The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast

In our last podcast of the year, the GamesIndustry.biz editorial team gather around the mics to share their favourite games of 2020. Matt, Brendan, Rebekah, Marie and James each share some honourable mentions and key highlights before delving into to their pick for the best game that they've played this year. Note the 'that they've played' caveat, as not all choices are in fact from 2020. You'll be able to read more about our Games of the Year at GamesIndustry.biz throughout this week. As always, you get more news, insight and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special episode of the podcast, we look at the challenges journalists and the games media have faced in 2020. For this discussion, we're joined by USGamer editor-in-chief Kat Bailey, VideoGamesChronicle editor-in-chief Andy Robinson, VG247 assistant editor Alex Donaldson, and Kotaku staff writer Ethan Gach. Together, the panel reflects on the impact of event closures, the unorthodox build-up to the next-gen consoles, the lack of networking, limitations when interviewing developers or previewing games, and more. As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew, Rebekah, and James are joined by Mike Williams to discuss the biggest stories of the week. Following the revelation that BioWare general manager Casey Hudson and Dragon Age executive producer Mark Darrah are leaving the studio -- for the second time, in Hudson's case -- we discuss the impact this could have on the company. The conversation expands into exploring the 'wilderness period' BioWare has been in for some years now, and comparing it with other studios that have lost key talent but retained high expectations from fans. We also look at the value of the Dragon Age and Mass Effect IP, the increasing competition the developer faces compared to its heyday, and our hopes for the future of BioWare. As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This special series of The GamesIndustry.biz Podcast talks to developers about the titles that influenced their careers. This time, we have Fred Horgan, senior ideation designer at Bossa Studios, here to discuss how Sega's 2000 online console RPG shaped his understanding of social and cooperative gameplay. Horgan talks about his experiences playing with friends, and how unique design elements of Phantasy Star Online inspired him to think differently about how players encounter one another in virtual spaces, and what kinds of challenges will encourage teamwork rather than competition. Game Developer's Playlist is an extension of a series we run on the site called Why I Love, in which developers explore their favorite games. You can find these articles here. Title music by Julian Villareal. The weekly news show will be back on Monday, and you can get more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt, Brendan and James gather behind their respective mics to discuss the biggest stories of the week. This week, we explore Square Enix's decision to make remote working permanent for more of its Japanese staff, and the implications this has for any couple that adopts such a model. It's a topic our contributing editor Rob Fahey delved into with his latest column, and now the podcast explores the wider ramifications of going remote. We discuss whether its viable, what it means for the future of offices, the benefits for both companies and their staff, and the challenges it creates. As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we have a special bumper-length podcast as the team takes a look back at the previous generation of consoles. With Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 now on shelves around the world, we reflect on the seven years of games and innovations offered by their forebears. Rather than just focusing on our favourite games (although we do discuss this as well), we take a broader approach by offering our takes on the most important and impactful games of the last generation. We also share our biggest disappointments, from individual titles to key studios and even entire trends. As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Five Games Of is a special series of The GamesIndustry.biz Podcast which explores the evolution of the video games business through the career of prominent developers, executives and more. This time, we explore five games from Mikael Kasurinen of Remedy Entertainment, who most recently served as game director for last year's acclaimed new IP Control. In addition to this game, we talk about his work on Max Payne 2, Alan Wake, Quantum Break and the Battlefield 4 campaign. The conversation touches on the expectations for sequels, the role of single-player in first-person shooters, experiments with the crossover between television and games, and the various attempts to explore an episodic structure for games. Title music by Julian Villareal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest episode of our podcast is available to download now, and somehow, we're not talking about next-gen consoles. Instead, FIFA is on the mind, following yet another lawsuit filed complaining of Ultimate Team loot boxes, and news of a new FIFA spend tracking tool allowing players to limit how many matches they play or how much money they can spend in the game. In response to that, Brendan has published an editorial exploring EA's refusal to admit its games dabble in gambling while it simultaneously struggles to make its game acceptable to potental regulators. It's this editorial that Brendan, Matt, Chris, and Rebekah unpack, alongside discussion of the FIFA franchise's steadily dwindling approval from critics and players alike. As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special bonus episode of The Game Developer's Playlist, we take a look at Hideo Kojima's final outing with Metal Gear Solid. Brendan takes over hosting duties from Rebekah as he's joined by Jeffery Thompson Jr to talk about the mix of gritty stealth and goofy balloon extractions, with horror elements and more poignant messaging all woven into the mix. Thompson Jr is one of the founder of Polish start-up Epoch Media, currently part of the ReactorX Polish accelerator program. He shares the impact Metal Gear Sold 5: The Phantom Pain had on his career, as well as the inspiration he has drawn for upcoming steal action game Pensions. Title music by Julian Villareal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris, Brendan and James are on hand to share their early impressions of the new consoles. Having recieved a mix of PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S units, the team has had a couple of weeks to get to grips with them, so what do we think of the next generaiton? We discuss the most interesting features, from both a user and business perspective, as well as touching on performance, visuals, loading times and more. We also look at the new devices through the lens of each platform holder's strategy and how they set Sony and Microsoft up for the years to come. As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices