One of the things that results from this level of industry consolidation is even more consolidation. It happens for all the same reasons that the original ones did, the preconditions still exist, but then when the FTC asks you why this merger is necessary, you just gesture out your window at the Kaiju Amalgams they've feted previously. You indicate their chimerical body plan, the gnarled tusks, the trail of smoking, emerald slime behind them, and you say there's no way for us to even exist in this place with those things running around. Look at its taut, distended belly, the trapped spirits swirling within, desperate for release. It doesn't even matter what we make, they will say, our industry is a feeding ground. We must become monsters, or we will be food for monsters.
Of course, what generally happens is both, but that's beside the point. We live in the shadow of this thesis. If you can buy Activision, you can buy anybody. Realistically, you don't even have to actually do it. The signal itself is enough to define an epoch. But maybe there's another path.
Three extra things:
First, expect incredible Lexcalibur II news shortly. I'm reading over the hardcopy Lidija gave me at the office yesterday, and I did cry a couple times. I have no idea where some of these came from. A "pre-order" placed now wouldn't be very much of a wait, is all I'm sayin'. And for those who preordered back at Christmas, the full-color bookmark with the bonus poems on it turned out SO GOOD.
Second, the skirmish wargame we did a sponsored stream for - Rivenstone - is in its last 24 hours or so on Kickstarter. I loved what I played, it's a legible system that feels kinetic on the board, and I want the best for this local company doing a cool thing.
Third, I'm heading over to my best friend's house this afternoon to play Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors Of The Eternal Sun on the Genesis live on stream for all the world to see. Last time there was only one Fruit by the Foot and he ate it. I feel like, as the guest, that fruit should have gone to me. Let's see if this wicked, hideous goblin has read any books on etiquette in the last seven days.
(CW)TB out.
