It’s a short one this week. Due to forces beyond their control, Sam and Alex take to the mics with no Jonathan (he’ll be back soon, promise!) and no guests (they’ll be on next week, fingers crossed!)

But of course, Sam and Alex have things to say. Alex can feel the XCOM excitement in the marrow of his bones, but he has a problem with how the media is covering this sure-to-be-amazing tactical role-playing game. Specifically, he has a problem with how they insist on telling him how amazing it is.

Then the hosts delve into their current fascination: Borderlands 2. What is it about this game that has Sam and Alex already talking about it being a contender for the Way of the Game’s Game of the Year?

Sam has reached a new stage of maturity. He’s thought about it for a while, and he’s decided he can wait no more. He’s finally taking the plunge, like so many young men before.

He bought a PS3.

He explains why in this episode.

That thing we teased in the previous show notes? It should happen next week!

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svalts:

Wander and The Colossus // by 5F

Click the image to detail them.

No Alex this week!  The curse of Black Friday strikes home this week.

Jonathan and Sam take this time to discuss what else? Games!

Jonathan:

• Hot Pursuit: Multiplayer is… interesting.
• Gran Turismo 5: The slowest car ever made, the Daihatsu Copen Active Top ‘02. Also, has it earned the right to be as pretentious as it is?
• Dragon Quest IX: Too big and too multiplayer to keep from Gamefly for long.
• Play and Charge Kit: Jonathan’s got a vague gripe.

Sam:

• Brotherhood: Sam and Jonathan both gush about multiplayer.
• Red Dead Redemption: Finally.

Also, GameFaqs’ “Game of the Decade” tournament is used as a starting point for discussing our own picks for the winner.  What’s yours?

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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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