jimquisition

Blizzard Chose Tyranny (The Jimquisition)

Activision Blizzard has been mired in controversy since it punished professional Hearthstone player Blitzchung for his vocal support of Hong Kong. Seen as a move made to placate China, the decision to suspend and withhold money from Blitzchung was torn apart by critics. 

As Hong Kong protesters fight for their continued autonomy from China, and as corporations across America cuddle u...

Jimquisition Wasn't Censored! I Had To Fix Something

While it'll cost me views, I had to take down today's video to make a quick correction. A picture of Japan ended up in the edit while we were talking about China, and while I know most people will be okay with that as an honest error, a simple correction in the comments and on social media isn't enough for me, especially given the dicey nature of the topic. 

I can't stand errors in m...

Doing A Livestream Right Now!

Doing a livestream for some games that I like. Hop on in! 

Podquisition 252: Revolution Of Our Time

This podcast is never political. Promise.

We chat about Basingstoke, Ghost Recon Breakpoint, and Pokemon a lot. We never mention Hong Kong. Promise.

You can listen/download directly here and get the RSS feed  2019-10-10 15:09:36 +0000 UTC View Post

Asking Sterling (A Patreodcast) #19

Hey hey! Time for another Q&A podcast answering your queries for October. This time we chat 80s/90s kids TV, the morale issues of making unique videos, and VR. Plus loads of other stuff. 

We'll be back to round out the questions before the month is out, I hope. Enjoy! 

Games That Embarrass The "AAA" Industry (The Jimquisition)

Shall we talk about good games doing good things? Between Borderlands 3 and Code Vein, we have examples of cosmetic rewards and customization done right in the "AAA" space. 

With the catalog of Focus Home Interactive games, we have mid-tier games providing complete experiences that the market's been starved of. 

These are the titles totally humiliating the "AAA" industry.&...

Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered

Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered is an interesting throwback. Not only does it hark back to an era where linear, straightforward videogames were common, its development history shines a light on publisher greed. 

While I certainly have plenty to say about the game itself, I am more interested in talking about how Activision spurned this game, and what CEO Bobby Kotick said abo...

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint - Tony Recon's Ghost Clancy Breaklands (Jimpressions)

This game doesn't deserve serious critique. These open world live service looter shooter "AAA" pieces of garbage have become increasingly bothersome to talk about. So let's get boozed up. 

After filling myself with liquor, I found I could more appropriately give Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint the video it deserves. And it most certainly deserves this terrible, terrible video.&nb...

Podquisition 251: Naruto Honk

Time for our New 52 reboot! Conrad Zimmerman joins the gang as we discuss taxes, giving up on life, and Untitled Goose Game.

Also, Code Vein, Risk of Rain 2, and Gearbox's union issues!

You can listen/download directly here and get the RSS feed 2019-10-03 18:44:26 +0000 UTC View Post

Garbage Nintendo's Gacha Garbage Is Garbage (The Jimquisition)

Mario Kart Tour is total rubbish, which is par for the course when it comes to Nintendo's boring mobile games. 

Loot boxes, frustration, bad controls, Mario Kart Tour has it all. More crucially, its glorified Battle Pass nonsense, the Gold Pass, looks absolutely abysmal next to the recent launch of Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass. 

Nintendo doesn't really care about the ...

Asking Sterling Questions Post!

It's time for that thing where you do an asking of a question so I can answer it on an Asking Sterling podcast! Sorry it's been a while since we did one of these, I've been ridiculously busy with our video content lately, especially Jimpressions stuff and working on the new aesthetic of the show (I'll have a separate post about that in the near future). 

Ask away, my lovely patrons, ...

Code Vein - Thirsty Anime Soulslike Action (Jimpressions)

Code Vein has been rather aptly described as "Anime Dark Souls", but there are some notable differences between this undead adventure and From Software's. And we're not just talking about the boobs. 

With its focus on player flexibility and experimentation, backed up by tons of special abilities and character classes, Code Vein offers something engaging, even if its combat can be a l...

Podquisition 250: Miracle Of Sound

After five years of service to the world of inane videogame chatter, Gavin "Miracle of Sound" Dunne is stepping back from our silly podcast. It's been a pleasure and a privilege, and we hope you enjoy Gav's final Podquisition as co-host in this double-length episode.

You can listen/download directly here ...

Contra: Rogue Corps - Fucking Embarrassing (Jimpressions)

It's almost impressive just how wrong this game is. As a Contra game, Rogue Corps almost goes out of its way to be completely inept. As a general shooter, its sub-par in every way. 

Slow, repetitive, and ugly as hell, Contra: Rogue Corps is embarrassing even by Konami's low standards, and this is all before we get to the weapons overheating. 

Because weapons overheat in th...

The Surge 2 - A Surge Of Brilliance (Jimpressions)

The Surge 2 represents Deck 13's strongest crack at a Soulslike yet, and it's really damn good. They nailed it this time. 

Fast, aggressive, challenging, and wildly entertaining, not even some shockingly bad texture glitches can hold back the sheer amount of fun I've had dismembering my way through Jericho City. 

The Surge 2 is, simply put, a brilliantly good time.  2019-09-24 14:38:31 +0000 UTC View Post

The ESA Is A Big Piece Of Shit (The Jimquisition)

The Entertainment Software Association represents the "AAA" game industry's interests in the US, and that alone qualifies it for side-eyes. Its recent pitch for E3 2020, however, is stunning in its awfulness. 

