Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Calvin Dyson’s The Spy Who Love Me in-depth review – One of the best James Bond-focused YouTubers is Calvin Dyson. Years ago, he posted his in-depth retro review of The Spy Who Loved Me – starring the late Roger Moore – which is pretty entertaining to watch. I saw the 1977 James Bond film a number of times in my life and I can say that Dyson not only made an engaging retro review, he also provided crucial insight about the movie. For those who have not seen The Spy Who Loved Me, watch it first entirely before watching Dyson’s spoileriffic review. Otherwise, enjoy his video belo.
#2 Slope’s Game Room examines Popeye video games – Growing up, I saw cartoon episodes about Popeye. I also read a few comic books about the character and even saw the live-action movie of 1980. When it comes to retro gaming, I played the Popeye Game & Watch game and then the Family Computer (Famicom) port of the Popeye arcade game. I recently found Slope’s Game Room’s retrospective video about Popeye games and to my surprise, there were more video games about the character which I never played. To discover the Popeye games and their collective history, watch the video below.
#3 The decades-old conflict between Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell – In case you somehow missed the buzz all the time, the conflict between Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell has lasted for decades. As far as the modern age is concerned, Trump successfully returned as President of the United States and O’Donnell left America for another country. The truth about Rosie O’Donnell is that you cannot trust her and you should never let her manipulate. Behind all the Hollywood glamor and entertainment glitter, Rosie O’Donnell is problematic and unstable. Her conflict with Trump goes a very long way back and I urge you to watch the video below. It is both entertaining and compelling to watch.
#4 Friday The 13th (1980) reaction videos – Do you find the 1980 horror movie Friday The 13thnotable if not special at all? For me, there is absolutely nothing special about the slasher horror film directed by Sean Cunningham (read my retro movie review by clicking here). If there is anything notable about it, it would be its economic achievement of grossing almost $60 million worldwide on a negative cost of less than $3 million (including marketing and distribution costs). When it comes to story, cinematic concepts and performances, it is still pretty weak. Still the flaws of Friday The 13th (1980) did not stop it from becoming a popular film of choice for reaction videos by YouTubers. For your interest, posted below are assorted reaction videos of the movie.
#5 Reviews of James Gunn’s Superman – Now playing in theaters worldwide, James Gunn’s Superman is bringing in a lot of money. Of course, commercial success does not clearly reflect the film’s overall quality nor the reviews it gathered from the corrupted mainstream media and from independent bloggers and content creators. It also sucks that there are some movie-focused websites that signed marketing deals with contractors of movie studios that guaranteed not only constant film promotion but also the publishing of overall positive reviews. That being said, I encourage you to take time out to watch the selected video reviews of James Gunn’s Superman below sourced from four YouTubers. If you have not seen the new movie in the cinema and you are leaning towards watching it soon, then the videos below are a must-see.
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, Mayor April Aguilar welcomed several barangay captains at City Hall and met them, the City Government confirmed via social media. Former Mayor and current Vice Mayor Imelda Aguilar was present.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from social media post of the City Government Some parts in boldface…
Mayor April Aguilar and Vice Mayor Mel Aguilar warmly welcomed the Barangay Captains of Las Piñas during a courtesy visit held at the Las Piñas City Hall.
The delegation, led by Las Piñas Liga ng mga Barangay President, Councilor Jose Mauricio Riguera, visited Mayor April Aguilar and Vice Mayor Mel Aguilar to extend their congratulations on their recent electoral victory and to express their collective commitment to working closely with the city government in pursuit of good governance, grassroots development, and responsive public service.
During the visit, the barangay leaders recognized Mayor Aguilar’s ability to connect with communities and shared their intention to work closely with her office to help ensure continued development and effective delivery of public services in every barangay.
