We’re back!

Sam’s been moonlighting. He’s also been chewing bubble gum, because Duke’s been taking care of all the ass kicking.  He’s also checked out Wolverine: Origins, a super-violent take on the everyone’s favorite/most-hated mutant.

Jonathan’s picked up Frozen Synapse, and has been shooting Alex in the face.  He’s also been playing Ticket to Ride and Carcassone, classic board games, on his iPad.  Also, he’s going to PAX!  Woo!

Alex talks up Dirt 3 (sweet, sweet, rally car action), talks down Dungeon Siege 3 (standard procedure Diablo clone), and gives Section 8: Prejudice some love, despite Sam’s reservations.

In our topic section, we discuss an article from Cracked.com, which argues that the games industry is at a crossroads, where gaming needs to adapt and diversify or die.  We delve into what’s wrong with the industry, and what we should call games, if calling them “games” is part of the problem.

I can also promise you that there will be a Name That Game! next week, for those of you missing it, because we’ve already recorded that episode.  ’Til then!

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Two Days: F.E.A.R. 3

Two big 3’s this week: F.E.A.R. 3 and Dungeon Siege 3.  On the PC side, Eve Online gets an expansion (Incarna), and Gods and Heroes: Rome Rising drops.  On consoles, Shadows of the Damned is coming out, which is apparently a collaboration between Suda51 (No More Heroes, Killer 7) and Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil 4).

It’s a slow week for me, as I’ve never played anything in the F.E.A.R. or Dungeon Siege series. As for Shadows of the Damned, well, let’s just say the marketing is… confused. One trailer makes it look like a serious action shooter with horror elements, while another plays up the horror angle and melee, and a third makes dirty Johnson jokes.  All three failed to pique my interest.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Bonus! One-word reactions to each based solely on hunting for the images.

Dead Island (SE is the North American distributor): Intrigued.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution: Cautious.

Dungeon Siege 3: Meh.

Final Fantasy XIII-2: Really?

Heroes of Ruin: Whazzat?

Hitman Absolution: Okay.

Tomb Raider: Intrigued.

Wakfu: Curious.