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YoVG # 472 Ubisoft is For Sale Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, decided to address the rumors that Ubisoft is for sale. The buyout by Tencent failed, because the Guillemot family wanted to sell the company, but somehow retain control. Which, as you may already know, is insane. So Tencent apparently passed.

But Yves says Ubisoft is not actually for sale. in his words, they are exploring: "various transformational strategic and capitalistic options to extract the best value for stakeholders."

So, to reiterate, Yves says NO, Ubisoft is not for sale. It's just "for sale".

Now what does that mean? Which franchises could they sell off to save the body? Which franchises would anyone want? And most importantly, who would be a good fit for bringing the best out of those franchises?

Side note: We gave up on the no cursing thing. Well, I haven't as a resolution, just not gonna worry about making the show radio-clean. Matt explains in detail toward the middle of the episode.

YoVG # 471 Lessons Learned & Trends We See In 2025 Dec 31, 2024

Show notes

Happy New Year! I hope you're spending this time with family, and friends - but if you have to work, I hope our sweet salty voices keep your ear holes good company.

2024 was a year full of lessons. Some good, some bad, but lessons nonetheless. And with those lessons we are going to try and pick out some trends for 2025 and beyond. Which is always fun because if we are right, cool, if we are wrong, fun. It's a win-win!

YoVG # 470 Christmas Miracles We Want To See! Dec 24, 2024

Show notes

Matt's calling this one the Blue Sky episode. Which is not a reference to the new social media platform - no it's a concept that Walt Disney loved to use when brainstorming ideas for his park: aim for the blue sky and we will worry about reality later.

So we're doing that now, but with gaming hopes and dreams.

YoVG # 469 TGA 2024 Post Show Clarity Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

Suffice to say I was dead wrong about this years show. I was so confident it would be a nothing burger that I didn't even watch this year. I figured: if anything interesting is shown, I'll check it out later. Well, several interesting somethings were shown. Plus some surprises and oddities with the awards.

YoVG # 468 The Calm Before TGA 2024 & Shifting Power Centers of The Industry Dec 12, 2024

Show notes

There's a lot of winking and speculating that there will be a couple show stopper announcements at TGA 2024 - we aren't so sure. Rather than speculate on that and get our hopes up: we talk about Indiana Jones, the on-going shifting power centers of the industry and general topics.

I have what is affectionately being called "Flu-vid" and maybe don't sound my best. Matt said I sound normal so if I sound like a corpse it is his fault and you tell him.

YoVG # 467 The PlayStation Episode Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

It's the 30th anniversary of PlayStation! So, here's a walk through the 90's with one of the best consoles ever. I was 5 when it officially released, and we did actually GET one until '97 - so all my memories of this system are jumbled until probably 97/98. Matt has clearer memories of the early years, but like most: didn't play it a ton until later, either. PlayStation had a slow start, but a grand finish.

YoVG # 466 Mobile Gaming Fools Gold Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

Matt's going to title this episode "Game Industry Comes to Jesus" because it's funnier - so if you're on YouTube later and see it: it is the same episode.

And what is the episode about? Well, it turns out mobile gaming is not actually profitable for anyone outside of a couple big companies. Capcom, Square, Namco - all closing their mobile gaming divisions after a decade plus because they've done nothing but lose money. Personally, I was shocked because all we ever hear is how much money King is making. Well, I guess it's only them. So, what does that mean for gaming in general? For mobile gaming specifically? And will I make the obvious joke about coming to Jesus? (Yes, near the end, yes. Of course. Look at me.)

YoVG # 465 The Game Awards 2024 Nominees Released! Nov 20, 2024

Show notes

Every year the same question pops up: is TGA really an awards ceremony? Is it valid? Or is it just a popularity contest? The answer of course is: yes. It may mostly be a popularity contest, and awards are given out mostly based on sales and crowd opinion rather than critical/quality opinion - that's debatable. BUT the value of the TGA in my opinion is that it offers the clearest window into where the industry itself is going. Why? Because the industry responds to sales and popularity - not critical reception. All award ceremonies are meant to legitimize an industry and let them pat themselves on the back. TGA is essentially the game industry advertising itself to the work - not to gamers specifically.

Plus we talk about a couple specific categories and their nominees.

YoVG # 464 Is Aonuma Creative? Nov 14, 2024

Show notes

In this weeks episode: we talk Matt's Japan trip - specifically Ghibli theme park and the wonder of a park built on vibes. And then we get into Aonuma's take on game design.

Eiji Aonuma is the game director behind much of the Zelda series. He's Miyomoto's protege in many respects. He is a great project manager. But is he creative? Recently he commented on game design, and how he doesn't think it is possible to think "narrative first" because it will limit game hook/loop ideas. Add these comments to some he made in years past and it presents a picture of a man who just isn't that creative.

Japan traditionally put gameplay before narrative for most of its videogame history. So, this is mostly just a traditionalist view imo. But it does shed light on why Zelda has been rehashing the same story every game for 30 years or more.

YoVG # 463 Welcome Back Matt Nov 07, 2024

Show notes

It's a movie episode! With an extra 20-30 minutes of game talk at the end. It's a long episode, but we also hadn't talked in a few weeks because Matt was in Japan with his fiancée. How dare he leave me behind.

I spend an hour trying to convince everyone to watch Cloud Atlas. The entire episode. Everything else is just leading to or adding to my argument that you watch Cloud Atlas. Do it cowards, watch Cloud Atlas.

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