering San Diego Comic-Con.

 

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:01:42 – What Does the SAG-AFTRA Gaming Strike Mean for the Industry?

00:21:59 – Roblox’s Child Safety Problem

00:38:30 – Collier “CJ” Jennings on Covering San Diego Comic-Con

00:40:12 – Deadpool and Wolverine

00:45:51 – CJ’s SDCC Experience

01:03:19 – What Makes a Good SDCC Panel?

01:12:27 – Where to Find CJ’s Work

 

Stories discussed:

Los Angeles Times – Video game actors are on strike. Here's what that means

Slate – The Video Game Industry Is More Successful Than Ever. Why Are the Workers Treated Like Garbage? 

Aftermath – SAG-AFTRA Striking Because Companies Won’t Offer Same AI Protections To Voice And Physical Performers, Not Happy About GTA VI Exemption

Bloomberg – Roblox’s Child Safety Problem 

Digiday – 'A long-game move': Why Coach is entering Roblox to win over younger shoppers

AIPT Comics – SDCC '24: Hulu's Animayhem Factory returns, bigger and better than ever

AIPT Comics – SDCC '24: Titmouse provided the most unique interview experience in con history

 

Follow CJ on Twitter @CJWritesThings, and read his work on AIPT Comics and Collider.

 

Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

What Xbox’s Game Pass Changes Mean for the Service’s Future

Microsoft is raising the price of Xbox Game Pass…again. Join Kaitlyn and Sam as they discuss Microsoft’s decision to hike Xbox Game Pass prices, the changes in tier options, and what Microsoft’s long-term strategy may be. 

 

Then, in the show’s new “Read of the Week” segment, Sam and Kaitlyn discuss Polygon’s Spicy Take Week story about Roger Ebert’s famous quote that “Video games can never be art” and whether or not video games should be deemed art. They may even share their own spicy takes. 

 

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:00:34 – Summer So Far Recap

00:09:07 – Xbox Game Pass Changes

00:27:29 – Can Game Pass Compete with Apple Arcade

00:38:54 – Xbox and Amazon Fire TV

00:43:30 – Read of the Week Segment (Polygon's Spicy Takes Week)

00:56:26 – Kaitlyn’s Spicy Gaming Take

01:00:15 – Sam’s Spicy Gaming Take

01:04:34 – Outro

 

Stories discussed:

The Verge – Microsoft is hiking the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and launching a new ‘Standard’ tier

IGN – Xbox Game Pass Price Hikes Were ‘Inevitable’, Analysts Say 

GamesIndustry.biz – Price hike shows Xbox is determined to make Game Pass work | Opinion

Polygon – Roger Ebert saying video games are not art is still haunting games

Polygon – Watching a video game is basically playing it 

 

Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

Will The Nintendo Switch Finish Strong? (Ft. IGN’s Logan Plant)

2024 is expected to be the last year before Nintendo’s next console, so is the Nintendo Switch going out with a bang? Logan Plant, host of IGN’s Nintendo Voice Chat and database manager for IGN Playlist, joins Sam to answer that question. They break down the latest Nintendo Direct, their favorite reveals, and when they expect to hear from Nintendo next.

 

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:01:48 – Logan’s Favorite Non-Switch Nintendo Console

00:08:17 – Nintendo Direct (June 2024) Review

00:11:17 – Mario & Luigi: Brothership Impressions

00:18:14 – Why Does Nintendo Hide Its Developers?

00:22:54 – The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Impressions

00:33:40 – Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Impressions

00:39:09 – Other Direct Highlights

00:50:01 – When Will the Next Nintendo Direct Be?

00:55:26 – What Is IGN Playlist?

01:04:00 – Outro

 

Follow Logan on Twitter @LoganJPlant, listen to his weekly Nintendo podcasts, Nintendo Voice Chat and Toadstool Boardroom, and check out IGN Playlist here.

 

Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

SGF Play Days and What Makes a Good Game Preview With Jason Fanelli

Freelance games writer Jason Fanelli joins Kaitlyn and Sam to share his impressions from Summer Game Fest Play Days 2024 and break down what makes a good preview experience for press. Topics include Jason’s favorite SGF demos, if the event can eventually replicate E3, and the most memorable preview events from his career.

 

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:06:24 – Jason’s Most Anticipated Upcoming Games

00:26:18 – SGF Play Days Impressions

00:44:15 – How to Plan Coverage for SGF Play Days

00:49:18 – What Makes a Good Game Preview?

00:53:23 – The Benefits of Virtual Previews

00:59:47 – Preview Do’s and Don’ts

01:06:26 – Jason’s Most Memorable Game Previews

01:14:34 – Where to Find Jason’s Work

01:17:13 – Outro

 

Follow Jason on Twitter @BigManFanelli, and read his SGF coverage at GameSpot, VGC, and MMORPG.

Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

We Review Summer Game Fest + Xbox Games Showcase 2024

A new Doom game, Perfect Dark is back, and too many exciting indie games to count… summer showcase season is here. Kaitlyn and Sam break down Summer Game Fest and the Xbox Games Showcase, their favorite games shown, what makes a good showcase trailer, and why Geoff tempered expectations this year.

 

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:02:15 – Is Summer Game Fest Close to E3 2.0?

00:11:48 – Summer Game Fest 2024 Review

00:23:35 – Comparing the SGF and Xbox Showcases

00:35:47 – Favorite Games from the Xbox Showcase

00:54:55 – Favorite Games from the Xbox Showcase

01:09:42 – Why We Loved the Astro Bot Trailer

01:13:37 – Outro

 

Stories discussed: 

GamesIndustry.biz – The spirit of E3 could be felt in LA – now let's bring it back | Opinion

Rock Paper Shotgun – Don't expect big reveals at Summer Games Fest, says Geoff Keighley

Game Informer – Geoff Keighley Says 'People Are Setting Themselves Up For Failure' When Asked About Kingdom Hearts IV At SGF

Kotaku – Geoff Keighley: Big Companies Have To Treat Their Developers Right

Kotaku – A 1-Minute Trailer At Summer Game Fest Costs $250K [Update] 

IGN – Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Addresses Studio Closures - IGN Live 2024 

 

Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.