Mayor Aguilar expressed her appreciation for their show of support and committed to maintaining strong coordination with all 20 barangays of Las Piñas.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Was your barangay captain among those who met with Mayor Aguilar at City Hall? What do you hope to see from the City Government that would benefit your local community? Do you think there will be closer relationships between the City Government and the barangays of the city over the next three years?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, local police officers apprehended two persons (both previously worked for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs) for selling fake money online, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news report of the PNA Some parts in boldface…
Two former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers were arrested for allegedly selling fake money online in Las Piñas City, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) said on Friday.
In a press conference held at Camp Crame in Quezon City, PNP ACG Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang said suspects alias “Usa,” 18, a resident of Cotabato City; and “Agila,” 30, of Zamboanga Del Sur were arrested by the Northern District Anti-Cybercrime Team, in coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), in an entrapment operation in Barangay Manuyo Dos on Wednesday.
“’Yung dalawang nahuli natin, we can confirm that they are former employees of POGO. Ito ay mga driver ng ating POGO companies. They started selling these fake money nung nag-stop na sila sa POGO (These two we caught, we can confirm that they are former POGO employees … They were drivers of POGO companies. They started selling this fake money when POGOs were shut down),” Yang said.
He said the suspects mainly operated in Metro Manila, according to reports.
In November last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order 74, ordering the immediate ban of the Philippine offshore gaming, internet gaming and other offshore gaming operations.
The entrapment operation stemmed from a report by the BSP regarding the rampant online sale of fake currency.
In response, the Northern District Anti-Cybercrime Team intensified its cyber patrolling efforts until they came across a social media post by one of the suspects offering a counterfeit PHP1,000 bill for sale at PHP150.
A total of 150 counterfeit thousand-peso bills were confiscated from the suspects, who sold them for PHP22,500 during the operation.
“May online group talaga na nagbebenta. Several groups ito. So, sinumbong namin ito sa ACG (There really are online groups where they sell these. There are several groups. So, we reported this to the ACG),” BPS Payments and Currency Investigation Group officer Mark Fajardo said at the press conference.
“Hindi maganda. Medyo apurahan ang pagkakagawa kasi hindi sila sanay (It’s not good. How it was done seems sloppy because they were not experienced),” Fajardo told reporters when asked about the quality of the counterfeit money confiscated
He said they are able to tell the fake banknotes apart because the watermark on them was more apparent and the security thread was only printed.
When asked whether the police have already determined who had supplied the fake banknotes, Yang said they are looking into a bigger figure.
The suspects are detained at the ACG custodial facility and will be facing charges for violation of Article 168 (Illegal Possession and Use of False Treasury or Bank Notes and Other Instruments of Credit) in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Yang said the operation aligns with the directive of PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III to intensify cyber patrolling and implement immediate action to prevent cybercriminals from exploiting social media platforms.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you concerned that the selling of fake money could grow into a serious problem within the city?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the video game and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back retro gaming enthusiasts, Atari fans, geeks and others who are passionate about video games!
Today we go all the way back to the year 1980 when Atari released in arcades a game that strongly resonated with people who were concerned about a potential nuclear conflict between the United States and Russia during the Cold War…Missile Command.
Designed by Dave Theurer and programmed by Rich Adam with Theurer, Missile Command is a 2-dimension shoot ‘em up arcade game that had a trackball to allow players to control a crosshair to defend six existing cities. The arcade also had three buttons players could use to launch surface-to-air missiles from the three missile bases to protect the cities from incoming ballistic missiles that came from an unseen enemy.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at the Missile Command arcade game of 1980 developed and published by Atari.
The arcade flyer with a great looking painted artwork. This one really resonated with gamers who lived during the Cold War.
Game design
As the commander of three missile bases (each armed with 10 defense missiles), the player is tasked to protect six existing cities from waves of ballistic missiles (launched by an unnamed enemy) coming down. From time to time, the enemy deploys bombers, satellites/drones and smart bombs to overwhelm your defense and test your precision and decision making.
You have three missile bases that each has its own supply of defense missiles. There are cities between each base which you have to defend from the endless assault of enemy missiles, smart bombs, war planes and satellites/drones.
