The Impolitic tag doesn’t get a lot of play on WotG, largely because we have an international audience and, with all the hosts being Americans, our views and topics would be pretty localized and irrelevant to the world at large.  Add to that the fact that politics in this country have become more divisive than religion, race, or team rivalries, and it’s often just safer to avoid the subject.

This video from FightfortheFuture.org, though, does an excellent job of explaining the intended and potential consequences of the Protect-IP Act moving through the U.S. Senate.  The video is biased against the act, no doubt about that, but the objections are grounded, the tone is balanced, and the presentation is solid.  Definitely worth your time.

Woo!  A second week for catching up!  Sorry, I’m just not interested in some of these huge franchises.  That said, I’m not going to blame anyone for being excited about Drake’s Deception, as the Uncharted series should appeal to me on a bunch of different levels, but just never clicked somehow.

Anyway, for those not of the treasure-hunting or PS3-owning persuasion, there are a number of other titles dropping this week: Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Sonic Generations, Fate/Extra, GoldenEye 007 Reloaded (for 360 and PS3), Otomedius Excellent, Cabela’s Survival, and the usual slate of cash-in games that arrive this time of year.

Of the releases this week, I’m only really interested in Otomedius Excellent, and that’s mostly just of the can’t-look-away-from-the-train-wreck variety.  It’s a side-scrolling shmup that somehow attempts to prominently feature nipples.  I’m less intrigued and more just confused.  But that’s just me, what’s on your buy/play list this week?

This is why I don’t throw away any of my old consoles.  I fear they’ll one day rise up and track me down, punishing me for sending them to such an ignoble fate after they’ve given me so much entertainment.  Really, I’m just a giant pack rat, but the zombie story works when my wife wants to clean house.  If you’re interested, the creator has a flickr gallery up with shots of the figure from all angles.

It seems unlikely that you haven’t heard of this game, but it deserves a mention nonetheless.  Wonderputt is a mashup of Rube Goldberg machines and mini-golf.  Each time you complete a hole, the world changes in some new, unexpected way.  It’s relaxing, funny, and potentially addictive.  Some of those holes are tough, and if you’re a massive completionist, getting the “Perfection” achievement is going to take some work.  All in all, it’s a great little game that I’m always happy to rediscover.

The Sins are back!  This week, it’s Sloth.

First, though, all three hosts have gotten varying amounts of playtime in on Batman: Arkham City.  They all agree the world is huge, the fighting is solid, and the story is compelling (if a little confusing).  There is some disagreement about Batman’s new methods of transportation, though.

In non-Batman news, Jonathan’s played some Dark Souls, but thinks it’s a bit too capricious and difficult to earn his $60.  He’s also finished Bastion, a game that, for the first time ever, made him really stop and think about the moral choices he had to make.

Alex has put some time in on the new Ace Combat, and he’s confused about the choices they’ve made.

Sam, meanwhile, has continued to feed his Dead Island addiction and has been expanding his phone-based, block-removal prowess with Unblock Me.

In the topic for the show, we discuss Slothful aspects of the industry.  3DRealms, Brink, Shadowrun, and World of Warcraft all get targeted.

We wrap up the show with a game of Casting Call.  Sam and Jonathan present their picks for the roles of Tifa, Cloud, and Sephiroth in the silver screen adaptation of Final Fantasy 7.

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There was a time when I might wonder just how someone could drop mad money on a replica that does nothing more than look pretty.  Of course, that was before I found First 4 Figures and their Metroid gunship line.

Now, when I see that Bioware is taking pre-orders on a 1:1 scale replica of the M-8 Avenger assault rifle from Mass Effect 2, I understand.  I can make sense of the need to scrounge up $650 to drop on a 34″ long, 12″ high, 20 pound chunk of polystone.  If you find yourself gripped by that need, solidarity, brother.

For me, this is going to be a week to catch up on my unplayed games.  For the rest of the planet, Battlefield 3 drops and, unless you’re a hardcore Modern Warfare fanboy, Tuesday becomes a productivity-free zone.

That said, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land looks pretty impressive, if you’re into the platformers.  Also dropping are Dance Central 2, House of the Dead OVERKILL, Stronghold 3, a DS Harvest Moon, The Cursed Crusade, Back to the Future, Disney Universe and more.  (I refuse, though, to acknowledge the existence of the Centipede remake.)

So, maybe Kirby, but probably just a ton of Forza and Batman for me this week. What are you plans?

I can’t say I’ve ever looked at a broom and thought, “You know, a game where you sweep up levels and beat up enemies with your broom would be awesome!”  That’s probably why I’m not a game designer.

Thankfully, the guys at Hitbox Team have a better sense of imagination than I do, and Dustforce is the game they’re building out of the concepts of jumping, sliding, and sweeping.  The videos I’ve seen remind me a bit of N+ or Super Meat Boy, thanks to the fluid platforming and the one-hit-kill spikes.  I dig the art style, and if the devs can keep the controls tight and responsive, I’m in.  I’m always looking for a good 2D platformer.

Dustforce is slated to arrive on Steam in “late 2011,” so we’ll hopefully see it soon.

Jonathan’s sick.  Sam’s leaving town.  Alex is in his own little world.  Should be a fun week!

First, an almost forgotten announcement: we own http://thewayofthegame.com/ now!  Maybe that’s exciting?

In terms of games, Jonathan’s finished El Shaddai.  No, it still doesn’t make any sense, and the gameplay is a bit samey, but it’s so damn pretty he just doesn’t care that much.  Knight’s Contract, on the other hand, isn’t special enough to overcome some really weird design choices.

Sam’s been obsessed with Dead Island.  Beating the hell out of zombies never fails to get old, apparently, although the game’s numerous glitches certainly do.  Also, New Game Plus gets some love in Bastion, as Sam takes the Kid on another trip through the Calamity.

Meanwhile, on another day, Alex and Jonathan give some mad love to Forza 4.  It is what Gran Turismo 5 should have been, namely fun.  So many options, so much fun, so pretty.  Alex has also been spending quite a bit of time with Metal Gear Ac!d, as well, and it’s scratching the itches that Forza can’t quite reach.

In our topic this week, we cover the sin of Envy.  Jonathan targets Konami’s E3 presentations, Sam accuses Quantam Theory of wanting to be another game, and Alex goes personal talking about Minecraft.

No game this week, but we’ll have a Casting Call next week.  Also next week, Sloth!  See you then!

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The bat is back!  Arkham City and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations are my two most anticipated games of the holiday season.  I can’t wait for Tuesday to arrive.

I’m not sure gaming’s holiday season “officially” starts this week, but there are a lot of new releases: Professor Layton and the Last Specter, Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One, Rocksmith, Skylander’s Spyro’s Adventure, and more.  I’m not sure all of those games will be winners, but after getting beat down for leaving out Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon a few weeks back, I’m not gonna pre-judge.

Here’s hoping I can sate my Forza need in time to get some Joker bashing in.  What’s on your buy list?