Video Games are Real

Author: Caleb J. Ross

  • Which Game Publisher SHOULD Microsoft Acquire? – Masters of Unlocking Podcast Episode 014

    Which Game Publisher SHOULD Microsoft Acquire? – Masters of Unlocking Podcast Episode 014


    [powerpress] The rumor mill is running wild about Microsoft buying EA, Valve, or PUBG.  We look at why those don’t make sense and propose three new contenders for who we think House Xbox SHOULD acquire.

    Show Notes

    • Gaming Archaeology:
      • Caleb and VGCollectaholic recap their recent game pickups
    • Epic Set List:
      • Discussion of what we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts
    • What’s News:
      • Toys R Us closing 20% of its stores – we reminisce about TRU and Kay*Bee Toys
      • I spent 453 hours in Fallout 4 and all I got was this stinking inner peace
      • A truly unique piece of Zelda: Breath of the Wild art
      • Mario Kart coming to a smartphone near you
      • Red Dead Redemption 2 delayed
      • Nintendo Switch’s online service finally gets a date
      • Father of Playstation stepping down as Sony’s CEO
    • Main Event:
      • Rumors abound about a potential looming video game publisher acquisition by Microsoft.  We look at the rumored names – EA, Valve, and PUBG Corp – and then ask who SHOULD Microsoft acquire?  Turns out… it’s not one of those three.
  • My Video Game Coin Collection

    My Video Game Coin Collection

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    I’ve been collecting video game themed coins for a little while. Though I don’t do collection or pick-up style videos, I felt this particular video was warranted as I don’t see too many video game coin videos out there. Let me know in the comments below if you collect video game coins. Are there holy grail coins that I should be looking out for?

    Also, what are your thoughts on Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain?

    Lastly, I recently created a dedicated website to catalog my video game coin collection. Check it out!

    (more…)

  • I’m Not Buying Limited Run Games Anymore

    I’m Not Buying Limited Run Games Anymore

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    I still love Limited Run Games. I will still support them in any way I can that doesn’t involve buying games (I ordered a t-shirt today). I’ve realized recently that having unplayed video games on my shelf bothers me. I wish it didn’t, but it does. I simply have too many games. Unfortunately, Limited Run Games releases are the majority of my unplayed games on my shelf. I plan to play all of them, but given my limited amount of time, I cannot rationalize adding more to my shelf.

  • 5 Things You Didn’t Know Your Nintendo Switch Could Do

    5 Things You Didn’t Know Your Nintendo Switch Could Do

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    The Nintendo Switch is great. But it’s actually greater than you know. Here I present five things you didn’t know your Nintendo Switch could do. Call them Nintendo Switch Easter eggs, tips, tricks, secrets, whatever. They are fun, and that’s the important point. Let me know in the comments below if you’ve experienced any of the Nintendo Switch’s secret capabilities.

    Music Credits

    Cyborg Ninja Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Overwatch League & Twitch; YouTube Demonetization – Masters of Unlocking Podcast Episode 013

    Overwatch League & Twitch; YouTube Demonetization – Masters of Unlocking Podcast Episode 013


    [powerpress] No shortage of news this week as we discuss the Overwatch League debut, CES video game announcements, Nintendo unveiling cardboard Legos, and a business look at the YouTube demonetization drama.

    Show Notes

    • Gaming Archaeology:
      • Caleb and VGCollectaholic recap their recent game pickups
    • Epic Set List:
      • Discussion of what we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts
    • What’s News:
      • Twitch paid Blizzard $90M for the rights to the Overwatch League; is that an insane price?
      • You probably love video games… but can you LOOOOVE video games?
      • Switch console sales in Japan have gone to Ludicrous Speed
      • Nintendo Labo… perhaps you’ve heard of it?
      • Controllers Galore!  We discuss some awesome game controller announcements from CES
    • Main Event:
      • We discuss YouTube’s recent controversial decision to demonetize small channels – do the perspectives of a content creator and a video industry insider clash?
  • Are Video Games Too Expensive? [VIDEO]

    Are Video Games Too Expensive? [VIDEO]

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    Hey future Caleb, in your year of 2078 are you still paying $60 for a video game? I hope not. And I don’t think you should be paying less. In fact, I think you should be paying more. I, present Caleb, should be paying way more. If future game publishers have been able to maintain profitability at a $60 price point–a price point that hasn’t changed in over 20 years–then I have to assume one of two things. Either loot boxes, other microtransactions, DLC, day one patches, and ports from previous console generations aren’t just the norm, but are in fact themselves rife with loot box loot boxes, nano transactions, day zero patches, and nostalgia motivated DLC ports not of games but of the installation progress bar. (more…)

  • Toy-Con, Nintendo Switch Cardboard Accessories seems really, really fun [VIDEO]

    Toy-Con, Nintendo Switch Cardboard Accessories seems really, really fun [VIDEO]

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    Nintendo has announced Toy-Con which is part of Nintendo Labo, a Google Cardboard meets Lego educational experience that promises to be really, really cool. Imagine making a fishing pole accessory for your Nintendo Switch out of cardboard. Or even a Nintendo cardboard piano. Both will be possible. But imagine the possibilities of making your own cardboard accessory. (more…)