When your defense missile detonates in the air, it creates an explosion which serve as a shield to destroy enemy missiles, war planes and satellite/drones when contact is made. If any projectiles from the enemy manages to get through the aerial explosion, you will have to quickly launch more defense missiles from the near base you have.
Players use a single crosshair which designates which part of the sky a defense missile can be fired at. Once the defense missile reaches its destination (placed by the crosshair) in the sky, it will explode and cause a growing flame lasting seconds. The said flame serves as a shield that can destroy the enemy’s ballistic missiles, smart bombs, war planes and satellites/drones upon contact. Defense missiles can be launched consecutively into selected spots in the sky in anticipation of the incoming weapons of the enemy.
To proceed from one level to another, the player must have at least one city remaining intact. Once all the six cities have been destroyed and the player no longer has any unused missiles (and no new cities earned by reaching certain high scores that justify rewards), the game will end with a “Game Over” screen with an explosion in the background.
Quality
In this screenshot, the enemy’s satellite/drone is floating while a smart bomb is about to hit the missile base at the lower-right. Smart bombs can be challenging to intercept because it reacts by avoiding the aerial explosion of defense missiles.
This arcade game – which is currently available for modern console owners to play via the Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection – remains very engaging and a lot of fun to play with after all these decades. As a player, my only objective was to defend the six existing cities and three missile bases from the waves of enemy ballistic missiles (and smart bombs in later levels) coming from the sky. Given the way the game was designed, this is strongly emphasized and the only times I could attack the enemy is by launching my own missiles towards the enemy’s bombers and satellites/drones (note: both of these are capable of launching more missiles at you).
If any of the enemy’s weapons hits one of your missile bases, it and the remaining supply of defensive missiles will be wiped out. Enemy missiles that hit a city will result in total destruction. Considering the intentional increase in challenge with each new level of play started, the enemy’s ballistic missiles move faster, the warplanes and/or satellite/drones appear more and the smart bomb – which is the most difficult to intercept as it deliberately avoids the aerial flames caused by your defense missiles – get launched against you.
When intercepting enemy missiles, you have to think quick where to aim (ahead of incoming missiles), which missile base to use to launch defense missiles and remember how much missiles do you have left per base.
That being said, the game deliberately becomes harder which compelled me to be more watchful of enemy weapon movements, and to be more strategic using my defense missiles while keeping a quick eye on the remaining supply of missiles per base. While the in-game difficulty intensifies per level, the game never became frustrating to play nor did it ever turn into a chore on my part. I just keep playing because I found the increasing challenges actually fun to take on.
The game’s visuals are still good to look at. It’s still engaging to see streaks of missile trails (both your defense missiles and the enemy’s ballistic missiles) fill the air above the cities and the flashing light effects that simulate explosions are still effective as eye candy. Along the way, the game’s sound effects worked perfectly with the visuals and they added a lot to the immersion.
When you score enough points, the game will reward you with a bonus city.
Me putting my initials after achieving a great score in Missile Command.
Considering its simplicity and the way it was designed, there clearly is no way for players to win at all. Rather, the game will challenge your precision, decision-making and ability to defend your cities and bases. That being said, the greater challenge is to survive and be able to move on to the next level with missile bases and whatever cities remaining you still have to defend. As with other games of the past, achieving the high possible score – which reflects your endurance, skill and progress – is a goal here. Achieving certain high scores also result in an extra city for you.
Cultural relevance
Missile Command’s legacy as one of the greatest arcade games ever released is undeniably real. Not only that, this game resulted in a lot of ports for consoles, portable gaming devices and home computers through the decades. This classic was re-released in several compilations from Atari and the Xbox-listed Missile Command contains the arcade version. In 2020, a remake called Missile Command: Recharged was released as part of the Atari Recharged series of games.
The different Missile Command arcade machines.
Missile Command even appeared for a few seconds in Terminator 2: Judgment Day which added more to the film’s concept of nuclear war.
With regards to arcade gaming, Missile Command is notable for having a trackball on its machine as a way for arcade players to control the crosshair during game sessions.
