Episode #73: The GamesCast Cinematic Universe: The 2020 Year-End GamesCast
Featuring: Merve The Kappa Lovely Bones SingingBrakeman Zeussical Science is Bad Lutair LittleMac Bresson 3rdstringhero Editor: The Kappa Timestamps: 0:10 – Introduction 3:55 – The Game Awards 21:55 – COVID-19 and Console Launches 36:25 – E3’s Cancellation and Gaming Livestreams 50:25 – Mixer’s Shutdown and Twitch’s Woes 1:05:40 – Vtubing 1:08:50 – Harassment, Abuse, and Labour Issues 1:22:40 – Epic vs. Apple and Google 1:34:00 – Microsoft’s Acquisition of ZeniMax 1:45:35 – Cyberpunk 2077 Controversies 2:23:15 – Community Segment: Zeussical 2:25:30 – Community Segment: Science is Bad 2:32:40 – Community Segment: Lutair 2:34:20 – Community Segment: LittleMac 2:41:40 – Community Segment: Bresson 2:44:55 – Community Segment: 3rdstringhero 2:51:15 – Our Favourite Games of 2020 4:11:05 – Least Favourite Games and Disappointments of 2020 4:45:30 – Biggest Surprises of 2020 5:00:55 – Conclusion Download Link: https://archive.org/details/avocadogamescast_ep73 Podcast header image from Call of the Sea . Linkdump and spoiler warnings after the jump. Introduction (0:10) Wikipedia article on Among Us . Wikipedia article on Carly Rae Jepsen . The Game Awards (3:55) Official website for The Game Awards . The “human razor” was a reference to the Schick Hydrobot mascot at the 2016 Game Awards. (Source: Know Your Meme) Clarification: Xbox put out a separate developer interview around the same time as the CG trailer for Perfect Dark debuted at The Game Awards. (Source: Xbox on YouTube) The “consequences” for how you complete an objective in Perfect Dark that The Kappa was referring to happen in the missions Air Base: Espionage and Air Force Once: Antiterrorism . Depending on how you complete the former, you start in a different location in the latter. (Source: The Perfect Dark Wiki on Fandom) Sephiroth trailer for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate . (Source: GameSpot on YouTube) Reveal trailer for The Callisto Protocol . (Source: GameSpot on YouTube) Back 4 Blood gameplay trailer. (Source: GamersPrey on YouTube) Master Chief reveal trailer for Fortnite . (Source: IGN on YouTube) World premiere trailer for Evil West . (Source: Focus Home Interactive on YouTube) List of nominees and winners for the 2020 Game Awards. (Source: The Game Awards) COVID-19 and Console Launches (21:55) Episode #60 of the GamesCast, where we interviewed Scott LaGrasta. Wikipedia articles on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S . E3’s Cancellation and Gaming Livestreams (36:25) Official website for E3 . Mixer’s Shutdown and Twitch’s Woes (50:25) Reporting on Twitch’s increased music-related DMCA takedowns . (Source: The Verge) Reporting on Twitch’s more stringent language rules . (Source: Kotaku) Wikipedia article on the Scunthorpe problem . Information on the “felony streaming” bill . It appears that for now, Twitch will be unaffected by it. (Source: The Verge) Tweet about DMCA takedowns on 127.0.0.1 . (Source: @WeldPond on Twitter) Vtubing (1:05:40) Quinleythorne’s articles on Vtubers for The Avocado. Polygon’s explainer on Vtubers . Harassment, Abuse, and Labour Issues (1:08:50) Episode #65 of the GamesCast, where we covered this summer’s allegations. Jason Schreier’s Twitter thread on crunch and awards . Duke Nukem Forever co-director and Apogee co-founder George Broussard’s Twitter thread on crunch . Interview with Amir Rao and Greg Kasavin of Supergiant Games that touches on how the studio avoids crunch. (Source: Kotaku) Epic vs. Apple and Google (1:22:40) Wikipedia article on Epic Games v. Apple . Correction: Microsoft’s statement in support of Epic is technically not an amicus brief , because the matter has not yet been decided and then appealed. (Source: GameLuster) Merve’s mention of “Xenoblade” was a reference to the series’ Titans . (Source: Xenoblade Wiki on Fandom) Microsoft’s Acquisition of ZeniMax (1:34:00) Microsoft’s announcement of the acquisition. Episode #69 of the GamesCast, where we previously discussed the acquisition. Wikipedia article on Guerril