Killer quote:
You can’t make the average person buy a course. But you can ruin the life of the ones who do.
How to Sell a Course (Shady Millionaire Edition)
Previously at Mike Cane’s xBlog:
Previously here:
Now that streaming subscriber growth has slowed, we’ve noted repeatedly how the streaming TV sector is falling into all of the bad habits that ultimately doomed traditional cable TV.
That has involved chasing pointless “growth of growth’s sake” megamergers and imposing bottomless price hikes and new annoying restrictions — all while simultaneously cutting corners on product quality and staff in a bid to give Wall Street that sweet, impossible, unlimited, quarterly growth it demands.
Executives are not being particularly sensitive about it despite some hard lessons learned during the cord cutting years. On the heels of yet another recent price hike across Disney’s Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN streaming services (some as high as 25 percent), Disney CFO Hugh Johnston proudly declared that the company had “earned” the right to increasingly saddle consumers with price hikes:
“We do feel like we’ve earned that pricing in the marketplace, and we feel positively about that. With that will come scale benefits. The product improvements also should reduce churn and keep our consumers with us as they’re evaluating their options.”
We literally just went through this cycle to with traditional cable, yet the execs clearly haven’t learned a thing. When pressed during Disney’s earnings call on whether this might annoy subscribers, Disney CEO Bob Iger brushed aside those concerns:
“We’re not concerned. The goal is to grow engagement on the platform. And what I mean by that is obviously offering a wider variety of programming.”
The problem is the price hikes aren’t generally running parallel with service improvements. Prices are not only increasing; but product streaming catalogs are in many instances getting worse (see: both Marvel and Star Wars properties recent sag in quality and critical acclaim).
At the same time, users are facing more technical restrictions than ever in the forms of device restrictions or password sharing crackdowns. Staff are simultaneously being cut or asked to do more, with less.
Wall Street and the traditional business press laud this behavior because executives are simply looking to maximize shareholder value over the short term. The price hikes helped Disney streaming efforts reach slight profitability for the first time ever, helping convince execs that they’re somehow inherently owed massive profits now that they’ve staked out a beachhead in the streaming wars.
Of course nobody is owed anything. And there’s something these folks really don’t want to talk about: namely that, just like a traditional television industry destroyed by this exact same behavior by the extraction class, none of this is sustainable.
Wall Street’s need for improved quarterly returns at any cost inevitably leads to a sort of auto-cannibalization of product quality. You can’t deliver improved returns through subscriber growth anymore, so executives start looking at restrictions (fewer simultaneous streams, more ads, surcharges for streaming in 4K, etc.), layoffs, price hikes, production cuts, customer service cuts, and pointless, massive mergers that misdirect energy and attention away from improving product quality.
Financial deregulation has ensured there’s no real foundational interest (or financial incentive) in building lasting consumer trust, brand loyalty, or product quality. The focus is short term stock jumps and tax breaks, with the latter repercussions being somebody else’s problem (most immediately consumers and labor, but ultimately execs that have to come in later and restructure everything after the ship runs aground).
Customers might not balk at higher streaming prices immediately. For many (especially compared to traditional TV) streaming still provides a decent value proposition, and Iger was quick to insist they’re not seeing much churn yet in response to hikes. But this isn’t a cycle in which Wall Street can ever be truly satisfied. And streaming is on an accelerated timeline to what traditional cable experienced.
As you saw with traditional cable, product and brand degradation and continues until users ultimately flock to competing, more affordable options, which usually includes piracy. Piracy rates are already rising again in response to executive decisions, and executives seem poised and ready to blame everything but themselves for file sharing’s growing resurgence.
On August 20, 2024, FromSoftware announced that the Prime Video anthology show Secret Level will feature an all new story set in one of the universes of Armored Core. The series, being developed by the same creative team as Love, Death & Robots, will feature 15 shorts from various video games.
