If you have not already listened to the podcast of this category, this is the final results, so this will spoil the course of the discussion on that podcast! Be warned!
Worst Trend is the category with the hardest, most unpleasant cuts. How does one say that a given issue that has ruined lives doesn’t make the top of the list? What insult isn’t “bad enough” to make the list? It feels like selling people’s pain short, and that’s the last thing we want to do. It is unfortunately just the nature of the situation: some issues have to get more attention than others. They should all be fixed. But these are the ones we thought were the most widespread and dangerous.
The Winner?
Everybody getting fired
How many stages are there to end-stage capitalism? I suppose I should know better than to be surprised by its constant escalation of evil, but… I don’t. I still find myself taken aback by its latest and greatest act of self-sabotaging cruelty. The number of talented studios and people we’ve lost over 2023 is… devastating. Heartbreaking. There’s no good reason for this.
I am optimistic that this will bite companies in the ass, and they will regret the decision. In my retail job, I’ve seen attempts to cut corners on personnel get punished, hard. But that’s selling bread and toilet paper. I don’t know if I can count on Phil Spencer to really feel the sting of consequences for how many people’s lives he’s ruined in a staggeringly shortsighted pursuit of profits.
The Runners-Up
AI art/voices sneaking into video games
Everyone has to say it when discussing AI, and we’re not exempt: it’s not AI. Large language models are not AI! Your braindead database barfing a slurry of references run through a blender is not AI! But, it’s being called AI by the world at large, and communication is about being understood, so we have to use the term.
We’re in the dumbest future, y’all. What if Bladerunner was a detective staring at a promo image for Magic The Gathering cards and rolling his eyes. “Well, this is obviously AI. You can tell because it looks like shit.” This is what we get. Mass theft of art, be it visual art or the performances of actors, turned into expired Soylent to dump into games. It would be more complicated if the end product was at least compelling. But for all the rampant plagiarism and theft, the result is trash. You can’t even feel torn on this one- it just sucks all the way around.
So Many Acquisitions
Remember when the markets were regulated? It feels like a distant memory. These days, if a company has an idea, the government thinks its job is to enable them. No! Your job is to protect people! A low priority for them in so many ways. Well, as long as it’s open season on mergers, buyouts, and all other acquisitions, life is gonna suck for customers and the rank and file of the companies as well. Mass firings (see above) because of “redundancies.” Buying out your competitor then raising all your prices while making your service even worse (hi Crunchyroll!). Embracer Group gambling with people’s lives… and not even making smart bets. It’s bad out there, y’all. Take care of yourselves.
Ok, folks. To be honest, glad to have that one behind us. Good vibes from now on. Come back on Friday for Best Moment!
Our art is a commission from @inkopolis on Twitter. 2023 version coming soon!
