Just got thru this, fantastic pod! First time coming over from the politics side of the house, but avid gamer (PC and Xbox, strategy and shooters) and wanted to harangue the Bulwark community into trying a Civ or Humankind or Endless game! You guys would love them I think.
If there was a Bulwark stream I'd watch it, or play if possible. Love to see you guys get down in some Stellaris.
I just got through listening to this podcast (sorry! Life happens) and it was eye-opening to me. I’m one of those mobile gamers, used to play lots of console and PC games. My grown children are big gamers and are also agitated about China’s influence on the industry. Great, interview.
And sadly it isn't just the Chinese government - it's often their brainwashed citizenry as well. When Red Candle games, just a few years ago a very promising Taiwanese horror game company, released their title "Devotion" on Steam, someone noticed one scene contained an anti-Xi poster on a wall (comparing him to Winnie the Pooh, a common insult against him). Immediately Chinese gamers began neg-bombing that and their other extremely successful title on Steam. They ended up having to immediately pull it. It was in limbo for over two years before becoming available on their website last year.
Sonny, I stopped playing "Hearthstone" and all Blizzard games because they caved to China and took away the 20k award of the world Hearthstone winner who came from Hong Kong and shouted out for Hong Kong protestors when he won. That is awful. And I used to love all the Blizzard games. Can't stand the CCP and those who suck up to it.
If you ever revisit the gaming industry in your pod maybe the predatory monetization tactics could be discussed. In the new Diablo Immortal PHONE game people have spent literally hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to upgrade their characters.
First time listening to the podcast, I loved today's topic. Not to be too snarky, but is it really less effort to say POV compared to "point of view"? If you want to be extra efficient you could just ask a question without specifying that you want the point of view of the guest since that is already implied.
For much of my life I was decidedly NOT (as Sonny puts it) a filthy casual. I was, in essence, a professional. The trouble was that most of my "professional" career occurred before streaming and e-sports were things. I was a world first progression raider in a couple of MMOs and was heavily engaged in alpha and beta testing (and internal content testing) bask when that was actual testing and not something handed out to generate hype/interest/ and streaming content.
Well, it's gaming-ish. As I reveal in the episode, I'm a filthy casual (the last game I played was God of War 4, which I finished this month after letting it sit on my shelf for the last two years) though I'm considering picking up the PS5 remastered The Last of Us Part One. Two games in one year would be a feat for me.
One game a year is a feat for me. I haven't played anything since before the pandemic. But for years many students would tell me I look like Arthur from Red Dead Redemption 2. Finally a kid just gave me his copy and I've been addicted for months.
Sep 22, 2022·edited Sep 22, 2022Liked by Sonny Bunch
The subject matter was gaming related and it was treated in the same way as your film coverage. Usually its treated as a sideshow waste of time by any outlet that isn't solely focused on youths or the games industry itself. I was impressed and appreciative it was taken seriously here.
Just got thru this, fantastic pod! First time coming over from the politics side of the house, but avid gamer (PC and Xbox, strategy and shooters) and wanted to harangue the Bulwark community into trying a Civ or Humankind or Endless game! You guys would love them I think.
If there was a Bulwark stream I'd watch it, or play if possible. Love to see you guys get down in some Stellaris.
Mentioning Civ is like lighting the JVL beacon!
Tim had an article on political streamers iirc... I'd love to see the Bulwark go into that space.
I just got through listening to this podcast (sorry! Life happens) and it was eye-opening to me. I’m one of those mobile gamers, used to play lots of console and PC games. My grown children are big gamers and are also agitated about China’s influence on the industry. Great, interview.
Thanks, glad it was informative!
And sadly it isn't just the Chinese government - it's often their brainwashed citizenry as well. When Red Candle games, just a few years ago a very promising Taiwanese horror game company, released their title "Devotion" on Steam, someone noticed one scene contained an anti-Xi poster on a wall (comparing him to Winnie the Pooh, a common insult against him). Immediately Chinese gamers began neg-bombing that and their other extremely successful title on Steam. They ended up having to immediately pull it. It was in limbo for over two years before becoming available on their website last year.
Sonny, I stopped playing "Hearthstone" and all Blizzard games because they caved to China and took away the 20k award of the world Hearthstone winner who came from Hong Kong and shouted out for Hong Kong protestors when he won. That is awful. And I used to love all the Blizzard games. Can't stand the CCP and those who suck up to it.
If you ever revisit the gaming industry in your pod maybe the predatory monetization tactics could be discussed. In the new Diablo Immortal PHONE game people have spent literally hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to upgrade their characters.
https://gameworldobserver.com/2022/06/27/diablo-immortal-requires-over-500k-to-max-out-character-due-to-hidden-whale-mechanic0
https://www.pcgamesn.com/diablo-immortal/pvp-battlegrounds-whale#:~:text=A%20Diablo%20Immortal%20whale%20says,clan%20contest%20Rite%20of%20Exile.
When you wrote CCP I started wondering what the Eve Online guys were up to now.
First time listening to the podcast, I loved today's topic. Not to be too snarky, but is it really less effort to say POV compared to "point of view"? If you want to be extra efficient you could just ask a question without specifying that you want the point of view of the guest since that is already implied.
This is relevant to my interests. Impressed to get a gaming podcast.
Gaming is HUGE business.
For much of my life I was decidedly NOT (as Sonny puts it) a filthy casual. I was, in essence, a professional. The trouble was that most of my "professional" career occurred before streaming and e-sports were things. I was a world first progression raider in a couple of MMOs and was heavily engaged in alpha and beta testing (and internal content testing) bask when that was actual testing and not something handed out to generate hype/interest/ and streaming content.
Get back on streaming, I'd watch.
What are ya playing now?
I'm hopelessly addicted to Europa Universalis 4.
Well, it's gaming-ish. As I reveal in the episode, I'm a filthy casual (the last game I played was God of War 4, which I finished this month after letting it sit on my shelf for the last two years) though I'm considering picking up the PS5 remastered The Last of Us Part One. Two games in one year would be a feat for me.
One game a year is a feat for me. I haven't played anything since before the pandemic. But for years many students would tell me I look like Arthur from Red Dead Redemption 2. Finally a kid just gave me his copy and I've been addicted for months.
Alright you filthy casual, there is no God of War 4. It's just God of War.
Now go pick up Elden Ring and git gud.
It's definitely God of War 4. That's just a simple statement of fact
I learned this the hard way sifting through Google results when I was trying to figure out where a rune on a treasure box was.
Saying "the fourth God of War game, God of War" is way too many words.
The subject matter was gaming related and it was treated in the same way as your film coverage. Usually its treated as a sideshow waste of time by any outlet that isn't solely focused on youths or the games industry itself. I was impressed and appreciative it was taken seriously here.