Props to Sarah Bond! She put in the best performance, even the judge was praising her in private (with an accidental mic on) and Microsoft's expert witness, Elizabeth Bailey, the judge couldn't stop bringing up her data (in a positive manner). Clearly Elizabeth and Sarah left a good impression on the judge, give em both a bonus! Lol. Microsoft better recognise Bond for her performance.

Beth Wilkinson (Microsoft's lawyer) was on the ball too, she was great and very sharp, quick to her arguments, judge didn't really challenge her much, it was funny she almost slipped up though by implying the judge said something and the judge was like "I didn't say that, the FTC said that" and Beth was instantly like "shit shit, sorry"

Phil, Booty and Pete held their own too in a stressful environment, Phil of those 3 was the best, it was typical Phil while Booty and Pete were obviously nervous and stumbled a little but nothing enough to criticise them for. Satya was a bit funny, the FTC got absolutely nothing out of him, I guess I shouldn't be surprised from a CEO but he was just speeding through his responses and then bounced out of the court, man has better things to do, Lol.

I feel like the judge did make that point in relation to subscription services, she basically implied that Sony could do day one releases using their huge IPs as well and grow their subscription service but they choose not to and that isn't Microsoft's fault, that surely can be applied to Cloud services too.

As an example, the Judge also said a lot that COD is just "one IP" and how can one IP be this significant, she listed off even Hogwarts Legacy as a major IP released this year which is currently the best selling, she doesn't seem to buy the theory that one IP can be essential and she knows there's multiple major IPs in the market.

So that being said, if one IP isn't essential to Console, then one IP shouldn't be essential for Cloud services either? I feel like Microsoft made a good point in backing that up by using TV Subs as well and that everyone would like to own the Bond IP but nobody needs to own the Bond IP to be a success in the market, there's plenty of huge IPs that people own or create themselves and grow their services.

Microsoft's major advantage in Cloud shouldn't be considered content because there's dozens of huge IPs and big IPs are constantly being created, Microsoft's major advantage in the Cloud is having a huge Azure infrastructure...That I feel like wasn't mentioned at all, Lol.

But lets say, an ISP enters the Cloud market (I actually think these guys have more chance than most if they become interested), they already largely have the infrastructure or capability, lets say one of these ISPs partner with a publisher, they still have plenty to choose from or plenty of independent larger IPs still available AND they have the audience too.

Jim Ryan's testimony was weird too, he basically helped kill the console concern, the judge was even referencing him in the closing arguments "Jim Ryan said it's not anti-competitive" Lmao. All this time Sony spent trying to kill the deal on a console concern and then Jim comes in and helps kill the console concern.

It was kind of wild how unprepared Jim Ryan seemed.

Disagree on Sarah Bond having having the best. She had an easy job with just explaining the market. She did a great job with doing that, but wasn't pressed. I'd give the biggest W to Phil tbh. The way he shut down the economist? with basic knowledge he would know, explaining how the Switch is competition, while also being pressed gives him the edge imo. 

Beth did too well especially that 3rd? day with the Harvard economist. Legit felt bad for him. 

Shoutout to Jim Ryan on his testimony as well. Didn't expect that level of entertainment. Wish he showed up live though. 

Glad I listened to my boi Reeceybaby.

Was about to get this on ps5. Seriously can't wait for this. 

I legit wish there was a way to get skinss for the cat, pcmr huh. 

How about this mod? Make the cat look like Garfield lol

Garfield - Cartoon Edition at Stray Nexus - Mods and Community (nexusmods.com)

But here's also just straight different skins

Pick of the Litter at Stray Nexus - Mods and Community (nexusmods.com)

It really feels like...I don't know if Jim Ryan helped FTC at all? Lol.

How bout you STFU? Who did the Judge praise? Sarah! Did she praise Phil? No!

Jk.

She did have an "easy" job but still explaining the market that eloquently on trial is still a tough job and she made an impression on the judge more than others so explaining the market might have helped Microsoft throughout the entire trial.

Actually I completely forgot about Phil shutting down FTC's lawyer, that was pretty brutal to have the person on trial giving you an economics education in front of dozens of people, Lol. Phil was sharp.

Bruh, FTC's expert witness was dragged throughout the entire trial...Even on the closing arguments he was still being dragged, and the judge kept pointing out how Microsoft's expert witness, Elizabeth, had data but FTC's didn't, Lol.

Elizabeth's pay rate should be swapped with Microsoft's other expert witness, that dude didn't feel worth the $1.2m, Lol.