We start off by answering a viewer question - why did I install blacklights into my basement arcade?
The Gizmodo Media Group Union, consisting of writers from sites like Kotaku, went on strike for better working conditions, and won right before we went on the air. (But not before the outlets used articles from other regions not represented by the union!)
A bunch of Intellivision news from recent weeks which points to the company being sold and the Amico probably never coming out.
Then we talk about picking up older games after not touching them for a while, and about the No Man's Sky expedition going on now.The Bobby Blackwolf Show
The Bobby Blackwolf Show is a weekly internet radio show and podcast discussing the latest news in gaming as well as sometimes reminiscing about gaming's history. It records LIVE on Sundays at 8PM Eastern/5PM Pacific on the VOG (Voice of Geeks) Network Twitch Channel while taking live calls via Discord and including chat room interaction. The show began in October of 2004 as an internet radio only show, taking a hiatus in December of that year. It relaunched on July 24, 2005 and has been broadcasting new content every weekend ever since. On December 18, 2018, it moved from radio to video on Twitch.
While the show focuses on recent news and events in the gaming industry, frequently it delves into the independent or barely mentioned gaming scene, as well as discussing gaming's history with classic games.
The show has covered six E3's, two GDC's and Independent Games Festivals, four Penny Arcade Expos and multiple Dragon Cons, as well as other gaming events in the southeast, like SIEGE and the Southern Fried Gaming Expo.
Some guests of the show during its long run have been: Video Games Live, Homestar Runner, Atari Flashback 2, Beggar Prince, MechCorps, The Silver Lining, PlayStation Home, Gearbox Software, Devolver Digital, Telltale Games, and the IGDA. Bobby has also interviewed voice actors AJ LoCascio (Back To The Future), Jessie Seely (Double Dragon Neon), Ellen McClain (GLaDOS), John Patrick Lowrie (Team Fortress 2 Sniper), and Jennifer Hale (Mass Effect FemShep), as well as musicians Tommy Tallarico (Everything), Ken Allen (Sierra On-Line), Jake "Virt" Kaufman (Shovel Knight and DuckTales Remastered), and GRAMMY award winner Christopher Tin.
The show does not work without YOUR live interaction, and each chatter is thanked personally at the conclusion of each episode. Come join us on Sundays at 8PM Eastern/5PM Pacific at the VOG (Voice of Geeks) Network Twitch Channel!
We start off by answering a viewer question - why did I install blacklights into my basement arcade?
The Gizmodo Media Group Union, consisting of writers from sites like Kotaku, went on strike for better working conditions, and won right before we went on the air. (But not before the outlets used articles from other regions not represented by the union!)
A bunch of Intellivision news from recent weeks which points to the company being sold and the Amico probably never coming out.
Then we talk about picking up older games after not touching them for a while, and about the No Man's Sky expedition going on now.This episode is a pinball podcast - regular video games will return next week.
I just got the Rush Limited Edition pinball machine (#944 out of 1000) and set it up - but setting it up wasn't as smooth as it should have been!
I also installed the Pinwoofer aftermarket sound kit to get more bass out of the music - which also wasn't as smooth as it should have been.
But at least I'm now done buying pinball machines, because my second favorite act Weird Al will never get a pinball machine............oh no.
Then we talk to OLR about Rob's new home and things going on in video games.Nintendo is closing the Wii U and 3DS eShops in 2023, with payment methods going away in the middle of 2022.
This means that up to 1000 digital only games will no longer be available to legally acquire in any way.
Various libraries and museums are commencing preservation efforts, however the Entertainment Software Association, who represents publishers like Nintendo, continually take them to court to stop them from doing so - even though they keep losing horribly.
Print out your photos. Don't rely on just digital backups.
There WILL be pinball talk on the next episode...There will NOT be a live show on February 13th, as I will be watching TV with a small group of people I haven't seen in years.
Sony has acquired Destiny 2 developer Bungie for $3.6 Billion.
Most of that money went to securing the talent by offering them more money if they stay with the company for several years instead of immediately leaving.
The New York Times has purchased viral hit Wordle for over $1 million, and people think it will stay ad-free and free to play forever. (It won't.)
Google has deprioritized the Stadia service in favor of the "Google Stream" technology, choosing to spend more resources working with companies like Peleton rather than consumers.