Conclusion
Apart from being the commander of missile defense, try imagining yourself being on of the citizens living in one of those cities. Can you imagine watching real-life missiles get intercepted in sky above you?
The Missile Command (1980) arcade game is a true video game classic and it remains compelling and enjoyable at the same time. It can also be an intriguing game experience since it does not let players complete the game by winning. All players can do is perform the best defense they could, survive to the next round and keep playing until their defense gets overwhelmed by the enemy and the rising in-game difficulty.
As a result of the game design, playing Missile Command is actually moral because the concept of defending your people using powerful yet limited resources is very strong all the time. Even with progressive difficulty, the game never became frustrating to play and I actually enjoyed the challenges knowing that defense and survival are main goals. Achieving the highest possible score is the other goal as reflected by video gaming of the era. Missile Command simply delivers bouts of fun and you cannot go wrong with playing it. It is not surprising that this game became a massive hit and established itself as a true classic among video games.
Overall, Missile Command (1980) highly recommended and the best way to play it on console today is to avail of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration compilation.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Domestic travel continues to lead the recovery of the Philippine tourism industry, with its receipts able to make up for the “shortfall” in international arrivals, real estate advisory firm Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) said Thursday.
“Domestic travel is so big. It’s so big and strong that it can make up for, now in the short term, the shortfall of international arrivals,” Alfred Lay, LPC director for Hotels, Tourism, and Leisure, said during the presentation of the LPC Q2 2025 Philippine Property Market Report in Makati City.
“It can do that for a long time, and the long-term goal for domestic tourism would probably to double (its) size within the next five to 10 years.”
Lay noted that domestic tourism expenditure in 2024 reached PHP3.16 trillion, surpassing the pre-pandemic level of PHP3.14 trillion in 2019. Tourism contributed 8.9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) last year.
International tourism expenditures, on the other hand, stood at PHP699 billion, up from PHP600 billion pre-pandemic levels, despite missing the 2024 targets.
In an interview, Lay said he expects inbound arrivals this year to reach at least six million.
He noted that the arrival of South Korean visitors, the Philippines’ top market, has seen a decline in the past five months, likely due to the “negative media coverage” in South Korea over security issues in the country, but long-haul tourists are increasing and have offset the decline.
According to the LPC report, Korean arrivals in the first five months of 2025 dipped 19 percent to 552,000 from 682,000 in the same period last year, while inbound arrivals from the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada surged between 9 percent and 19.4 percent.
Additional routes and flight frequencies, he said, are likewise expected to sustain this upward momentum.
Meanwhile, Lay addressed news coverage about the affordability of travel to the Philippines, stating that the country only ranks in the “middle of the pack” in terms of hotel average daily rates (ADR) compared to Southeast Asian neighbors and competitors.
The LPC report showed that the Philippines ranks fourth in hotel ADR at PHP6,048, with Thailand (PHP8,171), Cambodia (PHP6,591), and Vietnam (PHP6,359) in the top three places.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the tourism industry of the Philippines will do better this year with domestic travel as the main factor? Do you think it is still possible for the Philippines to attract at least six million foreign tourists by the end of this year? Do you think both the national government and private sector should work together to improve local infrastructure so that the cost of travel will go down?
There is no denying that consumers here in the Philippines prefer to use digital methods of paying over cash as more than 57% of retail transactions by volume are digital, according to a business news report by Malay Business Insight. The details were revealed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from Malaya Business Insight’s news report. Some parts in boldface…
More Filipinos are going cashless and transacting in e-money or digital cash as the most preferred payment for retail accounts, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said in a report on Monday.
Based on the latest BSP status report, digital payments now account for 57.4 percent of retail transactions by volume as of end-2024, up from 52.8 percent in 2023. In terms of value, e-money’s share also increased to 59 percent from 55.3 percent.
The figures surpassed the government’s target range of between 52 and 54 percent as set under the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028.
BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said the steady year-on-year growth “reinforces the momentum built after surpassing the 2023 digitalization target of 50 percent for volume.”
