Gamehounds Podcast

Originally, we were just going to post this as a straightforward interview.

And then all you listeners started speculating. Who did Edie talk to? Was it CliffyB? Was it Will Wright?

So rather than wreck the surprise by just telling you, you’re just going to have to listen. Suffice to say, it was an honor and a privilege to spend a half-hour with this gentleman as he demoed his hotly anticipated upcoming title. It was an unusual amount of time for someone of his stature to spend at a crazed event like E3, particularly at the end of the show when nerves are frayed and exhaustion is setting in.

But indeed, he did. And it was a joy.

Hopefully you’ll enjoy it as much as Edie did.

 

 GameHounds Exclusive: Sit-Down Demo with "The Big Man": Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Hi folks,

Sorry for jingling your naughty bits and having you hang on. Edie arrived home late last night, and promptly slept for 9 hours, only to awake and find that her laptop charger went Penn and Teller on her. She’s going to get a replacement one and have the lead developer walkthrough podcast for you by tomorrow. (That’s Saturday.)

Sorry about that. It’ll totally be worth it though. I’ll have to give another clue: This person wasn’t on my gaming god short list, but he should be, and no it’s not Ken Levine, who certainly deserves to be on that list as well.

Another update: Circumstances has us recording the E3 wrap up podcast SUNDAY night instead of tonight. Sorry for the delay, but Edie needs to catch up on some Real Life shit. As do I.

Finally: The order:

GO SEE “THE DARK KNIGHT”.

Do not walk, do not run, get into a car and drive at top speed (don’t hit anyone!) plunk your money down and give it to Christopher Nolan and the cast. I order you to do it. The best part of this order?

You will soooooo thank me for it.

I’m writing up a review that I’ll post here. It will be spoiler free, but here’s a hint:

When the credits started to roll, I was crying my eyes out from awe.

That’s not a typo, and that’s not an exaggeration, I will repeat it: I cried when it was over, so much so my wife had to drive us home.

Now will you see it?

Hawkes

The original story is from Portfolio.com:

N. Evan Van Zelfden in Los Angeles warns, watch out World of Warcraft. In an interview at E3 this week, Electronic Arts chief executive John Riccitiello said that EA is working on the next version of Star Wars gameKnights of the Old Republic, and it will most certainly have a massively multiplayer online component to it.“We’ve got two of the most compelling MMOs in the industry in development,” said Riccitiello. The first title, based on the Warhammer property, will launch soon. “And the one that people are dying for us to talk to them about — in partnership with Lucas, coming out of BioWare, which is, I think, quite possibly the most anticipated game, full stop, for the industry at the point when we get closer to telling you about it.”Does Riccitiello mean the oft rumored Knights of the Old Republic Online? “Yes,” he said.

“Yes,” he said. Three words that are about to impact my family and physical well being. Thanks John. Really, you just gave me my first step into Divorce court, and about an extra 60 or so pounds.

I don’t like MMO’s, mostly because I fear them.

I fear the obsession that I know I’ll have.

I fear the hours flying by like leaves blowing on a windy day.

I fear the grinding, that cocaine-esque hit that I crave more then food or money or sleep.

So thanks a lot Bioware, thanks EA. This is both the coolest and worst thing that could happen to me.

Hawkes

Just got off the phone with Edie, who managed to record a walkthrough of an upcoming game with the Lead Designer.

Yes, I’m being vague. It’s a good one folks, a doozy you may say.

Edie asked me to tease you with it, so here ya go:

Coming sometime tonight, an exclusive audio walkthrough with the Lead Designer of one of this holiday season’s biggest upcoming title.

Little more hint? Ok, if you call yourself a gamer, you absolutely have heard if this Lead Designer.

STILL not enough? Ok, you will be playing this game AFTER August, but BEFORE December.

This one is gonna come roaring at ya folks.

But not till later. Be patient!

Let the guessing begin.

Hawkes

We were just going through all the website posts from the last few days, and other than the fact we can’t seem to spell “announcement” properly, we did see a couple things that need clarification.

• With the new Xbox 360 dashboard, you will not lose your gamerpics or themes. They will be incorporated into the new system. So don’t worry, your investment is safe.
• The interview about Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zahir was hosed when we checked the digital recorder. We’ll try to get a second bite at that apple on Thursday.
• Hawkes lies. His god is Ken Levine.
• If you didn’t catch it on the podcast, Fallout 3’s release date is “Fall 2008.” I asked one of the lead designers if I would have it by my birthday (which is firmly in winter, so it was a bit of a softball), he said, “Absolutely.”
• Finally, and most importantly, the Thursday podcast is cake… as in “it’s a lie.” Well, most probably a lie. Being idiots, we didn’t take into account that Edie is checking out of her hotel, and therefore internet is not possible. No internet, no podcast. So, take the day off, catch up on the other stuff, and we’ll try to swing one together for Friday night.

We hit the midway point for E3 2008 today. Being the first day without a major press conferece, Wednesday is all about hitting the games.

And there are so many games here it’s impossible to do one small woman (or a large one for that matter) to hit them all. Today, Edie did her best, however.

Hawkes and Edie wrap up the day’s hands-on experiences. The games they cover include:

• Left 4 Dead
• Facebreaker
• Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zahir expansion pack
• Velvet Assassin
• Legendary
• Raven Squad
• Monster Madness for the PS3
• Battlestations: Pacific
• Farcry 2
• Tom Clancy’s Endwar

Wow. That’s a lot of games. And tomorrow there will be more to come.

Enjoy, and get ready for the final day of E3 tomorrow night. More games, more impressions, and more E3.

 

 GameHounds Episode E308.3: Hands-On Galore: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

E3 2008 East Coast Half Day Mark.

So some more news has trickled in. And when I say trickle I mean: ever had a night where it hurts to pee, and it comes out like it’s turned to honey? Where’s all the damn news?!?

It’s like everyone’s at a convention or something.

Oh wait, yeah. Ok, here’s what I got:
Keep reading →

Shigeru Miyamoto is on a short list of people who are gaming gods to me. Tim Schaffer, Will Wright, Hideo Kojima, Casey Hudson, Shigeru Miyamoto.

A gaming god is a person who makes games, does not apologize for their love of the games, does not allow the game to make them egotistical assholes, and keeps themselves grounded and humble when they are around the people that love their games.

If Sony had created Mii’s, within ten minutes of it’s announcment, Sony would have slammed them so hard that Bill Gate’s great grandfather would have felt it. So when Microsoft introduced Avatar’s, a sly little system that is sort of in between Home and Mii’s (More so with Mii’s) you would think it’s original creator would be pissed.

But this is Shigeru Miyamoto.

Keep reading →