Armored Core joins a list of many other famous games to appear in installments in Secret Level, including Mega Man, Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer 40,000 and Pac-Man. The tweet announcing this FromSoftware game's involvement also showed off a mech racing across an icy wasteland and a picture of a human character who resembles actor Keanu Reeves.
You can see the official tweet here:
This isn't the first time the Armored Core property has gone beyond the video games. Numerous model kits have been made of famous Cores from the series. A novel called Armored Core: Brave New World appeared in Japan.
Blur Studio, the production company behind Love, Death & Robots and Secret Level previously did work on films like James Cameron's Avatar, created trailers for Batman: Arkham City and Batman: Arkham Knight, and redid the cutscenes for the Master Chief Collection version of Halo 2.
Secret Level will be streaming on Amazon Prime Video on December 10, 2024, and the Armored Core episode will be a part of the show.
The post Secret Level Anthology Show Includes an Armored Core Short appeared first on Siliconera.
We played Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and it certainly feels like the sequel is operating at a higher level amid the busy streets of Kuttenberg. If what we played is reflective of the KCD2's 100+ hour total, then it could end up being something rather special indeed. Previewed by Rick Lane.
Starfield finally has vehicles to help you get around the game's sprawling planets. We take the new Rev-8 out for a test drive across different landscapes and gravity biomes in the game. We also test how it fairs in combat.
Borderlands 4, Path of Exile 2's early access release, Indiana Jones for PlayStation 5, and so much more! Here's everything that Geoff Keighly announced on stage during Opening Night Live at gamescom 2024.
In today's Daily Fix:Popular Call of Duty Mod “H2M” was pulled just hours before its release time after a cease and desist letter from game publisher, Activision. Though sources are mixed on the reasoning, fans are nonetheless unhappy with H2M, which would have brought back the multiplayer mode from 2009’s Modern Warfare 2, being pulled. And, Backyard Sports announced they’ll be coming back with a trailer. The owners of Backyard Sports, which includes titles like Backyard Baseball and Backyard Football, plan to bring back the gaming franchise and could possibly bring “Backyard” to new mediums as well. Presented by NHTSA.
In a surprise twist, Geoff Keighly took to the Opening Night Live stage at gamescom 2024 to reveal not only the release date for Indiana Jones and the Circle, but also that the game will be coming to PlayStation 5 in spring of 2025. Presented by Dimensionals
We're happy to say we came away with a pretty positive outlook on Civilization VII. It's a more daring, risky take on the formula than any of the past few iterations have been, and we think that's definitely the way to go, considering those older games aren't going anywhere and are still quite playable. From Ages that completely transform your chosen civ, to a bold, readable, but grounded new art style, Firaxis is already putting their best foot forward. Previewed by Leana Hafer
Meet Fluffy, Mistika, Pandy, and Blit-Z and dive into the fantasy world of Floatopia in this extended announcement trailer for this upcoming game from Netease. The trailer showcases how you can change the weather and how you can gather your friends to play in this vibrant world. Floatopia will be available on PS5 (PlayStation 5), Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC in 2025.
Embark on a whimsical, grand adventure as rodents with magical backpacks in this Hela announcement trailer for the game from Windup and Knights Peak. Explore a colorful, realistic-looking world when Hela comes to PC and consoles.
Guess hooves back? Check out the silly Goat Simulator Remastered announcement trailer to see the reveal that Pilgor makes a return as the original Goat Simulator game is getting a remaster. Goat Simulator Remastered will be available on Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store, Xbox Series S/X, and PS5 (PlayStation 5) in 2024. In Goat Simulator, step into the hooves of Pilgor, a rambunctious goat with a tendency for destruction and chaos. Jump, kick, and lick your way across GoatVille as you find creative ways to ruin NPC’s days. Goat Simulator Remastered contains upgraded graphics and lighting, features, and every DLC from the original PC version of Goat Simulator, alongside one that was previously exclusive to mobile. The DLC includes GoatVille, Goat City Bay, GoatAsia, Goat MMO, Goat Z, PAYDAY, Waste of Space, and Buck to School.
