The Bobby Blackwolf Show

I finally got to the part in Metaphor: ReFantazio with the mandatory stealth section...I don't like stealth.

Nintendo has launched a new music app, and it has a feature that Spotify doesn't - extending the game loop for up to an hour.

However, they don't credit the artists on any of the songs, and this is partially due to how Japanese companies work.

Sony has closed Firewalk Studios, who made Concord, and Neon Koi, a mobile game studio, just two years after purchasing them.

Then we talk to Rob about the Nintendo Music App and the Like A Dragon: Yakuza series on Amazon Prime.

If a AAA game studio is closed, was it ever a AAA studio? Netflix closed their AAA game studio before even announcing a project.

The US Copyright Office declined a DMCA exception for Video Game Libraries looking to help researchers access their materials online.

A Larian Studios executive made comments about Ubisoft's drive to be more subscription only after the new Prince of Persia was declared not profitable and the team disbanded.

Then we talk to Rob about game preservation - which is a very hot topic for him. (Language alert!)

There is a sad update to the new-to-me retro console that I acquired last week...Anybody have a disc tray for a Philips CDi 220?

It was a slow gaming news week, but the Bluesky social media network got a lot of growth this week from certain gaming circles, so we talk about its pros and cons.

A judge ruled that Google does not have to open up its Play Store to competitors yet, despite the judgment we discussed last week.

Bandai Namco isn't exactly laying people off, but they have cancelled projects and left a bunch of employees with nothing to do.

Then we talk to Rob about Diablo IV's expansion and the Unity 6 news.

I made my GDQ Commentary debut on Disaster Relief Done Quick, doing a part speedrun commentary and part voice actor interview for a run of TMNT: Shredder's Revenge.

I got a new toy - a Philips CD-I, and yes, it also came with Those Games that you're thinking of.

Steam has already complied with a California law saying you must disclose that you are merely licensing digital content, not purchasing it to keep.

Google must open its Play Store to competitors and not take a 30% cut as a result of the Epic v. Google lawsuit.

Microsoft has announced that Xbox will sell games directly on Android devices in November.

Then we talk about Nintendo Alarmo and Tetris Forever.

Microsoft has discontinued the HoloLens 2, which was only available to businesses, and have decided to merely support other hardware with their software.

Ubisoft has listened to an activist investor, but instead of selling to private equity firms, they are looking into selling to Tencent.

This goes into a discussion about art and risks, and why the safe bet is to remake things that already exist.

Saudi Arabia is considering buying a larger stake in Nintendo according to a side comment in a podcast interview.

Then we talk to Rob about RetroAchievements and Randomizers.

I did my first speedrun commentary for Doronko Wanko at Multithon Rivals 2024!

The Atari 50 DLC The Wider World of Atari is out, and has 19 new games and another chapter of video interviews and historical memorabilia.

There's a new California law stating that digital storefronts must disclose that you do not own what you purchase, you are merely licensing things, and that the licenses can be revoked.

An Activist Investor wants Ubisoft to sell to a private equity firm, and has the support of 10% of Ubisoft's shareholders.

Then we talk about Astro Bot, the Metaphor: ReFantazio demo, and the Atari 50 DLC with Rob.

The Hallmark Keepsake ornaments are out, and this year's gaming console ornament is the original Xbox, and yes, I do have it.

I'm doing my first ever speedrun commentary on Multithon Rivals 2024! I'm commentating a race of Doronko Wanko on Friday, September 27, at 7PM ET/4PM PT.

Minecraft is dropping PSVR support on their PS4 version in early 2025.

IBM has won a patent lawsuit against Zynga using patents for the old 1989 online service Prodigy - of which my family were founding members of and I have memories.

Nintendo is finally suing Pocketpair, the makers of Palworld, in their own patent lawsuit, but Pocketpair does not know which patents they are violating.

Then I talk about Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, coming in 2025, and how RGG studio is so proud of their asset reuse and how it can allow them to release a new major game every 2-3 years.

We start off remembering Andrew C. Greenberg, the co-creator of the Wizardry series of RPGs, who passed away earlier this month.

The Crew 2 is $1 until September 23rd!

Ubisoft has proclaimed that The Crew 2 and Motorfest will have offline modes before their servers are shut down.

The entire staff of Annapurna Interactive quit earlier this week due to failed negotiations to become independent.

Unity has cancelled their controversial runtime fees, and just raised the prices of subscriptions instead.

Flappy Bird is supposedly back, but not according to DONG Nguyen (who I keep misnaming as Doug throughout the entire live recording, sorry) - it is actually a crypto company who purchased the abandoned trademark and has no ties to the original creator.

Then we talk to Rob about a new world record in the gaming podcast space.

We are back from Dragon Con, and I go over the activities I was involved with from a panel perspective. Be sure to check out VOG's YouTube channel for a much deeper dive into Dragon Con outside of video game talk!

Tetris Forever was announced at the Nintendo Direct, and it turns out it is Digital Eclipse's latest entry in their fantastic Gold Master Series.

SAG-AFTRA has made a deal with 80 game studios for an interim contract for voice actors seeking more protections from AI.

Since we last spoke, Concord launched and was removed two weeks later, and players were refunded for their purchase.

The Amazon Prime series Secret Level will still air it's Concord related episode, though!

Then we talk to Rob about virtual pinball and Dragon Con.

I'm going to be moderating and appearing on panels at Dragon Con! Maybe I'll see you there?

Amazon Games boss says that AI is okay because their games have no acting, and AI will only take away the boring work that junior employees use to train up to become senior employees.

Atari has announced the 7800+ retro console, which has all of the same features as the 2600+ with a 7800 shell.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is closing down after 7 years of service, but Nintendo is doing the right thing for island preservation.

Then we talk to Rob about mini retro consoles and Dragon Con.