Author: Tim Browne

Hololive, Vtubing

A farewell to Murasaki Shion

Murasaki Shion will be graduating on the 26th of April 2025. She’s been a long-standing member of Hololive, debuting back in 2018 and will be the 2nd member of Gen 2 to graduate after Minato Aqua.

Shion has been a part of Hololive for almost 7 full years and she was one of the first members to be scouted by Cover Corp rather than audition a significant milestone for Hololive’s development back in 2018. She’s seen the company grow into what it is today, and she leaves behind a strong legacy. For non-JP fans this will be a short recap of her time in Hololive and what she achieved. Continue reading A farewell to Murasaki Shion

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Hololive, Vtubing

Gawr Gura Graduation Announcement – FAQs and Reflections

On March 19th, I wrote a piece on graduation following Murasaki Shion’s announcement. Since then, two more graduations have been confirmed: Nanashi Mumei and now Gawr Gura from Hololive English.

Rather than repeat the same sentiments from that article, I’ve decided to keep this short and frame it as a FAQ-style reflection, offering some clarity based on what we currently know. Continue reading Gawr Gura Graduation Announcement – FAQs and Reflections

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Film and TV

Why the Minecraft movie really concerns me

The anticipated Minecraft movie, set for release after 11 years, raises concerns about media adaptation, resembling an extensive advertisement rather than a quality film. Despite heavy marketing and merchandise, its potential for creativity appears lacking compared to the successful LEGO movie. Nonetheless, viewers remain hopeful for unexpected quality. Continue reading Why the Minecraft movie really concerns me

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Video games

The Cost of Overexpansion: How Bungie and Hi-Rez Mismanaged Their Success

The article discusses the challenges faced by game studios Bungie and Hi-Rez as they expand into multiple projects. While trying to balance their main hits with new ventures, both companies have suffered from quality issues and resource mismanagement. The need for focused development and sustained player engagement is emphasized to avoid failure. Continue reading The Cost of Overexpansion: How Bungie and Hi-Rez Mismanaged Their Success

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Hololive, Vtubing

Let’s talk about Graduation

Murasaki Shion’s impending graduation from Hololive marks a notable increase in departures, the fifth since August 2024. This trend reflects various personal reasons, shifting dynamics within Hololive, and the rise of indie VTubers. Despite the emotional impact, graduations allow talents to transition positively, while new generations and affiliations offer a fresh direction for the agency. Continue reading Let’s talk about Graduation

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Hololive, Vtubing

How a Touhou Meme Shaped Hololive’s Biggest Merch Success

The Hololive “Friends With U” plush line, introduced in late 2022, mirrors the successful Touhou Fumos, offering fans consistent collectibles of favorite characters. This in-house merchandise boosts profits significantly for Cover Corp, establishing Hololive’s unique identity. The strategy allows for enhanced branding and creativity, contributing to its commercial success. Continue reading How a Touhou Meme Shaped Hololive’s Biggest Merch Success

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Video games

Corporate Influence in Game Design: The Forgotten Age of Empires 2 Story

It’s quite a common criticism of the video game industry that corporate and other external stakeholders hold too much influence over the design team and that this culture is the result of many of the troubles in the industry. In recent years we’ve seen games pushed for early released such as Cyberpunk 2077 even though the project wasn’t ready, we’ve seen games like Overwatch 2 … Continue reading Corporate Influence in Game Design: The Forgotten Age of Empires 2 Story

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