He also said the upward trajectory “reflects the long-term impact of market developments, policy initiatives, and the growing trust and familiarity of Filipinos with digital payment options.”
Remolona said the BSP will continue to harness technology and finance to connect markets and ensure that “every Filipino becomes part of the formal financial system.”
They will do this by empowering banks, non-banks and the fintech sector to leverage innovation in designing financial products that are not only accessible but also more responsive to the needs of consumers.”
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? When it comes to retail transactions, do you prefer to pay with cash or with a digital payment method? Do you have any e-wallets (electronic wallets) right now?
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Ashleigh Burton and Popcorn in Bed react to The Spy Who Love Me – Remember The Spy Who Loved Me? Released in 1977, the film was Roger Moore’s 3rd performance as James Bond and it was also the start of Albert Broccoli’s full control of the film franchise after breaking up with his partner. The filmmakers went all-in making The Spy Who Loved Me filled with a lot of thrills, dangerous stunts and a twist on Cold War politics to not only delight James Bond fans but also attract moviegoers who wanted something grand and fun to watch. That being said, you should watch how this 1977 Agent 007 movie drew reactions from Ashleigh Burton and Popcorn in Bed.
#2 PatmanQC examines Chase H.Q. – I never played Chase H.Q. in the arcade nor any of its ports on consoles and home computers. Historically, the game was a huge arcade hit and it was praised by game critics during its time. Chase H.Q. offered players the unique experience of playing a police officer (who has a partner) and must drive a fancy car to chase criminals who are trying to get away on the road. The game is an inspired work and if you want to discover more about how it was made and who the creators were, watch the in-depth video of PatmanQC below.
#3 James Gunn’s Superman controversy – By the time you are reading this, James Gunn’s Superman movie is already playing in theaters around the world. Just before it was released, James Gunn confirmed in a media interview that his take on DC Comics’ icon is indeed political and he even used the word “jerks” to refer to those who reject his movie. For analysis, explanations and opinions, watch the videos below.
#4 You, Me and the Movies react to Cannonall Run II – Believe it or not, the first Cannonball Run movie I ever saw was the 2nd movie titled Cannonball Run II. Released worldwide in 1984, Cannonball Run II had an all-star cast, stunts and a lot of comedy but ultimately it failed to match the commercial success of its predecessor. You, Me and the Movies recently posted its reaction video of the sequel and it deserves your attention.
#5 When Obama mocked Donald Trump – Remember back in 2011 when Barack Obama – and the elite – mocked Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner? Back then, Obama was US President and he abused his authority to put down Trump (who was rumored to run for President in the 2012 contest) to conveniently boost his own chances of for re-election. Not only that, Obama’s elite allies also pounced on Trump. By today’s standards, the 2011 event is painful for the liberals, the woke, the Satanic Left and the Democratic Party because Trump got elected as US President twice. No matter what Obama and the Satanic Left did, Trump only got stronger and hit back at them hard. Watch the video below.
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, school supplies were released by the City Government (through its City Social Welfare Development Office the Local Youth Development Office) to eight hundred and fifty local students, the local government announced via social media. Mayor April Aguilar was present during the release.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from social media post of the City Government Some parts in boldface…
The Las Piñas City Government, through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and Local Youth Development Office (LYDO), distributed educational assistance to 850 beneficiaries during a school supplies awarding ceremony held on Friday, July 4, at the Mayor Nene Aguilar Aguilar DRRMO Building in Talon Dos.
Mayor April Aguilar led the distribution of school bags containing essential items for the new academic year, including five notebooks, a lunchbox, tumbler, scientific calculator, ruler set, scissors, and an umbrella. Joining her in personally handing out the supplies were Sangguniang Kabataan Federation Chairperson Rey Angelo Reyes and CSWDO head Lowefe Romulo.
This initiative aims to support Las Piñas students from low-income families by easing the financial burden of back-to-school expenses and promoting preparedness and motivation for the coming school year.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are there many students in your local community who expressed their need for school supplies from the City Government?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Are you a victim of ticket scalping? Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, a new ordinance was signed into law by Mayor Ruffy Biazon effectively prohibiting ticket scalping locally, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
The Muntinlupa city government approved an ordinance prohibiting ticket scalping.