Check out the reveal trailer for Age of Mythology: Retold, from the creators of the Age of Empires franchise.
The Old Country awaits us in Mafia The Old Country, where we go back to the 1900s in Sicily. Take a look at the teaser trailer!
Check out the reveal trailer cozy life sim, Floatopia, coming to Xbox, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC in 2025.
Check out new trailer for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, staring Troy Baker as the titular hero, coming to Xbox Series X/S and PC on December 9, 2025 and PlayStation 5 in Spring 2025.
Rule the world the way you see fit in the upcoming 4x strategy title ARA: History Untold, available for pre-order today for release on September 24th, 2024.
Check out the latest gameplay trailer for inZOI, the hyper-realistic life sim that allows you to live the life you've always wanted. Wishlist it on Steam if you're interested: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2456740/inZOI/
Journey to Albion and learn how you can build up your town of Oakridge, design anything your townsfolk need--from food to weapons and more--and affect the lives of the citizens in this Masters of Albion gameplay reveal trailer for the upcoming open-world god game, set in a world full of quests and moral choices. The Masters of Albion trailer showcases the peaceful town during the day, and how dangerous the world becomes at night as you fight to protect Oakridge from vicious creatures, like zombies and more. Master of Albion will be available on PC.The story of Albion is one of power and consequence. Navigate your way through intrigue and plot-kings come and go, lords shake you by the hand then stab you in the back, and the people work like dogs and are treated no better.Gifted god like, ancient powers, you face an enemy the likes of which have not been seen in hundreds of years. Magic is returning to the hills and halls of Albion, threatening to tear down the very foundations of society. Unravel the mystery of the mages, defeat the enemy that lurks in the night and conquer a sorcery that could kill us all. Some are born with power, some achieve power, and some have great power thrust upon them.
Peter Molyneux, creator of Fable, Black & White, Theme Park, and Dungeon Keeper talks us through his new god game, Masters of Albion.
Check out the new gameplay trailer for Little Nightmares III, a Supermassive games sequel action-adventure game coming in 2025.
Watch the trailer for Hoyoverse's urban action game, Zenless Zone Zero , coming to
Learn more about the story and see battles against formidable foes in this new The First Berserker: Khazan trailer for the upcoming action RPG, set in the DNF Universe. The First Berserker: Khazan will be available in early 2025 for Windows PC via Steam, PlayStation 5 (PS5), and Xbox Series X/S. A Technical Closed Beta Test will be available from October 11-October 20, 2024.
Arena Breakout Infinite is out now in Early Access, with the latest trailer showcasing a full release at the end of 2024.
Meet the Pale Hand Mercenaries in this latest Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred trailer. Check out the new trailer for Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred trailer to see these four Mercenaries in action, as you get to know Raheir the Shieldbearer, sly Aldkin the Cursed Child, grizzled Varyana the Berserker Crone, and the cunning Subo the Bounty Hunter. The Mercenaries are your companions who will fight by your side when called upon. You can seek the Mercenaries out and unlock them during the main quest in the upcoming Vessel of Hatred expansion for the action RPG. Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred will be available on October 8, 2024.
Take a look at the live-action trailer for Unknown 9 Awakening, an action-adventure game starring The Witcher's Anya Chalotra, coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in October 18.
Take a look at Okomotive's upcoming interactive fiction game, Herdling, coming in 2025.
Take a look at the latest trailer for the FPS Delta Force: Hawk Ops, revealing an Early Access launch in Q4 2024.
Check out the Honkai Star Rail collaboration trailer with anime Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works, coming in Q3 2025.
Take a look at the double reveal trailer for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, showcasing the release date of February 11th, 2025 and a Gameplay Premiere on August 21st.
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