Business: Tell us what you’re hungry for in the comments or on Twitter or wherever else, and you could win a copy of Don’t Starve on Steam.

News: EA gets exclusive rights to the Star Wars license from Disney.  Gamers everywhere weep.

Games:  Jonathan fell down the rabbit holes that are Frog Fractions and Candy Box.  Both are free browser games that explore the history of gaming through utter randomness.  Sam has beaten Uncharted 2: Electric Boogaloo, and he likes that they fixed some stuff, but dislikes quite a bit more.  Alex has played next to nothing this week.

Topic:  Microsoft will be giving us details of their next console on May 21st, so we thought we’d talk a bit about what we expect to see and what we want to see.  We derail at the start talking about how we’re not likely to even want the next Xbox, but we eventually get back on track and pretend to be interested.  Cable TV integration, social gaming, the future of Xbox Live; what do you think we’re going to see?

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Page 2: Iwata Talks Wii U 3D, Avoids Future of the Wii:

Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata, spoke to the San Jose Mercury News about how the Wii U will better target gamers, and what affect the announcement on the new console will have on the Wii.  As usual, I still can’t tell whether Nintendo’s finally gotten their act together or is still missing the point.

First, I’m encouraged to hear that Nintendo is supporting 3D televisions with the Wii U, but 3D isn’t going to be a focus for them going forward.  This is a positive because they’re future-proofing their machine, while focusing “on each Wii U owner being able to have an equal opportunity to enjoy it,” regardless of the tech they have in their homes.  If 3D TVs become the de facto standard (oh, how I hope not), the Wii U will be there.  If not, no skin lost.

I have a problem, though, with some of Iwata’s other comments.  First, he seems to think the only problem hardcore gamers had with the Wii was the graphics.  This is partly true, but there’s the lack of quality, consistent, third-party support that hurt the console, as well.  Nintendo has partnerships with Ubisoft and EA, and a lot of high praise from other developers (id, for instance) that looks promising, but let’s not forget that EA and Ubisoft have a ton of games on the Wii, as well.

There are certainly good, third-party games for the Wii, but they’re surrounded by piles of shovelware, gimmicky games that are just trying to cash in on the success of the console.  That hasn’t been a positive for the Wii, and with the announcement of the Wii U, it’s hard to see how the Wii will do very well in the coming year.  Iwata, when asked about this, just dodges the question, claiming that it’s too early to tell.  I don’t necessarily expect him to trash on his company’s strategy, but I would have liked to have heard what their plan for the Wii this year is, rather than, “We’ve done well before, so we’ll do well this year, too.”

Food for Thought: Is Competition Among Sports Games Dead?:

Owen Good has an excellent article on Kotaku exploring the demise of various sports games franchises.  We all know about EA’s exclusive license with the NFL, and 2KSports third-party-exclusive deal with the MLB, but those aren’t the only sports with only one video game.

Good points out that golf, NASCAR, wrestling, and boxing all only have one franchise apiece, and there are no exclusive deals in place there.  In addition, EA’s practically axed their NBA game, and 2KSports has dropped their NHL title.  Do you think we’ll see competition in the sports genre return?

WARNING: We have commentary in this show that goes explicit.

In this episode, Alex vents about the loss of his dream job. There are man hugs.

Jonathan talks about Archon, Vegas, and Genghis Con, and invites everybody along.

Sam got a motorcycle.

There’s more Red Dead talk.

And in the topic, we discuss all manner of items related to the recent Medal of Honor scandal.  In the newest game, you’ll be able to take on the role of a Taliban fighter in the multiplayer modes.  We respond to a Fox News interview of a military mom, get some reactions from servicemembers, and generally speculate wildly.  Enjoy!

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(Reposting due to broken link to podcast)

We’ve got a headline show this week!  But first, banter.

We put off talking about games ’til next week, because we’ve got a ton of stuff, and the Steam Sale was still going on, so who knows what all may have been purchased between recording and releasing.  We do talk, though, about preparations for a topic show in Episode 33, which we want your participation in.  Also, OnLive appears to have a plan to make money.  (Shocking!)

Headlines!

• id Software’s Rage Leads Game Critics’ E3 Noms
• Junction Point taking the (mean) Mickey out of Epic Mickey
• Reggie confirms 2011 launch for 3DS on Fallon
• Alleged Kinect hardware specs claim two active player limit
• Retailer says Kinect pre-orders are “very low,” blames guessed-at price point
• Market Research Firm: Kinect (and Move) will have “negligible impact” on market
• Microsoft: Kinect Not For Core Gamers
• Introducing Hulu Plus: More wherever. More whenever. Than ever.
• Redbox Dabbles in Game Rentals

Bonus feature after the credits: Alex has an interview with American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks. The interview has nothing to do with gaming, it was just a “something interesting happened this week” event.

