As we put together to enter a state of vacation hibernation, we can’t assist however replicate on the 12 months that was. And for video games media, it certain… was. Layoffs, shakeups, closures, ill-advised purchases, and mystifying revivals have been in plentiful provide, however there have been additionally just a few vibrant spots. I’m severe! On this week’s Aftermath Hours, we salvage just a few diamonds from an entire mess of tough.
As we’ll be celebrating with our households subsequent week, this one’s technically our final present of the 12 months. We focus on slightly of every thing: Our favourite Game Awards reveals (Onimusha, an orb recreation exemplar, is again, and so is Okami!) in addition to some which have us much less thrilled (extra Neil Druckmann nihilism in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Borderlands 4’s continuation of the collection’ quiet id disaster). Then we discuss SAG-AFTRA voice actors demonstrating exterior the present and the potential impacts of a second Trump presidency on their future prospects.
After that, we briefly contact on cameras in video games, which completely no one has Opinions about, after which Chris fills us in on the love of his life: Slitterhead. Lastly, we hand out our personal awards for the perfect and worst video games media moments of the 12 months. Oh, and we focus on Riley’s vacation gaming dilemmas, all of which might be solved if he simply purchased a Steam Deck.
You can discover this week’s episode under and on Spotify, Apple, or wherever else you like to hearken to podcasts. If you want what you hear, ensure that to go away a overview in order that we are able to create a future during which the worst video games media second of the 12 months is, like, “So-and-so revealed a sort of foolish piece” and never “Everything’s on fireplace, and the hearth obtained exponentially larger whereas we have been handing it its award.”
Here’s an excerpt from our dialog (edited for size and readability):
Nathan: I wish to begin with the perfect video games media second, and a second that demonstrated the continued usefulness of the media even in its diminished state: Dr Disrespect. We had that outing from a former Twitch worker of what he in all probability did [to get banned from Twitch in 2020], after which each Ash Parrish and Cecilia D’Anastasio leaped into motion and managed to confirm it. That’s what took it from being this little bit of rumour to a narrative that had precise ramifications that introduced down what was on the time the Dr Disrespect empire.
He sadly bounced again with a Rumble deal, however we kinda all noticed that coming. I even wrote a chunk about how that was in all probability gonna occur. But his credibility within the eyes of any kind of mainstream institution was obliterated – and justifiably so. He had inappropriate interactions with a minor. You shouldn’t be in a position to come again from that – at the very least not in any method the place you get accepted by main manufacturers and platforms.
It was spectacular reporting, and it was good to see each of these reporters get their dues in some methods – although I’m certain individuals additionally got here after them and have been shitty as a result of that’s the character of being a reporter within the 12 months 2024. But they did the factor. They made it occur.
Riley: I’ve obtained a great one. Was the IGN union this 12 months?
Nathan: Yes it was.
Chris: Yeah, that’s a great one.
Nathan: The IGN union has been actually cool, with the caveat that clearly administration has been combative in sure methods. They did these bizarre layoffs of some union members.
Riley: I used to be simply explaining final evening to a pal who isn’t in journalism the entire IGN shopping for Gamer Network layoffs and buyouts state of affairs, they usually have been like “What? How is that allowed that one firm can personal all of the web sites?” And I used to be like “Well, you see…” And as we’ve mentioned one million occasions on this podcast, a union can’t do every thing, however some of us are fortunate to have that.
Nathan: And I’ll say, in the event you take a look at these buyouts [that management is offering to staff], the phrases are fairly wholesome. People are getting between 4 and 6 months of severance, in addition to COBRA [insurance] protection. It’s comprehensible why lots of people are taking that buyout, and I might think about the union – even simply its existence, if nothing else – performed a job in acquiring that buyout bundle. It’s not supreme, however it’s one thing.
Riley: We’ve executed numerous scripting this 12 months in regards to the crappy labor situations at numerous web sites, and people issues may nonetheless exist even when these web sites had unions, however unions can undoubtedly battle them. As we go into 2025 – and as we have been simply speaking about, who is aware of what the state of organized labor will likely be underneath Trump – but it surely’s undoubtedly one thing.
Nathan: OK so, now it’s time for the dangerous moments. There are lots to select from! I feel I’m gonna say it’s a tie between Game Informer getting shut down and sort of every thing that’s occurred to Kotaku, however particularly when [editor-in-chief Jen Glennon] resigned over the editorial edict to supply exponentially extra guides. I feel that was sort of the flashpoint for just about every thing that was to return.
With Game Informer, the fast tragedy was apparent, and it had ripple results in that, as I perceive it, the Game Informer Vault – which contained numerous materials online game historical past – ended up turning into the plaything of certainly one of these fucking GameCease execs.
Riley: I wrote a weblog about that.
Nathan: He has a bunch of their stuff in his workplace and whatnot, which is terrible. What a waste. And after all, tons of individuals out of labor very out of the blue. Another publication bites the mud – one which was comparatively effectively funded. They did some work that verged on being within the realm of advertorial, however nonetheless, additionally they did some actually good work, some actually fascinating stuff. Game Informer was foundational for me; I learn it on a regular basis rising up. I’ve crystal clear recollections of the place I used to be once I was studying specific points. It’s that a lot of a factor. So its demise was tremendous tragic.
Chris: The revival of former Vice properties will not be nice, but additionally it’s simply sort of a bummer greater than actively [bad for the world]. It’s embarrassing. Twenty p.c of me was like “I get getting that paycheck, however that’s actually dangerous writing.” Who is that this for? Why are you doing this? What are you getting out of this? You’re simply doing search engine optimisation manipulation at this level.
I kinda perceive what would make somebody suppose they may salvage an unsalvageable web site, as a result of it’s such a model that you simply have been conscious of. It’s not as dangerous because the Kotaku factor, as a result of the Kotaku factor a) is private, and b) is actively harming individuals now. Whereas I’ve heard the Remap of us discuss [Waypoint’s revival], they usually’re sort of no matter about it. They obtained a great deal. They obtained to maintain the feed. They obtained out.
It’s comical, greater than something. I’ve been taking a look at Shane Smith’s presence, as a result of [Vice] introduced him again. Again, who’s that for? It’s like a extra Gen X-y Bill Maher however with much less of the enchantment. The YouTube channel Vice had – which lots of of individuals constructed; they despatched individuals all around the world – is now simply “Hot Ones” with out [Sean Evans].
Riley: They’re nonetheless making movies! I simply watched one about Axie Infinity. I used to be interested by what crypto video games have been doing about Trump being into crypto, and I discovered a Reddit submit of the Axie Infinity individuals being actually excited that search curiosity in Axie Infinity had spiked. I used to be attempting to determine why, they usually had traced it again to a Vice YouTube from final month or one thing, and I used to be like “Vice nonetheless has a YouTube channel?”
Chris: Yeah, they do, and it is best to tune in in the event you’d wish to see Shane Smith interview [noxious streaming personality] Destiny.
