by Joan Zahra Dark | Oct 9, 2024 | News, Video Games
Another month, another GYGO labor roundup. On a scale of “okay” to “god awful” for labor news, I’d rank this around a “general sense of malaise, but it could be worse!” This month, SAG-AFTRA strikes League of Legends as part of the ongoing video game actors’ strike in response to contractor Formosa Interactive trying to get around the striking union. Plus, a few smaller stories about Microsoft, again, and blatant generative AI use in games.
At the time this is being written, we face the one-year anniversary of Israel’s brutal attacks on Gaza and Palestinians that have now extended into Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran, among other countries. Israel has killed over 40,000 Palestinian people, with even more wounded, starving, tortured, and millions displaced from their destroyed homes. Operation Olive Branch has a master list of mutual aid resources right now. Donate, protest, talk about Palestine, just don’t be silent. (more…)
Joan Zahra Dark is a writer, organizer, and interdisciplinary artist. They love talking about queer comics, stories that can only be told through interactive mediums, worker cooperatives and gay robots. They’re based in Queens, NYC.
by Joan Zahra Dark | Jul 31, 2024 | News, Video Games
I’m so glad we have some genuinely good games labor news for a change. I mean, hi, I’m Joan, and this is Sidequest’s games labor roundup. How are you?
This month, we’ve got stories about new unions across Bethesda Game Studios and Activision Blizzard, as well as the latest around video game performers’ strike with SAG-AFTRA that’s been nearly two years in the making.
At the top of all our stories is your reminder of the ongoing genocide Israel is carrying out in Palestine. Now, more than ever, as much of the Western world is attempting to move on from the genocide, we need to keep speaking about Palestine and fighting for a permanent ceasefire. If you’re in the United States, the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights has a great toolkit to help get you involved if you’re not sure where to start. Sidequest colleague Zainabb Hull’s weekly Crips for Palestine newsletter collects actions that disabled folks can take in solidarity with Palestine every week if you’re looking for another incredible resource. (more…)
Joan Zahra Dark is a writer, organizer, and interdisciplinary artist. They love talking about queer comics, stories that can only be told through interactive mediums, worker cooperatives and gay robots. They’re based in Queens, NYC.
by Joan Zahra Dark | Feb 8, 2024 | News, Video Games
Hi everyone, it’s Joan here again for a labor in games roundup for February. I had to remind myself it was only February this week with how much seems to have been crammed into January. Between Activision-Blizzard layoffs from Microsoft and the big push some companies are doing for more “artificial intelligence” in games, we’re off to a great start to 2024, clearly.
As other GYGOs have mentioned, a quick reminder to support Palestine and Palestinian people however you can during this ongoing crisis. The team over at People Make Games, one of the only large voices in the games industry openly supporting Palestine, has a great video outlining why we can’t afford to be silent. If you’re in the United States, the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights has a great toolkit to help get you involved if you’re not sure where to start. (more…)
Joan Zahra Dark is a writer, organizer, and interdisciplinary artist. They love talking about queer comics, stories that can only be told through interactive mediums, worker cooperatives and gay robots. They’re based in Queens, NYC.
by Joan Zahra Dark | Jan 3, 2024 | News, Tabletop Games, Video Games
Hey y’all, it’s Joan with another labor in games roundup to ring in the new year! For all your Baldur’s Gate 3s and your Tears of the Kingdoms last year, the human cost of making games feels especially neglected for chasing profits. We’ll get into some of the layoffs news for December as well as some grim overviews for the year as a whole. And some positive union news for a change, with wins for union contracts and labor rights against artificial intelligence!
As other GYGOs have mentioned, a quick reminder to support Palestine and Palestinian people however you can during this ongoing crisis. The team over at People Make Games, one of the only large voices in the games industry openly supporting Palestine, has a great video outlining why we can’t afford to be silent. If you’re in the United States, the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights has a great toolkit to help get you involved if you’re not sure where to start.
(more…)
Joan Zahra Dark is a writer, organizer, and interdisciplinary artist. They love talking about queer comics, stories that can only be told through interactive mediums, worker cooperatives and gay robots. They’re based in Queens, NYC.
by Zora Gilbert | Dec 14, 2023 | News, Video Games
Hello, and welcome to Get Your Game On! I’m Zora, and I’m here to report on… well, frankly, whatever moves me when my turn comes around. This week we’re taking a close look at global human rights abuses and whatever the hell is going on with Microsoft, but I did get deep into the weeds on the bizarre branding partnerships that have come out of games marketing in the last few weeks. So… stick around for that, I guess. (more…)
Zora Gilbert cares a whole lot about words, kids, and comics. Find them at @zhgilbert on twitter, and find the comics they edit at datesanthology.com.
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