iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

also us being like this totally emboldens the sort of bullshit artist execs who /can/ busk their way through interviews in that way

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There can be an argument about authenticity on that front but also I think sometimes it gets in the way of us properly interpreting what the business is doing for players - cos that's what we should be, an interpreter. But I think a lot of specialist media don't actually 'speak' biz at all really

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I think part of the problem is we're not very good as an industry at approaching a business interview as a business interview, basically. So she'll do Totilo or Dring etc but she ain't ever gonna do a mainstream game pub out of fear of what mad uncharted territory the conversation will go into

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I genuinely think that's what it is. Every time they try to embellish her gaming credentials it backfires (the gamertag/achievement stuff, the "GoldenEye is my fave game" followed by a copy of fuckin Rogue Agent prominent in her office in a photoshoot... So why bother, why pretend at that point?

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I think the thing is, she just doesn't really know that much about games. And y'know, you can be a great CEO anyway (look at the success of Zelnick). But being a woman as well, I can get why you just don't want to get into that can of worms and get tripped up and pilloried on some esoteric qeustion

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But trust me, I'm not in a rush to employ anyone full time. One of the things that has allowed me to own one of the more resilient indie games media businesses in the UK has been my obsessive reticence to scope & scale up. I keep it small and tight, for safety. I'm the biz equivalent of a prepper!

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I wouldn't describe a rush to reemploy in the media at all; part of the problem is we have a massive brain drain, especially on older and more experienced people. Upward mobility is poor, as are wages, so people age out, or eventually when the layoff comes for them /then/ they bounce.

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I mean, for one, the media is different imo. For two, who said anything about full-own employment? I don't have jobs to advertise, but I've funnelled a couple of grand to recent redundancies in freelance commissions -- if I can stopgap them to whatever they do next in that way, I bloody well will.

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Industry? Open doors for outlets; give code, give access. Give indies a shot & be surprised by how much more soulful their coverage is than a big outlet where everyone is overworked to the bone

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And remember, support can come in many forms. Yeah, you can back direct, but... Reader? Whitelist on adblock! Visit daily! Bookmark! Subscribe to their youtube channel, their podcast. Even make a site your homepage. Repost their social stuff. Help them to pump up those numbers - no cash required.

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Respec — Writing, Video, and Podcasts about video games

Anyway, on this theme - the main site will always be free, but we've got some fun stuff on the @respec.net Patreon. Respec's contributor list is almost entirely made up of super talented people chewed & spat by the big machine and corporate fuck-ups. Support appreciated: www.patreon.com/c/Respecnet

patreon.com

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imo 100% reader supported is probably a folly for all but a few. In this economy not everyone can afford to pay. For my part, RPG & Respec will always be free. But if you like using games sites & can afford, I feel we've reached the point where giving indie outlets a bung is a moral imperative.

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Alex Donaldson @apzonerunner.com · 14h

When I left IGN/GN, I vowed to try to give as much work to as many people fresh out of publications as possible during these cuts - but even for a healthy business, the demand/need now is impossible. The future is independent, smaller, & reader-supported. Support the coverage you want to see!

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Omega appears to be teasing a new Bond watch. Mysterious new product listing on the website sans pictures/info, SPECTRE logo hidden in the code, etc. Seems to be a Casino Royale 20th thing. Quite surprised they're issuing this so soon after the First Light piece tho

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Mikhail @va11halla.bsky.social · 15h

Yea...... avoid this on Switch 2 www.respec.net/feature/236-...

PS5 Pro, PS5, and Switch 2 docked for Dynasty Warriors 3 Complete Edition Remastered. Read my full DW3 Remastered comparison review here: https://www.respec.net/feature/236-dynasty-warriors-3-complete-edition-remastered-switch-2-vs-ps5-pro-review-steam-deck-rog-ally-pc

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Reposted by Alex Donaldson

Returned to the Nintendo Museum for the first time since it first opened. It's had a few updates, but it is actually in the absences that the museum drives home just how fast modern Nintendo is transforming into a different sort of company - far too fast for this attraction to keep pace. Thoughts:

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ashley bardhan @ashleybardhan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Oh 100%. They have book now fwiw which has interviews with creators etc, but it's slim pickings. I think the shop has some nice exclusives but almost all the console eras stuff is total tat.

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Reposted by Alex Donaldson

is there a better word than devastated? (shattered? fly-swatted?) anyway i've been laid off. i joined gamesradar+ as a freelancer in 2023, and the site had my lifelong admiration by the time i became a senior writer in 2024. i'll miss it lmk if u need a creepy🧟‍♀️ gurl: ashleybardhan(at)gmail(dot)com

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I think tbh if you allow photography a lot of the museum becomes a bit more pointless as upstairs especially could 100% be understood/shown/appreciated in a youtuber's video tour

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Jill Pantozzi @jillpantozzi.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

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Last month, a Google alert directed me to an interview I did with cartoonist Matt Furie—creator of Pepe the Frog…only I haven’t done any interview and I’d never even met Furie. So I clicked. "None of this is true": AI, content farms, and one completely made-up article. bsky.app/profile/then...

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During TGS, James had the chance to check out Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, as well as the new Switch 2 port of the base game. His early impressions: www.rpgsite.net/preview/21478-at-tg…

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Our third feature on The Witcher 3 Remastered today focuses on the Steam Deck. It is more demanding to run given the visual upgrade, but it still delivers a great experience on Valve's handheld: www.rpgsite.net/feature/2147...

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Reposted by Alex Donaldson

Our second Witcher 3 feature today covers The Witcher 3 Remastered on PS5 Pro going over the performance and ray tracing modes: www.rpgsite.net/feature/21473-the-w…

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Alex Donaldson @apzonerunner.com · 28/09/2026

The Witcher 3 Remastered on Nintendo Switch 2 offers a gigantic upgrade over the Switch 1 version. Our impressions with some comparisons: www.rpgsite.net/feature/21472-the-w…

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it was a better world then though wasn't it

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Alex Donaldson @apzonerunner.com · 28/09/2026

they just followed up with another pitch, and by pitch I mean a full 1200 word sample article lmao

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Alex Donaldson @apzonerunner.com · 26/09/2026

ahh full blown editorial pitches from an AI is it

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Tom O @vgtomo.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

In fairness this is almost certainly gonna be some common dropshipped thing that has been put in a unique shell or whatever. I can't remember the last time I got or saw something like this that wasn't effectively something off Temu

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Reposted by Alex Donaldson

Konami sent me the deed to a whole house in Scotland. Thanks! I'm renting it out and raking in £1000 per calendar month. Comes unfurnished apart from a tiny portable TV.

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I def think there are things any of us would chuck in the loft, thinking "if times get hard..." Couple of ancient devkits up mine on that logic, ha. But straight away is mad! The fact this person also sold the 007 promo thing that has a recorded message that addresses you /by name/ is dead funny

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It even applies to being able to get review code, even. Putting time aside for a sec... if you're a film critic & get bypassed on a release, you/your outlet is out... what, $15? But anyone who doesn't get the next big AAA is out maybe 5-6x as much, etc etc. It's a problem

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I /often/ hear friends in PR talk about specific peers as being soft & easily swayed by a sexy preview trip to the studio or a steady flow of tat. There are certain companies whose marketing cycle is /massively/ predicated on keeping a handful of pet people sweet, even. But it's a product of the pay

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This being true is proof that nothing is as black/white as people often like to pretend. Tho it opens another can of worms in terms of one being swayed by free tat cos they know their paycheck just doubled, etc. It's fucked up that the industry has created conditions where this math tracks tho

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