We cover some headlines this week, but first, we talk about Alex’s time in the Nyquil rehab center.

After that, Jonathan talks about some XBL games he’s picked up.  Stacking is an interesting, fairly entertaining adventure game, but he needs some more time with it before giving a rating.  He’s also picked up Galaga Legions and Space Invaders Infinity Gene, both updates to the classic arcade games.  Galaga is a little less insane than Space Invaders.  Take that as you will.  Jonathan’s been in rehab of his own, as well, and has cancelled his World of Warcraft account.

Sam has placed a number of pre-orders: Bulletstorm, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and Duke! Nukem! Forever!: Balls! of! Steel! Edition! Inappropriate comparisons fly over that last title.  He’s also picked up his Marvel vs. Capcom 3 pre-order.  It’s pretty, button-mashy entertainment.  He also started and then immediately returned Enslaved: Odyssey into the West.  He’s also gotten rid of Nier, and hasn’t had much luck advancing Dragon Age: Origins along.

Alex has played Battlestations: Pacific, and had no luck getting an online game going.  Dead Space 2 ran aground on similar issues.  R.U.S.E. is consequently seeing a revival on Alex’s gaming schedule.

In the headlines, we revisit a few stories, try to skip a couple stories, and take about some new stuff:

• A followup to the FoxNews article: A response from Carol Lieberman, and one more.
• Rocksteady confirms Batman: Arkham City will be ‘single-player only’
• Kevin Butler Tweet Accidently Shares PS3 Root Key
• The Smithsonian is planning a video game exhibition.
• New Assassin’s Creed To Be Announced In May; AC: Brotherhood Sells 6.5M Units
• PSA: PlayStation Network content must be re-purchased on Xperia Play

Name That Game was…. forgotten.  Next week, folks!

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This week, Sam tries to host, and Alex and Jonathan destroy his intro.

Jonathan went to Archon in St. Louis and may have proven he still hasn’t learned his lesson about alcohol at different altitudes.  That said, he’s got his Iron Tyrants book (#1 BABY!), he’s got actual play of the game, and he’s got some sweet stories that didn’t really get told.

Alex attempts to get into a Yu-Gi-Oh game, Duelists of the Roses, to be specific.  He’s also rediscovered the joys of Soul Reaver 2, and is inundated with correspondence games.

In the tales from the game store corner, Alex has a story about the guy who just wouldn’t take “No” for an answer.

Sam talks briefly about his reasons for trading in Ninety Nine Nights, Alpha Protocol, Transformers: War for Cybertron, and Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 1 & 2.  He also finally manages to work Limbo into the conversation.

To wrap up, we introduce a new feature to the show, “Name That Game!”  Much like the iconic game show of a similar name, Alex reads off a number of classic video game boxes, Sam figures out what most of them are, and Jonathan displays his total lack of knowledge.  We hope you like it, especially since we’re planning on introducing more stuff like it!

See ya next week!

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Thanks to Brad from Australia, we’re talking about free PC games this week.

First though, we establish that Alex is old, Jonathan is addicted, and Sam is drunk.

Sam is on a business trip, thus the inebriation, and the lack of games to talk about this week.

It’s not free, but Jonathan’s been playing Miner Dig Deep, an XBLA Indie game, and Minecraft.  He may be showing signs of addiction to the latter.  Alex and Sam aren’t all that concerned. (Hilarious video of the dude’s Minecraft house burning down.)

Alex has been continuing to play R.U.S.E., and has found out that it’s really easy to be cheap in that game.  Also, he’s got Resident Evil 5, Alien Breed 2, and John Daly Pro Stroke Golf waiting in the wings, but has been too busy playing with his paratroopers.

We also briefly discuss the news that the Japanese release date and price point for the 3DS has been announced.  We talk about the implications that has for the US release.  We’ve got nothing but speculation and conjecture, but that’s never stopped us before.

Finally, our free games!  In no particular order:

Loved
ASCIIpOrtal
Shift 3
Cursor*10
Super Mario Crossover
FUMBBL
Lone Wolf Game Books
Race for the Galaxy
Elements
Nanaca Crash

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Look at this!  A show posted on time!  I told you I’d get my act together.

Before we get into this episode’s headlines, we take a moment to talk about the games we’ve been playing.  Jonathan picked up Halo: Reach.  He’s neither disappointed nor thrilled with it.  It’s pretty much exactly what you’d expect from a Halo game.  He also played a little bit of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, and was really not impressed.

Alex talks about R.U.S.E., and no one is surprised.  :-)  Also on the list is Alan Wake, but Jonathan cruelly steps in and quashes that topic in favor of saving some suspense for the Three-Way Review that all the guys ought to be recording soonish.

Sam shares some thoughts on Alan Wake (which were quashed as well), Halo: Reach, and Plants vs. Zombies.

Then it’s into the headlines!

• DOW2 Retribution Ditches Games For Windows For Steamworks
• Tokyo Game Show!
  • Steel Battalion goes from hundreds of buttons to no buttons
  • Project Draco: We know nothing. Alex is intrigued. Jonathan predicts massive disappointment.
  • Ico and Shadow of the Colossus HD: I’ll be in my bunk.
  • A new trailer for The Last Guardian: More bunk time.
  • THE BIGGEST GAME OF TGS!
• APB bites the dust.
• Good Old Games’ shenanigans.

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I’ll remember how this works someday, and then the episodes will be on time.

Until then, we’ve got Joe the Brother back this week!  He’s here to drop his Top Ten on us.

Sam is also back, and we let him talk about a couple of games before jumping into Joe’s list.  He gives thoughts on Resident Evil 5, Assassin’s Creed 1&2, Plants vs. Zombies, and anti-bear techniques in Wyoming.

Alex talks about R.U.S.E., of course.  Jonathan is in school again, and thus playing nothing, again.

Joe and Sam are less than impressed with the ending of Mass Effect 2.

Then it’s Joe’s list!  Thrills, chills, and exploded brains await!  See ya next week.

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Sorry this is late, folks!  I meant to post the episode before I left town, and then immediately forgot.

Since the episode is so late, and since I don’t actually remember everything that we talked about, the show notes will be brief.

Sam was out of town, and so Joe, Alex’s brother, joined us for the episode.  Rather than running through a Top Ten for this brief appearance, we just invited Joe to talk with us about the games we’ve all been playing recently.  Alex finally got his hands on R.U.S.E., Jonathan finally got his hands on Metroid: Other M, and Joe has been playing through Mass Effect 2.  Alex talks about Knights in the Nightmare for DS, and Jonathan and Joe get their iPhone geek on for a bit.  I don’t remember what each of our third games were, so that’ll be a lovely surprise, I’m sure!  :-)

Next week, an episode on time!

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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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