LAST WORD RADIO

Sean is joined this week by the host of another W2M Network pod, Chapter Select's Randy Isbelle to discuss the CMA blocking the Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard Merger, the Super Mario Bros. Movie passing the $1 Billion mark globally, the disappointing issues with Star Wars Jedi Survivor, and several other topics.

The guys have also played some games with Sean diving into the newly released story DLC, Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed. He also has some impressions on the indie investigative Metroidvania The Last Case of Benedict Fox. Randy has played more Resident Evil 4 Remake, MLB The Show 23, and some of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters too.

The duo also gives out their hype levels for various games and gaming-related media that are coming out soon such as the Twisted Metal Peacock Show, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Diablo IV, and Final Fantasy XVI to name a few.

You can also watch this episode on video via the W2M Network Youtube channel. Please like and subscribe to us over there as well: https://youtube.com/live/S0PsdvRI4NA

Timestamps:

00:00:00 START

00:02:45 Housekeeping

- Games We've Played -

00:04:45 Resident Evil 4 Remake (Randy)

00:08:05 Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters (Randy)

00:13:40 A little detour into discussing if we are buying Final Fantasy XVI and Diablo IV

00:15:15 The Last Case of Benedict Fox (Sean)

00:17:35 Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Future Redeemed

- Big Moment For Video Games -

00:21:55 The Super Mario Bros. Movie Finally Hits $1 Billion Worldwide, (also answer a question from a viewer, what if there was a Nintendo Cinematic Universe?)

- Major Topics -

00:33:40 The CMA BLOCKS Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision-Blizzard in the UK over Cloud Gaming concerns

00:53:50 Star Wars Jedi Survivor Launch Issues

- Asking Randy Some Questions -

01:00:10 The PSVR 2 is coming to stores soon, any interest in it?

01:03:50 What Could Sony show at the PlayStation Showcase?

01:06:05 What kinds of games do your kids play?

01:11:20 The PS Essential Games for May

- Fun Topic -

01:12:45 What's Your Hype Level For... (Peacock Twisted Metal TV Show, Gran Turismo Movie, Redfall, Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Street Fighter 6, Diablo IV & Final Fantasy XVI)

- The End -

01:34:00 Games Coming Out This Week!

- Plugs -

Sean Twitter: https://twitter.com/W2MSean

Marc Twitter: https://twitter.com/HumanityPlague

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Well, it has officially begun the gaming calendar is getting clustered again and it will remain that way for the foreseeable future as major heavy hitters release alongside indie darlings, and at times, even all on the same day.

Dead Island 2 is the first of those, and the long-delayed game has actually seen impressive sales numbers in its first few days and encouraging reviews as well. Can it revitalize the franchise and spawn more sequels out of its early success?

Also, another big game releasing soon has a demo, Street Fighter 6, and Marc played it. Marc gives his thoughts on its content and if it leaves him encouraged for the game’s release on June 2.

Diablo IV is also getting one final beta May 12-14, (which wouldn’t you know it, is when Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom releases). Horizon Forbidden West not only just released its Forbidden Shores DLC, but it also added accessibility options to the base game too. Guerrilla also confirmed the existence of Horizon 3. Oh, and Sony acquired yet another studio too.

Records are broken again for the Super Mario Bros. Movie, while Shigeru Miyamoto basically confirms that more Nintendo films are coming down the line. Nintendo also had an Indie World showcase and Sean goes through some favorites he has from the digital event as well.

You can also watch this episode on video via the W2M Network Youtube channel. Please like and subscribe to us over there as well: https://youtube.com/live/TJbKOBQ7n1Q

- Plugs -

Sean Twitter: https://twitter.com/W2MSean

Marc Twitter: https://twitter.com/HumanityPlague

Follow W2M Network on Twitter: https://twitter.com/w2mnetwork

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The Super Mario Bros Movie has stuck around for another week at #1 passing $700 Million at the worldwide box office and breaking more records. Surely, $1 Billion is firmly in its grasp, but how far could the Nintendo flagship film soar? The guys give some predictions on where it could make its final landing.

And if you haven't had enough of the Super Mario Bros Movie yet, be sure to go check out not only our thoughts on the film from last week's episode but also reviews from the Radulich in Broadcasting crew on Damn You Hollywood and Randy Isbelle and Jens Dietrich also reviewed it on Chapter Select as well...

Our Review: https://youtube.com/live/fnXiIXFPW-4

Radulich in Broadcasting (Damn You Hollywood): https://youtube.com/live/p55RaRgjXz4

Chapter Select: https://youtu.be/W9TVM1I0lxQ

You can also go listen to these episodes in Podcast form by subscribing to these shows on the podcatcher of your choice.

