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Technology Podcasts

A podcast about games, labour and unions. Made by the IWGB Game Workers.

Location:

United Kingdom

Description:

A podcast about games, labour and unions. Made by the IWGB Game Workers.

Twitter:

@GWU_UK

Language:

English


Episodes
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008 - union rep casework, cloud gaming & JRPGs

10/27/2020
We discuss Decs visit to Joe Biden's official's island in Animal Crossing, AOC and Ilhan Omar streaming Among Us, and the US Presidential Debates. Then Dec shares his experiences in taking on casework and representing workers for the union. Amazon and Google are getting into the gaming industry, and cloud gaming & subscription models are set to change what kinds of games we make. + some hot takes about JRPGs. Further Reading: Amazon Luna hands-on: Plays great, less fillingFollow Any...

Duration:02:19:15

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007 - Chatting to former chair Austin Kelmore

10/21/2020
We're back after one year with an impromptu interview with the previous chair of the IWGB game workers branch: Austin Kelmore. (There is some background noise in the beginning.) Further Reading: The Cyberpunk 2077 crunch backlash Follow Any Blockers? Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PocketCasts, Stitcher, TuneIn.

Duration:01:43:02

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006 - Comebacks, Lootboxes, strikes & jackasses

9/24/2019
We're back from an unintended summer break to talk about the DCMS report on loot boxes, as well as the various responses to it, the striking game devs at Nexon, the unionization effort at Kickstarter & bad job postings. Follow Any Blockers? on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and PocketCasts. Further Reading: Immersive and addictive technologies report by DCMSThe ESA 'strongly disagrees' with UK Parliamentary inquiry's finding on loot boxesNexon's labor union...

Duration:01:00:39

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005 - social commentary and politics in games

6/11/2019
We talk about the firing of 134 French Blizzard employees, Battlefield V selling Nazi skins, Call of Duty and its attempt at social commentary, Death Stranding and Hideo Kojimas obsession with white male actors. Follow Any Blockers? on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and PocketCasts. Further Reading: An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of DarknessStatement on the firing of 134 French Blizzard employeesFormer Rockstar Designer Says Former Top Executive...

Duration:01:40:02

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004 - Esports Pro VS Faze Clan, trade wars, tariffs, loot box legislations, and gaming disorders

6/4/2019
We talk about esports player "tfue" suing the gaming organization FaZe over an exploitative contract, how the US-China trade war results in a 25% tariff on videogame consoles, the World Health Organization recognizing 'gaming disorder' as an illness, the implications of the US loot box bill, the Sonic Movie is getting delayed, and Kevins' trips to speak at the Arcadia festival in Dundee and the Nordic Games Conference in Sweden. Follow Any Blockers? on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts,...

Duration:01:42:21

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003 - EU Working Time Directive, Crunch at CD Project Red & Call of Duty's development cycle

5/28/2019
We talk about the implications of the EU Working Time Directive, the Marx at the Arcade book launch party, the aftermath of the Riot walkout, the working conditions at CD Project Red, and Activisions' changes to the Call of Duty development cycle. Follow Any Blockers? on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and PocketCasts. Further Reading: What yesterday's EU court ruling means for the games industryAs Deadline Passes, Riot Games Doesn’t Budge On Key Walkout...

Duration:01:31:22

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002 - Riot walkout (continued), Uber/Lyft strike & Delta Anti Union Propaganda

5/21/2019
We continue talking about the Walkout at Riot Games, the international Uber & Lyft strike, Deltas' attempt at anti-union propaganda, the spectacular vanishing of Spanish publisher Syndiecate, how Detective Pikachu is surprisingly diverse, and why the Wikipedia page for game jams starts with a photo of Kevin. Follow Any Blockers? on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and...

Duration:01:24:34

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001 - Annual General Meeting & Riot Games walkout

5/13/2019
We discuss the goings on at our first annual general meeting and the workers at Riot Games trying to organize a walkout. PSA: This episode was recorded BEFORE the riot walkout. Follow Any Blockers? on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and PocketCasts. Further Reading: Riot Employees Plan Walkout To Protest Company Blocking Lawsuits From Going To Trial (Kotaku)Facts about Forced Arbitration (endforcedarbitration.com)

Duration:01:13:51