Mayor Ruffy Biazon signed Ordinance No. 2025-358, which was approved by the Muntinlupa City Council, “prohibiting the scalping of tickets in Muntinlupa City imposing penalties therefor.”
The ordinance defines scalping as “the resale of a ticket at a price greater than the original price printed or listed by the authorized ticket seller.”
Tickets covered by the ordinance are “any physical, digital, or electronic means of entry to a public event, including but not limited to concerts, sports events, theater performances, or exhibitions.”
“Scalping of Tickets is detrimental to Consumer Welfare and to the Development of Local Recreation and Sports Industries in the City Of Muntinlupa,” the ordinance states.
Under the ordinance, it is “unlawful for any person or entity to resell, offer to resell, or purchase with the intent to resell any ticket to an event for an amount greater than the original ticket price. It is likewise prohibited to sell or attempt to sell complimentary tickets regardless of any amount or form of payment, in kind or in cash.”
Exempted from the ordinance is the reselling of tickets at face value or less or when it is permitted by the venue’s official resale policy.
Any person found guilty of violating the ordinance will be fined P5,000 or imprisoned for a year or both depending on the decision of the court.
Official ticket booths are mandated to put up signs warning buyers of the prohibition against scalping and the penalties.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you consider ticket scalping a serious problem?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
It has been more than a week since Microsoft announced its latest round of layoffs affecting not only thousands of employees but also Team Xbox, its game studios and certain game projects as well.
To be clear, this is not the first time Microsoft had layoffs this year but it is much more significant because the latest layoff round hit Xbox really hard and already Xbox fans and gamers saw their excitement about future video games drop. It is important to keep in mind that Microsoft and its Xbox division are both profitable which makes the new round of layoffs baffling to some. So far this year, over 15,000 employees were laid of by the technology giant. With the layoffs affecting Xbox’s developers and projects, there are matters that concerned both the Xbox fans and gamers who could have joined in.
Firstly, the Xbox game studio The Initiative will be closing down and their high-profile game Perfect Dark (which involved Crystal Dynamics) has officially been cancelled. This is tragic because Team Xbox had the opportunity to reboot the decades-old Perfect Dark franchise, delight the long-time PD fans while offering other gamers something new and exciting to play. A lot of gamers have been anticipating Perfect Dark for many years now only to end up frustrated.
The Perfect Dark reboot is no more!
Secondly, the successful and reliable Xbox game studio Turn 10 saw several of its employees laid off and their team will reportedly work as a supporter for Playground Games. For the newcomers reading this, Turn 10 created and built up the Forza Motorsport franchise of simulation racing games that started in 2005. To see Turn 10 get demoted and work on support duty for Playground Games on the Forza Horizon franchise is just very odd and baffling. Could this mean that Forza Motorsport (2023) is the last game of its franchise? Do you think a leaner Turn 10 will still be able to make another Forza Motorsport game?
Thirdly, the much-delayed Xbox game Everwildgot cancelled and its developer also suffered from the Microsoft layoffs. This unfortunate development only added to the perception that developer Rare (the team behind many hit games it made with Nintendo decades ago) kept going downhill creatively, critically and commercially. Considering how long the game development lasted, I can only imagine that many millions of Dollars were spent on Everwild and Microsoft decided to pull the plug.
Fourthly and most notably, Xbox head Phil Spencer’s official email (addressed to employees) related with the huge layoffs was revealed and its content has been posted below for you to see. Some parts in boldface…
Today we are sharing decisions that will impact colleagues across our organization. To position Gaming for enduring success and allow us to focus on strategic growth areas, we will end or decrease work in certain areas of the business and follow Microsoft’s lead in removing layers of management to increase agility and effectiveness. Out of respect for those impacted today, the specifics of today’s notifications and any organizational shifts will be shared by your team leaders in the coming days.