In entertainment adjacent news, the Knuckles TV series has its cast, SEGA has made it official on acquiring Angry Birds studio, Rovio Entertainment for a cool $776 Million, there's a Harry Potter Quidditch game in development, and some interesting news with Joseph Staten headed to Netflix to begin work on a AAA game. Where could Netflix succeed where Google did not?

Plus, Marc has played the release version of Everspace 2, Media Molecule is ending support for Dreams, Suicide Squad gets the official delay to 2024, and more!!!

You can also watch this episode on video via the W2M Network Youtube channel. Please like and subscribe to us over there as well: https://youtube.com/live/rWkVJA0dH6g

Timestamps:

00:00:00 START

00:01:05 Housekeeping

- Super Mario Super Dollars -

00:02:50 Super Mario Bros Movie Holds At # 1, Passing $700 Million at the Box Office

- A little venture into the Entertainment Realm -

00:10:00 Knuckles TV Series gets its cast

00:14:40 SEGA set to acquire Rovio Entertainment (Think, Angry Birds) for $776 Million

- Main Topic -

00:21:05 The Redfall Controversy... Is it ok to release a new AAA game at 30 FPS? Should it be Delayed?

- What's in the News -

00:34:30 Joseph Staten already has a new workplace at Netflix doing a AAA game? What? Can Netflix Make this Happen? Frank O' Conner leaves as well, What does it mean for Xbox?

00:51:00 Dreams Support Shutting Down September 1, 2023.

00:59:25 Short Interlude on Final Fantasy XVI State of Play

01:01:50 Harry Potter Quidditch Game in Development

01:05:35 Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Officially Delayed to February 2, 2024

01:07:40 The Mario Theme is going to be added as protected music in the Library of Congress

01:08:50 Destroy All Humans 2: Reprobed Getting a Last Gen Version for $30 and no multiplayer

01:11:25 The silliness of US Congress getting involved in the MS & Sony Spat

- Playing a Game -

01:15:55 Everspace 2

- The End -

01:17:05 Games Coming Out This Week: Minecraft Legends, FF Pixel Remasters to Console & More

- Plugs -

Sean Twitter: https://twitter.com/W2MSean

Marc Twitter: https://twitter.com/HumanityPlague

Follow W2M Network on Twitter: https://twitter.com/w2mnetwork

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Yes, the long-awaited Super Mario Bros film has been released and it has broken quite a few records in its wake. Sean and Marc discuss why they enjoyed the film, Sean's experience watching it in 4DX, and their thoughts on why Movie critics apparently severely dislike it.

The guys also debate whether there will be a Nintendo Cinematic Universe made around the success of the film, or if it should just remain centered around Mario and his part of the Nintendo clan. What films could realistically spin off of it? And should there be any other type of media made as well?

There's also some other movie news as well since the Five Nights at Freddy's Movie has a release window, Opening Night Live and the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters finally have a date, no more Alice games says EA, Persona 3 Remake and Jet Set Radio Future get more possible validations, and more!

You can also watch this episode on video via the W2M Network Youtube channel. Please like and subscribe to us over there as well: https://youtube.com/live/fnXiIXFPW-4

Timestamps:

00:00:00 START

00:01:06 Housekeeping

- Main Topic -

00:03:00 Super Mario Bros Movie Review (Spoiler-Free)

- What's Next for Nintendo in Film -

00:28:30 Could this all be headed for a Nintendo Cinematic Universe?

- How Does this effect the gaming industry -

00:37:45 What about other Video Game films or TV show projects? What should they make of Mario movies' success?

- What's in the News -

00:49:25 Resident Evil 4 Remake Has Now Sold Over 4 Million And Final Thoughts on RE 4 Remake

00:54:50 Xbox ends the ability to have Emulators running in Retail Mode

01:01:00 Joseph Staten leaves Microsoft & Xbox after a combined 18 years in two stints

01:05:30 Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters Get a Release Date

01:08:40 EA says NO to more Alice games from American McGee

01:15:30 Amazon layoffs members of its gaming division

01:19:10 Gamescom Opening Night Live Returns

01:20:20 Persona 3 Remake & Jet Set Radio Future Reboot Get More Leaks

- The End -

01:23:55 Games Coming Out This Week!

- Plugs -

Sean Twitter: https://twitter.com/W2MSean

Marc Twitter: https://twitter.com/HumanityPlague

Follow W2M Network on Twitter: https://twitter.com/w2mnetwork

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Well, the inevitable has occurred, pretty much as soon as we posted last week's show, SEGA, and Tencent also announced they were not going to E3 2023 and it didn't take long for organizers Reed Pop to release a statement definitively canceling the gaming industry event for this year. Can we officially call E3 Dead? Is there really a place for an event like E3 anymore in modern gaming? And what is lost without its presence?

Also, Legendary has acquired the TV show and Film rights to the Street Fighter franchise. Could they take a stab at another live-action film? And what would it need to actually be good? Marc gives some thoughts.