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We’re back on our regular schedule with our E3 wrap up show.  Hopefully you enjoyed our early coverage and experimental commentary.  Next year, if we’re not physically at E3, we’ll have to actually make plans for doing more direct coverage.

Alex, on vacation from the world, basically, spent the week playing with a ton of XBLA games his brother “gave” him: Castle Crashers, Snoopy Flying Ace, Toy Soldiers, and Beat Hazard.  Also distracting him from his E3 watching duties has been Splinter Cell: Conviction.  Apparently, it’s quite good.

Jonathan has been focused on the E3 coverage, and so hasn’t played much.  The rest of the ‘cast is devoted to the announcements from E3, and who won what.  Our choices might surprise you.

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It’s our first pre-E3 episode, which is why you’re getting hold of it early.  Before we jump into E3 speculation (and music game debates), there’s some game talk.  Jonathan has parted company with Demon’s Souls, but he’ll be back for more later.  Alex’s elves were destroyed by goblins in Blood Bowl, and he’s thrilled with Bad Company 2.

We want you to contribute to our Best of ’09 show in a couple of week.  Deets are here.

Our E3 preview covers the Nintendo 3DS, next-gen motion controllers, the new keytar, and which company has the most to prove (Hint: their name starts with an “S” and ends with an “ony”).

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We are back!  As much fun as it was to record with David, it’s refreshing to return to our usual format.  We’ve got some game talk, a little revisit of the changes, and a topic for you this week.

Jonathan is accused of poop-socking Red Dead Redemption.  He denies it, but it’s kinda true.  Alex has been playing Aliens vs. Predators, and wishes there were others to play with him.  Solium Infernum comes up (shock shock), as does a brief mention of the upcoming third season of Table Saw Blood Bowl.

In the topic section, we discuss EA’s new multiplayer strategy, and explore whether it’s a good idea or not.  We also compare it to the decisions other companies are making with regards to DRM (we’re looking at you, Ubisoft), and even discuss the fashion industry for a moment.  (This is a pretty fascinating TED Talk.)

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Electronic Arts has made a move to make a little more money from gamers buying the company’s sports titles for cheap from the previously owned shelves. It has announced the Online Pass. Basically, if you buy the game new, it will come with a code that allows you to play it online. It’s a one-time only thing, though it’s unclear whether it’s per machine or per user who redeems the code. If you buy an EA Sports title used and the code has already been redeemed, it’ll take $10 to get a new code.

EA says the Online Pass will enable “online services, features and bonus content.” The feature will roll out with Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11.

Curiously, the press release also mentions that GameStop “has shown support of EA’s digital strategy by selling Sony PlayStation Network cards and Xbox Live Microsoft Points cards with the purchase of new and used EA titles.”

Isn’t that what GameStop has always done? Why mention it now?

The bottom line is, if you wait to pick up an EA Sports game used, chances are you’ll have to shell out another $10 if you want to play it online. However, EA is going to provide a seven-day trial pass for free, so you’ll be able to test it out before you make the commitment.

In other, more personal news, Tom Clancy’s Endwar is available for download from the Xbox Marketplace for $30. I’d highly suggest checking it out and looking me up if you want to play online. It is not a perfect game; it’s just real close.

- Alex “WMD Bravo”

Addendum: I got in touch with EA about exactly what the restrictions are on the Online Pass. According to them, the Online Pass is good for both the console that it was redeemed on AND the account of the player who redeemed it.

So, if you have a roommate and both of you play on the same console, both of you can go online with the same Online Pass. If you redeemed an Online Pass and you go over to a buddy’s place, you’ll be able to go online from there as well.

Hey everybody!

We’ve got a long one this week!  We may have gone off for a little bit too long on Blood Bowl.  Just know that Alex edited out a lot more than he left in!  We discuss the R.U.S.E. beta ever so briefly (which is a good description of how long we played the beta, as well), and then move into headlines before Alex can get distracted by his Games Workshop fanboyism.

Headlines:

“Nintendo Wii made me nympho!”

Magazine editor claims Rockstar got him fired, the magazine claims the editor had it coming, and Rockstar just wants to stay out of it.

Microsoft has given MekTek.net clearance for the free release of MechWarrior 4.

Another free browser based game – this time Lord of Ultima.

Would you be willing to pay more for Xbox Live if you got television content through it?

Study claims that “brain games” do little to exercise that gray lump in your skull.

British video game retail chains owns its customers’ souls.  MWAHAHAHAHA!

We’ve got a blooper this week, and remember all that Blood Bowl talk we skipped over in the episode proper?  By popular demand, we tacked it on to the end of the episode.  If you’re interested in our thoughts on future prospects for Blood Bowl, Cyanide, Games Workshop, and turn-based tabletop board game conversions, be sure to listen through the credits.

Wanna get in touch with us?  We’ve got plenty of ways!

• Twitter: @StingRay02 and @Mollarom
• Email: feedback@thewayofthegame.net
• Voicemail: (203) 794-GAME (4263)

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