Episode 157: The ESRB Is Getting Weird (News Show)

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board wants to use facial scanning to keep your kids from playing GTA and other adult-focused games. Also, it’s earnings season, with Microsoft, Capcom, Sega, and EA kicking us off. We also cover two more instances of the dreaded “payoffs for layoffs,” and a heap of listener questions! You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:1:55] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for June 2023 [00:13:20] - Microsoft Q4 FY23 Earnings [00:19:43] - Capcom Q1 FY24 Earnings [00:23:40] - Sega Q1 FY24 Earnings [00:29:51] - EA Q1 FY24 Earnings [00:31:28] - Nintendo Q1 FY24 Earnings [00:35:55] - Investment Interlude [00:45:39] - Quick Hits [00:56:30] - Labor Report [01:02:41] - The ESRB Wants to Use Facial Scanning for Age Gating [01:13:20] - Listener Questions SOURCES Microsoft Earnings Release FY23 Q4 | Microsoft Capcom Q1 FY24 Earnings | Capcom Capcom Makes Swordcanes Studio Co., Ltd. a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Through Share Acquisition | Capcom Sega Q1 FY24 Earnings | Sega Electronic Arts Reports Strong Q1 FY24 Results | EA Nintendo Q1 FY24 Earnings | Nintendo Financial Results Explanatory Material | Nintendo Take Two Interactive execs' pay doubled this year | Axios Discord Lays Off 4% of Workforce | The Information 15 USC 6501: Definitions (house.gov) What Do We Do About the Biases in AI? (hbr.org) | Harvard Business Review If consoles can't crack China, their future is limited | GamesIndustry.biz  INVESTMENT INTERLUDE TECHLAND'S NEXT CHAPTER AND THE ROAD AHEAD | Techland MICROSOFT’S SUBMISSIONS ON MATERIAL CHANGES OF CIRCUMSTANCES | UK CMA