Marc has played a lot more of Resident Evil 4 Remake and he gives some thoughts on how it is better than the original, what changes exist, and they also discuss what comes next for the series too.

Plus, Japan approved the Activision-Blizzard merger with Xbox, although now Activision-Blizzard is being sued by the FTC, this time for its unjust E-Sports practices, the PS5 breaks sales records, while the PSVR2 does not. There's a free Sonic Murder Mystery game on Steam, the big problem with ARK, and More!!!

In a rare off-topic segment, Sean and Marc also discuss the WWE-UFC Merger under Endeavor and what it could mean going forward too.

You can also watch this episode on video via the W2M Network Youtube channel. Please like and subscribe to us over there as well: https://youtube.com/live/-fC-8k-cd-E

Timestamps:

00:00:00 START

00:01:20 Housekeeping

- Games We Are Playing -

00:03:10 Octopath Traveler 2

00:04:20 Have a Nice Death

00:05:55 Resident Evil 4 Remake

00:20:30 Marvel's Avengers

- Main Topic -

00:22:55 E3 2023 Officially Canceled, is it also officially dead?

- What's in the News -

00:35:40 Legendary lands rights to Street Fighter TV Series And Movies

00:41:10 Activision-Blizzard Merger with Xbox Approved in Japan & ABK is also sued by the FTC for their E-Sports practices

00:45:30 More Revealed on Why Blizzard Games Are Not Playable in China

00:47:10 ARK 2 Delayed to 2024 and ARK 1 Remaster is Going to Freeze out Players of Original Game

00:52:30 PS5 Breaks Sales Records for February 2023, but the PSVR2 isn't doing so Hot

01:01:00 Sonic Murder Mystery Game is Free on Steam

01:02:00 Vampire Survivors Wins Best Game at the 2023 BAFTA's

01:03:10 John Cena Will be in PGA Tour 2K23

- Going Off-Topic -

01:03:40 WWE Merges with UFC After Selling to Endeavor, can a WWE & UFC Company Work?

- The End -

01:10:35 Games Coming Out This Week

- Plugs -

Sean Twitter: https://twitter.com/W2MSean

Marc Twitter: https://twitter.com/HumanityPlague

Follow W2M Network on Twitter: https://twitter.com/w2mnetwork

Follow us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@w2mnetwork2

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With GDC 2023 and PAX East 2023 in the rearview mirror, there's been plenty of announcements coming off the heels of those events taking place such as Counter Strike 2, Sonic Origins Plus, and a dark TMNT game based on the Last Ronin comic too?Not to mention, Blizzard put out two versions of a Diablo IV beta, which Marc played, and he has some thoughts on the game that is a little more than three months away from launch.The UK's CMA has also reached a form of a verdict in relation the console portion of the potential Xbox and Activision-Blizzard-King merger. Ruling that they are no longer concerned about it as relates to consoles. However, there are still concerns regarding Cloud Gaming. Does leave rival PlayStation in a bad position? Do you think they'll eventually sign a 10-year agreement? And what does it say that the $1 Game Pass trial no longer exists?Plus, Sean now has all eight characters in Octopath Traveler 2, does this further enhance his thoughts from last week? And how are more of the stories playing out? Ubisoft is now NOT going to E3 2023, EA delists some games, Atari acquires the System Shock remake studio, and more!

 

You can also watch this episode on video via the W2M Network Youtube channel. Please like and subscribe to us over there as well: https://youtube.com/live/tE0SCXH7pEw

Timestamps:00:00:00 START00:01:00 Housekeeping- The Hellfire of Betas -00:03:30 Diablo IV Beta Impressions- The Microsoft & Activision-Blizzard Merger Gets a Big Move -00:18:20 The CMA Makes a Decision- There is Some Gaming News! -00:28:40 The Xbox Game Pass $1 Trial is No Longer00:34:20 The Spider-Man 2 Release Month is Possibly Leaked- Games We've Been Playing -00:38:50 WWE 2K23 (Final Thoughts)00:48:30 Resident Evil 4 Remake Impressions & Separate Ways Being DLC For It00:54:50 A little Theatrhythm Interlude00:57:20 Octopath Traveler 2- It's Time for Game Announcements & Rumors -01:07:15 Counter Strike 2 Announced01:10:50 LEGO 2K Drive Announced01:12:20 Sonic Origins Plus Announced01:14:15 Aliens: Dark Descent Announced01:15:25 TMNT Game Based on "The Last Ronin" in Development01:19:40 Blockchain Game in Development in the same universe as EVE Online- What's in the News -01:22:00 Chris Avellone Wins Lawsuit Against Charges of Sexual Misconduct01:28:20 Sam Barlow Doesn't Envy Bloober Team Developing Silent Hill 2 Remaster01:31:35 EA Delisting Some Battlefield and almost delisted Mirror's Edge01:38:10 Ubisoft Officially OUT of E3 202301:42:10 Atari Buys Studio Behind System Shock Remake01:43:10 Multiversus is a Beta and is being taken down until full release in 202401:49:10 Ubisoft Developing its own AI Writing Tool- The End -01:53:40 Games Coming Out This Week- Plugs -Sean Twitter: https://twitter.com/W2MSeanMarc Twitter: https://twitter.com/HumanityPlagueFollow W2M Network on Twitter: https://twitter.com/w2mnetworkFollow us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@w2mnetwork2Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/aydMgvUN9dFollow us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/w2mnetworkFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/w2mnetwork/Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/W2MNetwork

