Not that long ago, Jonathan promised he wouldn’t talk about another sports game, so he’s talking about EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis 2 this episode.  As a bonus, though, he enjoyed this one.  He also spends a bit of time griping about Sony, but not as much as he initially planned.

Alex talks about crushing fleeing troops in Shogun: Total War 2.  He spends an uncomfortable amount of time comparing it to R.U.S.E., but that’s Sam’s fault.  He’s also got a Story From the Game Store involving a Vita, Lumines, a missing co-worker, and a pissed off customer.

Sam finally break his vicious cycle of moving and Skyrim by finally settling down in his new place and finishing Skyrim.  Also on his list this week: Rage, an RPG-shooter that’s light in the RPG bits and loose in the shootery bits; and a whole lot of Mass Effect insanity.

In the topic this week, we chat a bit about the rumored-then-leaked-then-announced setting for Assassin’s Creed 3 before jumping into a discussion about game endings.  Apparently only ten percent of games are actually finished, so what implications might this have for the industry as a whole?

Finally, we wrap up with another round of Reverse Casting Call.  On the table this time, we’re casting the dysfunctional family from Star Wars: Luke, Leia, and Papa Vader.  As an added twist, Sam has chosen to limit our choices to animated game characters only.  Be sure to drop us a comment, letting us know a) which host picks you’d have gone with, and b) which characters you’d place in behind the mask.

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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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