Episode 100: We Did Not Make an NFT of This Show (News Show)

Sep 5, 2021

It’s our 100th episode! Thank you to everyone who has listened and supported us! This week: The graded collectible game bubble, the scar of Cyberpunk 2077’s failed launch, China’s tightened youth gaming restrictions, and more.

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TIME STAMPS

• [00:07:05] - What the heck is going on with video game auctions?
• [00:36:11] - Apple makes more concessions for App Store payment processing
• [00:39:36] - Paradox CEO Ebba Ljungerud steps down over corporate strategy differences
• [00:46:05] - Investment Interlude
• [00:57:37] - Quick Hits
• [01:14:38] - CDProjekt Half-Year earnings stumble on Cyberpunk 2077 failure
• [01:24:35] - Game company charged with running a Ponzi scheme
• [01:31:07] - China’s new gaming regulations limit minors to three hours or play per week
• [01:39:25] - How did #ADayOffTwitch impact the streaming platform?

SOURCES

• Video Game Grading House WATA Told the New York Times That Its Employees Can't Sell WATA-Graded Games Due to Conflicts of Interest… (Proof / Seth Abramson)
• South Korea law forces Google and Apple to open up app store payments (Ars Technica)
• Japan Fair Trade Commission closes App Store investigation
• Paradox Interactive AB (publ) changes CEO and Chairman of the Board
• CDProjekt H1 2021 Financial Statement
• SEC Accuses Game Studio Owner Of Operating A Ponzi Scheme (TheGamer)
• China restricts young people to playing video games three hours a week (Washington Post)
• A Day Off Twitch by the numbers (CreatorHype)

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• Playtika enters Design Entertainment market through acquisition of Reworks, maker of Redecor
• MyGames grabs minority stake in Spanish dev The Breach Studios for $4.1 million (Game Developer)
• Clockwork Labs Raises $4.3M To Create Ambitious Community Sandbox MMORPG
• Studio Sirah raises $830k in seed funding to fuel debut mobile game (GamesIndustry)
• Gigantic Duck raises SEK 10m (GamesIndustry)
• ProbablyMonsters Raises $200M in Largest Series A Round for Videogame Development
• Azerion increases European advertising offering with the acquisition of Sublime