Archive for the 'Podcast' Category
Episode 128: Mutated Monkeyshines
This week, the Pack chats with the legendary Max Schaefer, one of the minds behind the Diablo series and CEO of Torchlight developer Runic Games. Schaefer discusses the game’s development, ties to Blizzard, a forgotten Lynx classic and even a few tidbits on the studio’s upcoming MMO. Later, Justin, Tom and Tony dive into Toy Soldiers mint-condition battlefield, Nick hunts down Zeus in God of War II and Kaz suggests that Battlefield: Bad Company 2 might be the ultimate modern warrior. Plus, the Activision vs. Infinity Ward brouhaha and a return to the Aperture laboratory.
Editor’s Note: Late in the interview, some of the sound was distorted as we brought Skype to its knees with far more conference call participants than recommended.
6 commentsEpisode 127: Baby Master
You can come out of your fallout shelter now; the ApocalyPS3 is over and there’s a new podcast to download. This week, Tony delves deeper into the story and multiplayer of BioShock 2 and Nick channels Poseidon’s Rage in the first half of the God of War Collection. Tom and Justin follow that up with a Heavy Rain deluge that touches upon everything from rocking babies to tying shoelaces…oh, and there’s a story in there, too. Plus, a plea to dust off your Wii and the final word on the PS3 brouhaha.
Relevant Links:
Neil LaBute’s Heavy Rain promotional video (courtesy of /Film)
1 commentEpisode 126: Punky Brewster Winterbucket
“Too many games” seems to be this week’s theme, as the fellas played almost everything they could get their hands on. Tony and Nick pilfer some precious pastries in The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom, Tom and Justin pull the plug on grandpa in the latest Resident Evil 5 DLC and Kaz explains why an inefficient PC is a happy PC. On top of that, tune in for Shiren the Wanderer, Darwinia+, Bayonetta, BioShock 2, Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth and Battlefield: Bad Company 2. An intimidating gaming hodgepodge for sure, but if you can’t handle it, maybe you should stick with “Crash.”
Relevant Links:
“Is Your Life Just One Big RPG?” DICE 2010 Speech
**Correction** Kaz mentioned on the show that Shattered Horizon was normally $40, but it was marked down to $30 over that weekend. The correct prices would be $20 and $10, respectively. Thanks to “Sworen” for the catch!
1 commentEpisode 125: Massectomy
Hope you’re ready for some spoilers, because the guys need to get the Mass Effect 2 end-game off their chests. But before the guys embark on that suicide mission, Kaz, Tom and Tony wonder whether or not Heavy Rain will stay afloat in a sea of bad voice actors. Why is Sony not throwing the big bucks around this time? The Pack also talks about Microsoft’s X10 lineup, which promises to keep us in the poorhouse throughout 2010. And if you haven’t completed ME2 yet, you’ll want to make like the Illusive Man and sign off at 51:00. Fallen comrades, sequel predictions, Justin crankiness - it’s all here in an epic conclusion.
No commentsEpisode 124: Five Dollar Footlong, Six Dollar Bit.Trip
All hail CommanderVideo! On this week’s show, Alex Neuse, CEO and designer at Gaijin Games, joins the guys to talk about old school inspirations, implementing fan art, the WiiWare development scene and BIT.TRIP RUNNER, which hits the Wii Shop Channel this spring. After the interview, Justin continues mining for Mass Effect 2 space dust, Nick readies his earplugs for Sands of Destruction and Tom chimes in about Chime. *Woof!* Plus, the Dante’s Inferno Superbowl Truffle Shuffle, cautious optimism for Sonic 4 and the wackiest furniture commercials Cleveland has to offer.
For future shows, call (209) 677-PACK and have your voice heard. We’ll read your message on the air and make you a non-celebrity overnight.
Relevant Links:
**Correction** Apparently Nintendo quietly took down WiiWare demos last week without telling anyone, so your only means of play BEAT is to pay the six bucks for it. Again, totally worth it.
Episode 124: Five Dollar Foot-long, Six Dollar Bit.Trip [83:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadEpisode 123: One Giant Leap for Space Hamster-kind
Like a stampeding herd of krogans, The Rumble Pack cannot be stopped! That’s right, folks…yet another podcast full of Mass Effect 2 lovin’. The guys delve into the game’s superior combat, morality and pet care with minimal spoilers, but you might want to hold off if you haven’t played through the first hour or so. For the handful of you not taking on BioWare’s space odyssey, Justin tags out for some brief Tatsunoko vs. Capcom impressions and Nick dodges the last deadly trains in Spirit Tracks. Plus, pseudo-Mexican cuisine and the latest on Pokémon Unobtanium and Bolognium.
Relevant Links:
Lost Planet 2 Marcus and Dom Trailer
Kaz’s Reaction After Completing Mass Effect 2
No commentsEpisode 122: Tuesday Night Slam Chatter
If you’re a Capcom fan, you’ll want to put down your joystick and turn up the volume for this one! Jim Zubkavich, Project Manager at UDON Entertainment, visits the show this week, and he’s no wet noodle. He tells the guys about the recently released Tatsunoko vs. Capcom endings, creating stories for beloved Street Fighters, HD Remix sprite work, lush art books and much more. After the interview, stay tuned for a Mass Effect Hyper Combo Finish. If you’re a little fuzzy on Commander Shepard’s first adventure, Tom, Nick and Kaz will get you up to speed. Justin and Tony also provide some gravity-defying VVVVVV love. Plus, RPG taxonomy (oh boy!) and heaping bowls of breakfast cereal!
Relevant Links:
Active Time Babble’s “What is an RPG?” Episode V
2 commentsEpisode 121: Quack Attack
Holy third-person action gaming, Batman! Starting things off, Tom, Nick and Tony become entangled in the hairy splendor of Bayonetta. The most graceful action game star yet? Maybe. Resident gearhead Kaz takes Need for Speed: Shift for a spin, while the other guys do their best Slim Jim impressions in front of a Lost Planet 2 behemoth. After that, Nick and Tony take the show back to 2008 for Mass Effect and Fallout 3 respectively. Plus, Dark Void Zero retro joy, a questionable Final Fantasy XIII dubbing and HD Remixin’ fantasies.
Relevant Links:
Final Fantasy XIII International Trailer
New York Times predicts live ESPN streaming
2 commentsEpisode 120: Requiescat in Pace (Gunshot)
It’s an Assassin’s Creed II Asstravaganza! This week, the guys chat with Roger Craig Smith, the voice of Ezio, Chris Redfield and countless other video game characters. Roger tells them about voice acting, his recording experience at Ubisoft, and much more. After the interview, stay tuned for our post-game ACII analysis. (Be advised that 56:30 and beyond is super spoiler territory, so make sure you’ve completed the game!) Make sure to come back for the interview in its entirety this weekend.
Relevant Links:
The late Peter Boyle as you’ve never seen him before! (Poochinski)
Assassin’s Creed 2 Unnecessary Censorship
1 commentEpisode 119: Flushing Out the Old
After weeks of anticipation, the guys have finally picked their Games of the Year - and they’re ready to take their choices to the grave! But before the Pack gets to the festivities, there’s some more post-holiday business to discuss. Nick goes back to the future in the original Mass Effect, Kaz maintains his Left 4 Dead 2 masochistic streak, and Justin and Tom let the Trajectiles fly in another DSi game from Q-Games. The second half of the show is a look at both 2009 and a theoretical 2019. How long will it be before you get to see The Rumble Pack in 3D? Tune in to find out!
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