Ding Dong the Witch is Dead - WAN Show December 22, 2023

Dec 27, 2023

Topics discussed in this podcast include the departure of Activision CEO Bobby Kotik, the future of Activision, episodic gaming and monetization strategies, the importance of sign language, food experiences in Japan and Canada, Sony's patent on automatic difficulty curves in video games, training wheels in games, updates on PC equipment signature lottery, the Google settlement agreement, Deloitte's plan to use AI for assessing at-risk employees, Apple investigation and Beeper's workaround, listening to podcasts while exercising, frustration with Christmas gifts, funny ideas, and the enjoyment of pulling apart confetti paper.

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Episode notes

Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Bobby Kotik's Departure and Activision's Future

01:53 • 16min

Exploring Episodic Gaming and Monetization Strategies

17:58 • 19min

Episodic Gaming and Financial Impact

36:48 • 17min

Pins, Precision Drivers, and Viewer Messages

53:30 • 4min

The Importance of Sign Language and its Nuances

57:58 • 5min

Food Experiences in Japan and Canada

01:02:56 • 15min

Food Places and Automatic Difficulty Curve in Video Games

01:17:45 • 11min

Training Wheels in Games, Google Giveaway, and Sponsored by Notion, Sweetwater, and Magic Spoon

01:28:39 • 3min

Merch Messages and Magnetic Cable Management

01:31:33 • 7min

Updates on PC equipment signature lottery and Steam client features

01:38:52 • 3min

Google Settlement Agreement and Entitlement Claims

01:41:51 • 4min

Costs and AI's Potential in Reducing Layoffs

01:46:04 • 2min

Apple Investigation and Beeper's Workaround

01:47:47 • 21min

Listening to Podcasts While Exercising and Gift Preferences

02:08:35 • 2min

Frustration with Christmas Gifts and Memorable Gift Experiences

02:10:51 • 2min

Funny Ideas, Lux Backpack Orders, and RGB Strips

02:12:52 • 20min

Confetti Paper and Violence

02:32:59 • 8min

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Timestamps (Courtesy of NoKi1119) Note: Timing may be off due to sponsor change:

0:00 Chapters

0:48 Intro

1:50 Topic #1 - Activision CEO Bobby Kotich to leave

2:42 Bobby was in Epstein's Black Book, was Dan on the island?

4:22 Luke lists Kotich's alleged crimes, what is left from this company? ft. Discussing islands

7:32 Microsoft's replacement, what as Kotich's legacy? Linus on bad quality, "crack"

11:26 Linus's chat with a hobby shop, challenges, Horizon Hobby & Hobby Lobby

14:20 Luke mentions Hobby Lobby's artifacts scandal, Linus mentions Traxxas

16:46 Linus on the Bobby Kotich, Luke analyzes Activision Blizzard's stock

19:34 Linus on Playstation & Nintendo pricing, count of developers of games

22:42 Raised game pricing, content sphere, episodic games, expectations & IPs

36:22 Linus's Fantasian subscription ft. How much chat spent on virtual items, FFVII, BG3 developers, game hype

43:27 Does Linus have to beat Fantasian's final boss? ft. Luke's XCOM 2, BG3 early access

46:40 Luke on using boosters or watching on YouTube, Linus on different strategies

49:00 Linus cancels Apple Arcade, saves are stored on Cloud, mentions phases 3

51:27 Fantasian playtest on Steam, Linus on the retro RPG renaissance, Luke's drivers hopefully fixed

53:08 LTTStore's new pins series 3

54:24 New Luke pin, potential holo

55:34 Precision screwdriver end cap correction

56:42 Merch Messages #1

57:19 Asides of ASL & cochlear implants, what tech can help deaf people communicate?

1:01:01 How long would pins series 3 be on sale for?

1:03:19 What did Linus do with Yvonne for their honeymoon? ft. LinusFoodTips Luke Lasagna

1:18:59 Topic #2 - Sony patents a difficulty curve

1:20:01 Are the days of beating games gone? Discussing the Spiderman game

1:22:01 Luke mentions difficulty levels, Linus on achievements & adjustable levels

1:24:28 Toggling through menu, Luke on sell boosts & dynamic difficulty

1:26:32 Problem of the difficulty being on the settings instead of menu

1:27:09 Topic #3 - wklix's LEGO build of LTT's build corner set

1:29:15 Sponsors

1:32:45 Merch Messages #2 ft. Recalling the cuffs

1:34:13 Do you have any tips for parties as a young introverted businessman?

1:38:18 What are the best monitor headphones for ears being hot and sweaty?

1:40:23 Old PC equipment signature lottery updates?

1:42:03 Topic #4 - Steam to allow marking games as private

1:43:05 Topic #5 - Google Play App settlement, to certify sideloading

1:46:24 Topic #6 - VR & AR declines, Meta spends billions ft. Linus Jumpscare

1:47:38 Topic #7 - Deloitte looks to AI to help avoid layoffs

1:49:38 Topic #8 - DOJ investigates Apple for antitrust & anticompetitive behavior

1:51:38 Merch Messages #3 ft. WAN Show After Dark

1:52:34 A follow up video on the Fairphone 5? Thoughts on it so far?

1:59:34 What are you looking forward to gaming wise in 2024? ft. LTT videos, paying for products

2:09:19 Does Luke watch The Yard?

2:11:20 Hardest person to choose a gift for?

2:16:13 What are your non-technical thoughts on quantum computers?

2:18:05 Interesting problems you had with smart home stuff?

2:19:01 Favorite WAN Show topic from this year?

2:20:03 What tech or LTTStore items would you want to put in a deep ocean pressure tank? ft. "Inverted microwaved sheep"

2:22:34 Bidet update?

2:22:39 Dan drives Linus crazy with "EXE," file extension pronunciation, a brutal roast

2:30:51 LTT is the sponsor of McMaster Baja Racing, how did this come about?

2:32:42 Dan says more file extensions

2:34:02 What are Luke's budgies favorite toys? ft. File extension rules

2:35:39 Would Linus ever move to the US?

2:38:24 How to handle being told you're the best for promotion by higher ups but passed up?

2:39:02 Linus elaborates on how using primer paint is lazy

2:41:55 Outro

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