In what has been a rather sour week of gaming with major bummers including big Bungie layoffs and gaming journalism taking yet another blow with the closure of Game Informer. Not to mention, amid more disappointing figures for Xbox on the Console side, games not selling well enough and yeah… just less than wonderful news in general. Sean is joined by Randy Isbelle on this episode to discuss all of these things, and also actual video games too.
Firstly, Bungie is in some major trouble as the company once again lays off employees, seems to be losing more autonomy, not to mention, suffering from internal mismanagement in its scope with projects. Where does the blame lie in this whole thing and how much of it is on Bungie CEO Pete Parsons who’s come under fire for his own spending lavish habits. Should Sony be ruing this decision to buy Bungie? And can they turn this ship around at all after the Bungie layoffs? As reports suggest this was happening no matter how well Destiny 2‘s Final Shape expansion performed.
Aside from the Bungie layoffs, Game Informer closes after 33 years of being a lightning rod and wonderful beacon of gaming journalism. Effectively, being the last major gaming magazine in the United States. The guys share their memories of Game Informer, while also discussing Gamestop’s role in this, and if there is still hope for gaming journalism as whole?
Plus, Sean and Randy have been hooked on Supermarket Simulator, they also discuss EA College Football 25, if Microsoft is pretty much admitting that Xbox consoles are a luxury and that their main focus lies elsewhere, bad news for those waiting on Avowed, and more!
Game Informer Closes Down, Major Bungie Layoffs Are Among this week’s big stories
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About Video Games 2 the MAX
Video Games 2 the MAX features a longtime veteran of Games Media, Sean Garmer, along with either his semi-regular co-host Marc Morrison or even a guest co-host to discuss everything involving Video Games each week, which includes the games they are playing or reviewing, all the big news of the week in gaming, a special topic, and even some Movies or TV Show topics at times as well. All from the viewpoint of gaming content creators, gaming journalists, and gaming consumers too.
Sean Garmer
Sean Garmer has a long history with Video Games. He started his love of games watching his brother play Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System. His first system was the Super Nintendo and he literally spent days at a time playing Super Mario World. He later fell in love with Pokemon for the Gameboy and thus his Japanese RPG fandom was born. Sean has channeled that love of games into reviewing them. Not only that, he also analyzes the games industry on the Video Games 2 the MAX podcast, and writing about it on various sites. Sean pretty much plays any kind of game nowadays, but he still prefers his love the JRPG.
Marc Morrison
Marc Morrison brings years of experience writing about games and of course playing them. He currently writes a Top 8 column every week at 411mania and also reviews games as well. Marc plays different kinds of games and he takes analyzing games to heart. Marc is also a big fan of the classics and collecting games. He’s constantly looking for deals whether it is at the local flea market, on Steam, or another digital network. Marc also brings a practical look at the Entertainment realm and is happy to spend time talking Doctor Who or another TV show.