As is our custom this time of year, we bring you tales of Gen Con, this time hosted by The Moose.  First, though, games!

Jonathan finished two games this week!  Stacking and N+ make it into the All Done pile.  Dust: An Elysian Tail gets nixed, though, based on a disappointing demo.

Alex busts out some Sleeping Dogs, and tells us about Papo & Yo, a game he won’t be able to actually play.

Sam’s plans to play Metal Gear Solid 3 collapse under the need to record this episode, but he’s got lots of Gen Con Virgin stories to share.  He’s returned, but he’s not the same.

In a brief news/topic hybrid, we rip on Christoph Hartmann for claiming that the only way games can produce unique genres and emotional games is if we have photorealistic graphics.  Journey, Shadow of the Colossus, Silent Hill 2, Bastion, Portal, and dozens of others would like to have a word with you, Christoph.

Finally, we wrap up with another installment of Identity Thief.  It turns out we are truly terrible at this game.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Two of the hosts spend this episode drinking.  One host is still hungover from Gen Con.  Fun!

Jonathan talks about the experience of a video game podcast host at a role-playing game convention.  He explored the e-games room, and came in third (with six other dudes) in the Ultimate! Gamer! Tournament! (Emphasis added.)

Alex talks briefly about UFC Ultimate Trainer, a fitness game designed for people who are already fit.

Sam’s gotten a long ways into Catherine, and Alex has already fought with his wife over Catherine, and Jonathan hasn’t played Catherine since episode 81, so what better to talk about than more Catherine?  The conversation goes all over the place.  Is this a story about a realistic relationship?  Is the titillation necessary?  Is this going to be a good game for gaming?  Will we ever stop talking about this game?

We wrap up with the next round of Name That Game!  Jonathan brings a list based on the highest rated games of all time from Metacritic, and it’s… distressingly easy.

Next week, considerably less Catherine, considerably more headlines, considerably harder games in NTG!  Be sure to tune in!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Headlines this week, and a new addition to the cast!  Sam has joined our motley crew, and we are now a three-host podcast, at least until such time as we fire him.

Sam gets welcomed to the ‘cast.  Jonathan talks about Gen Con and Ex Illis, a game he didn’t have the opportunity to actually try out, but still has opinions on.  Alex goes on and on about GameStop again.  Then we get into headlines!

The News:

• Three Brothers Killed Over Xbox 360
• A bunch of game announcements and release dates that’ll take up too much space to link individually.
• Guard plays Plants vs. Zombies. Inmates play Run Away!
• Bow Wow Loses $100k to the Game in Madden Beatdown
• NCSoft sued for making games that are too addictive.
• PS3 Cracked via USB Dongle
• Australian iPhone Censorship, Developers Threaten Pullout

See ya next week for a headline that ballooned into its own topic!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download