On a week that is kind of lite on actual gaming news, Sean and Marc have quite a few video games to discuss on this episode of Video Games 2 the MAX.Marc has been playing WWE 2K23, how is it compared to last year's game? What about the John Cena showcase and My GM Mode? And what's with this crazy version of the WWE roster that's in the game?Sean has also put about 10 hours into Octopath Traveler 2 and gone through several Chapter 1 stories and one Chapter 2 story, is it truly worth all the hype that it has received? Do the characters blend together better? Or is Octopath 2 really just more of the same as Octopath 1?Sean has been playing the soon-to-be-released indie title Have a Nice Death, what stands out about this Roguelike title starring the Grim Reaper? And should you check it out? He also delved into the Bayonetta Origins: Cereza And the Lost Demon Demo, and well... find out why he absolutely adores the game.Plus, Microsoft keeps making more 10-year deals, and there's a chance they will actually open the long-rumored Mobile game store in 2024 too. The guys give their final thoughts on the Last of Us HBO show Season 1, thoughts on what's to come in Season 2, and how a reported ousting at Marvel could lead to some changes too.We also have a special segment featuring our picks for some games to purchase before the E-Shop closes next week on the Wii U and 3DS.Please also go check out our fellow compatriots of the W2M Network, as the Radulich crew did a review of The Last of Us HBO Show in full as well: https://youtube.com/live/xekF9os4qxsYou can also watch this episode on video via the W2M Network Youtube channel. Please like and subscribe to us over there as well: https://youtu.be/t1JA18km714Timestamps:00:00:00 The Start00:01:10 Housekeeping- Games We Are Playing -00:03:20 WWE 2K2300:24:50 Like a Dragon: Ishin (Final Thoughts)00:33:00 Octopath Traveler 200:46:50 Have a Nice Death00:51:20 Bayonetta Origins: Cereza And The Lost Demon- Discussing Some Sad Stories -00:58:00 Remembering Lance Reddick01:04:00 GAMURS Group layoffs at several Games Media websites (Twinfinite, Destructoid, Gamepur, Dot Esports & More)- What's in the News -01:11:10 March 2023 PlayStation Plus Extra And Premium Games01:13:20 Microsoft Signs More 10-Year Deals and Promises More, Plus a discussion on Microsoft's strategy with this and how it may affect Nintendo01:22:30 Does it say anything about the State of Gaming that many of the well-reviewed games so far in 2023 are Remakes/Remasters01:25:40 Diablo IV Won't be on Xbox Game Pass Anytime Soon01:27:10 Persona 5: Phantom X Mobile Game Announced01:28:40 IOI Interactive Taking a Break from Hitman to See What's Next01:30:50 Star Citizen And Their Broken Update01:32:50 Square-Enix Shows off Symbiogenesis NFT Stuff and Virtua Fighter NFT's Are a Thing- Favorite Games Stuck on the Wii U And 3DS -01:35:30 The 3DS & Wii U E-Shops Go Down For Purchases Forever Next Week, Here are Some of Our Favorites to Pick Up- Let's Go to the Movies -01:49:50 Return to Silent Hill Film Has a Cast01:53:10 Final Thoughts on Last of Us HBO Show and Where they go from here on Season 202:01:30 Big Discussion Regarding Marvel and Should There Be Concern with the Letting Go of Victoria Alonso and Bob Iger's Recent Interview Concerning the State of the Films and TV Series- The End -02:17:00 Games Coming Out This Week- Plugs -Sean Twitter: https://twitter.com/W2MSeanMarc Twitter: https://twitter.com/HumanityPlagueFollow W2M Network on Twitter: https://twitter.com/w2mnetworkFollow us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@w2mnetwork2Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/aydMgvUN9dFollow us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/w2mnetworkFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/w2mnetwork/Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/W2MNetwork

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic breaks down the winners and losers of NFL free agency so far. He also wonders what the Titans plan for this season is, touches on the never-ending Lamar Jackson contract dispute, and weighs in on the troubling comments of Michael Thomas and Byron Jones. Enjoy the show and join us the weekend of April 29th for the following episode!