I recognize that these changes come at a time when we have more players, games, and gaming hours than ever before. Our platform, hardware, and game roadmap have never looked stronger. The success we’re seeing currently is based on tough decisions we’ve made previously. We must make choices now for continued success in future years and a key part of that strategy is the discipline to prioritize the strongest opportunities. We will protect what is thriving and concentrate effort on areas with the greatest potential, while delivering on the expectations the company has for our business. This focused approach means we can deliver exceptional games and experiences for players for generations to come.
Do you miss the good old days of Xbox? Are you a long-time Xbox gamer who became disappointed over Team Xbox’s decisions and releases? You are not alone!
Prioritizing our opportunities is essential, but that does not lessen the significance of this moment. Simply put, we would not be where we are today without the time, energy, and creativity of those whose roles are impacted. These decisions are not a reflection of the talent, creativity, and dedication of the people involved. Our momentum is not accidental—it is the result of years of dedicated effort from our teams.
HR is working directly with impacted employees to provide severance plan benefits (aligned with local laws), including pay, healthcare coverage, and job placement resources to support their transition. Employees whose roles were eliminated are encouraged to explore open positions across Microsoft Gaming, where their applications will be given priority review.
Thank you to everyone who has shaped our culture, our products, and our community. We will move forward with deep appreciation and respect for all who have contributed to this journey.
This is my opinion about Spencer’s message…as head of Xbox, Spencer is really powerless and he has no choice but to follow orders from Microsoft’s top management whose views about video game culture and interests do not really match with what we gamers and the game makers have. For Microsoft’s leadership, they have a business to run but it is clear that gaming (electronic entertainment) won’t be going away soon and they will keep investing more money in video game projects. Of course, Microsoft expects healthy returns on its investments which is why they will keep the Game Pass subscription service moving, offer games to varied users (console, computer, mobile and cloud) and they will push through with the next-generation Xbox with AMD as a bigger strategic partner.
Regarding layoffs reaching thousands, it is depressing on face value because those who lost their jobs will have to deal with the high costs of living in first world economies like the United States and in parts of Europe. However, I see an opportunity that others cannot see…the opportunity for Team Xbox to get rid of their least-productive employees as well as laying off the woke activists scattered among the employees of the many Xbox game studios. As seen in entertainment over the past several years, woke activists working in movies, video games, comic books and TV shows do not prioritize quality, do not care about the fans, and they keep on abusing the company resources as they prioritized their Leftist agenda. Is it any wonder why modern entertainment sucks? Did you notice the use of pronouns in Xbox games?
To be fair, Microsoft and Team Xbox both have been woke for years already. In America, the tone of society has changed drastically ever since Donald Trump successfully returned as United States President. Perhaps Microsoft and Xbox executives realized that they should get rid of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) from their business practices and corporate culture before the wave of change under Trump’s America leaves them behind. As of this writing, Trump is making America great again and the woke know they are losing the culture war.
As US President Trump is reshaping America to be great again, meritocracy has become essential too. This means DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) really has no place in government, business, entertainment and culture. DEI must DIE!
I can only speculate that as Xbox game studios each have less employees to work with, there could be a renewed effort to focus more on making high-quality video games that are both enjoyable to play and worth the money of customers. The Outer Worlds 2, which will be released this October, has an eye-catching American price of $79.99 (regular edition) and already a lot of gamers – including The Outer Worlds fans – find the price excessive.
The way things are right now, the future of Xbox looks gloomy and the excitement of the Xbox fans and other gamers have weakened. That being said, we can only wait and see what will happen next in the near future. Perhaps a month from now, Team Xbox will clarify what direction they are headed to and what exciting projects or events fans can still look forward to.
How do you gamers feel about Xbox gaming right now? If you are an Xbox fan, are you feeling disappointed with the cancellation of Perfect Dark and Everwild? Do you think it is time for Team Xbox’s leadership to be changed now that Microsoft impacted the gaming projects and work forces?
Author Carlo Carrasco 