Then we take a call trying to convince Bobby to get Pokemon Legends: Arceus, as well as talking about why we're seeing so much consolidation in the gaming industry recently.Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Master was released on PC and Xbox Game Pass, but unfortunately the PC version had to be temporarily delisted because you couldn't actually run it. Luckily, a mod was made to put a bandaid on the problem so people could play it. (But really, Drum'n'fun on the Nintendo Switch is a much better version of Taiko no Tatsujin and frequently goes on sale!)
Valve has announced that the Steam Deck will start shipping in February, so watch your emails as you will only have 72 hours to confirm your order when your spot in line comes up.
Sega has sold its remaining shares in Genda GiGO Entertainment which means that Sega will no longer OPERATE arcades in Japan after doing so for multiple decades. (This does NOT mean that Sega is no longer making arcade games.)
Then we take calls about Taiko no Tatsujin and Pokemon Legends: Arceus.Huge news took place this week that pushed other announcements aside - Microsoft announced their intention to purchase Activision Blizzard King for $68.7 billion.
Embattled Activision CEO Bobby Kotick will stay in his position until the deal closes in 18 months, but will then be on the way out.
Sony released a statement saying they expect Microsoft to honor all existing contractual obligations, considering Sony is the "home of Call of Duty" in a marketing sense.
Activision sold because they dug themselves in a hole with AAA game development, and were looking for a suitor.
Rob Roberts and I went on the air on Tuesday with a special VOG Roundtable to talk about this, and it is up on the VOG YouTube.Awesome Games Done Quick 2022 Online raised over $3.4 Million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, which is a WR for speedrun charity marathons! Check out the show notes on VOGNetwork.com for links to the unofficial charts referenced regarding donations over time and how they were broken down by game.
I was a host/donation reader for four games, and it had its ups and downs. Overall, it was a very positive experience and I hope to audition well enough to do it again in the summer.
People ask me if I'm a speedrunner, and I used to tell them no...until now. It turns out that the Any% Major Glitches speedrun of The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past is super simple to pull off, and I teach you how it's done, courtesy of a bonus incentive on the final night of AGDQ 2022.
Then we talk to Rob about the news that I didn't talk about.
Don't let the fact that I didn't talk about the big gaming news distract you from the fact that Georgia defeated Alabama 33-18 to win the 2021 College Football National Championship! Go Dawgs!We get a viewer comment that lists their favorite games that came out in 2021 - and there were a lot of great games that came out!
Stern Pinball showed off the Rush Pinball machine in detail, and I threw my wallet at them.
At CES, Sony revealed PlayStation VR 2 - but not a release date or price.
E3 has cancelled their in-person show for 2022, conveniently blaming the current COVID variant.
Then we talk to Rob about Mass Effect Legendary Edition on Xbox Game Pass, and Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster.Awesome Games Done Quick 2022 is this week, and I've got three shifts as a host/donation reader! I'm hosting the first half of Final Fantasy XIII on Tuesday, Lost Judgment on Thursday, and on Saturday I have Earthbound and Fallout New Vegas. Hype!
Stern Pinball teased a Rush pinball machine...More next week!
Tim Sweeney responded to a user on Twitter explaining that the Epic Games Store can't offer gift cards because they don't take as much of a cut from developers as Steam does - which shows where Epic's priorities are.
John Madden might be best known as a football coach and commentator, but he was also an influential game designer, shaping sports video games forever.
I talk about what it's ACTUALLY like to play video games like Sonic The Hedgehog, Cuphead, and Beach Buggy Racing 2 in a 2015 Tesla Model S - and what you can and can't do while the vehicle is in operation.
Then we talk to Rob about our favorite games of 2021.I got Sonic The Hedgehog running on THEC64, which is the large size version of the C64 Mini, which means if you have that with the latest firmware, you too can play the Sonic Commodore 64 port! Check out my YouTube channel for the raw video footage of Green Hill Zone.
There had been a grand total of 15 items sold on the Ghost Recon Breakpoint marketplace by resellers as of December 20th.
Ubisoft is being hit with The Great Resignation, along with just about every other industry in the world.
Then we talk to Rob about holiday gifts and New Years Resolutions for 2022.