So let's discuss the ESA and why the increasingly irrelevant E3 is set to become downright dreadful in the future. 

The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening - Old School To A Fault (Jimpressions)

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a stunningly faithful recreation of a classic Game Boy adventure. It's gorgeous, too. I mean, really gorgeous. 

Its got an aesthetic that demonstrates perfectly my argument that raw graphical power is not necessary make a stunningly beautiful game. In fact, Link's Awakening may be the best looking game on a console full of lovely visuals. ...

Podquisition 249: All Night Ass Douche (With Guest Ashens)

The one and only Ashens joins the crew this week to talk about the asstastic douching of Borderlands 3's script, alongside Blasphemous, card games, and Boglins!

You can listen/download directly here and get the RSS feed 2019-09-19 15:03:59 +0000 UTC View Post

It's Microsoft's Fault That Videogames Are Bad (The Jimquisition)

It behooves first party publishers to provide top quality productions that make their consoles worth buying. Nintendo and Sony have both produced amazing games to sell us on the PS4 and Switch. 

Microsoft, however, is different. Microsoft has decided to act no better than a grasping third party "AAA" publisher. Even worse, it set the tone of a generation and contributed - perhaps mor...

Borderlands 3 - The Totally Unbiased Critique (Jimpressions)

Borderlands 3 has faced tumultuous PR on the road to its launch, but now the game is out, we can completely divorce it from any context that may involve its developer and publisher. 

So, let's have a totally uncolored chat about Borderlands 3, which is a Borderlands game, and see if this Borderlands game is more Borderlands than other Borderlands games! 

Greedfall - A Bit Of Poison On My Blade, And Lets GO! (Jimpressions)

Focus Home Interactive is publishing all kinds of mid-tier stuff, and it's pretty awesome. Greedfall is a Spiders-developed game, and if you've played any of their prior work, you know what that means. 

A solid, if undercooked, action-RPG that tries to dabble in some intriguing themes, Greedfall could use more action and a more creative setting, but it's fine enough. A bit of poison ...

Podquisition 248: Fap Titans (With Guests Mari & Stacy)

This episode should have been called something else, but we couldn't call it what it should be called. This is as safe-for-work as we can make it. 

Mari and Stacy from Geek Remix/Pixel Squirt joins us for talk of Deadly Premonition, World of Warcraft, and some very sexy videogames. 

Blasphemous - Deliciously Macabre Misery (Jimpressions)

Blasphemous had my attention way back when it was a hopeful Kickstarter project nobody had heard of. Now it's finally here, and it was worth the wait. 

Challenging, beautiful, and exquisitely mournful, Blasphemous flavors its methodical pacing with a little influence from Dark Souls and Metroidvanias, while maintaining its own unique voice. 

From gorgeous visuals to magnif...

How Game Companies Abuse Passion (The Jimquisition)

Been planning this one for a while, and recent allegations toward Starbound developer Chucklefish provided the right avenue.  

Young developers are often praised for their passion, and passion can be a wonderful thing. Chasing a vocation with gusto and energy is generally positive, but it can nonetheless be abused by more cynical wielders of power. 

The game industry is of...

Gears 5 - Swarms My Heart (Jimpressions)

Gears 5 is pretty damn good, huh? A campaign that dares to revitalize the series' formula, backed up by some classic multiplayer, Horde Mode, and all that nonsense. It's real good. 

It's gorgeous to boot, with great lighting, meaty effects, and an icy new environment with all the snowy fun it entails. I'm tired. I was up all night playing Gears 5. So tired. 

Podquisition 247: Chamberlain Is Friend To Gelfling! (With Guest Ellen Rose)

Ellen Rose from Outside Xtra joins the crew as we discuss Control, Astral Chain, and how awesome The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is. 

Also, NBA 2K20's gambling, and a little dose of that good Deadly Premonition.

You can listen/download directly here and get the RSS feed 2019-09-05 15:06:33 +0000 UTC View Post

Dark Pictures: Man Of Medan - Ship Mates (Jimpressions)

Supermassive Games is following up the critically acclaimed Until Dawn with a series of shorter but similar horror experiences. Up first in the Dark Pictures Anthology is the aquatic Man of Medan. 

Like a Quantic Dream game, except good, Man of Medan really shines through in its co-op, where two players work together and sometimes spend large stretches of the story apart. And of cour...

GAMING DISORDER

Let's talk about Gaming Disorder. A much ballyhooed classification by the World Health Organization, this official designation of gaming addiction is seen as unnecessary and alarmist in many gaming circles. 

Is it, however, a genuinely problematic classification, or a misunderstood one? We're going to find out together! 

Final Fantasy Is For Soy Boy Beta Feminists (Commentocracy)

Only a REAL member of the gaming elite can see Final Fantasy XV for what it really is, because it's *checks notes* a feminized game for SJWs? 

Duke Amiel, a 16th Century aristocrat, returns to read REAL hardcore comments from REAL hardcore gamers, this time bringing wisdom from a guy with only a few buzzwords to draw from, but a lot of anger about feminist tentacles. 

Blair Witch - Yes, You Can Pet The Dog (Jimpressions)

A ludicrous number of games appeared over a handful of days. By far the most anticipated for me was Blair Witch, being that I'm quite the fan of found footage movies and have a lot of fondness for The Blair Witch Project. 

I gotta say, it turned out rather well. Not quite the creepfest I was hoping for, it's nonetheless inventive and atmospheric, and feels like it fits within the Bla...