Video Game Generations

In this week's news, I talk about some of the interesting new features in the recent PS4 and Vita system firmware updates. Then, a new month means new free games for subscribers of Playstation Plus and Xbox Gold, so I list those and talk a little about them. Then, after listener email, we talk about the games we're currently playing. For me, that's still Code Name S.T.E.A.M. (3DS) and Sleeping Dogs (PS4), but I also played through the just-released second episode of Life is Strange (PS4), and I do my best to discuss it in general, without spoilers. Addie has only played Portal 2 (Xbox 360), and not much more of that since last week, but she's excited to possibly finish it over the next week. I also give my initial hands-on impressions of the Amazon Fire TV Stick and the Oculus Rift Dev Kit 2 -- very different pieces of tech, each pretty cool in their own way. To wrap up the episode, I talk about my wish list for the next Fallout game (Fallout 4?) with the hopes that Bethesda will announce it soon (at E3?) Plu

We have plenty to discuss this week. More listeners write in about recent questions of the week, and later in the episode we introduce another one: do you think this will be the last console generation? Some people do, but it's hard to imagine a time when "set-top boxes" and alternative gaming devices have replaced the home console market. Addie made it quite a bit further in Portal 2 (Xbox 360) since the last episode, and I try my best to keep her from spoiling the story for listeners. She also played a little more Resogun (PS4) and Alice: Madness Returns (Xbox 360), the latter of which we discuss why it received an ESRB "M" rating and whether or not it really fits. I also talk in depth about Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. (3DS) and Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition (PS4), which are the two games I've been playing since last time. This week's quiz is all about NES game titles. Can you tell the real ones from the fakes? Oh, and this episode's after-the-ending outtake is a little unusual (and a little longer than norma

This week's episode is a little shorter than normal, in part because Addie hasn't played anything recently for our "what we're playing" segment, and because we don't have a new quiz this week. But we do talk a little about recent Nintendo announcements, and I give a tip about a product that lets you use your home's electrical outlets as network jacks. This helped my Playstation TV remote play stability quite a bit. In my pre-recorded game talk segment, I give my opening thoughts on Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. (3DS), my closing thoughts on Fallout 3 (Xbox 360 - after playing the Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta expansions), and quite a bit about an odd but fun little game called Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale (3DS). We read more great listener email too, which includes more answers and opinions on prior weeks' topics and some game recommendations. Our newest question of the week comes from this segment, when one listener asks if we've ever just been burnt out on playing video games, and if so, what do

This episode starts with more off-topic stuff than usual, but we do finally get into the main stuff -- news, listener email, and what we've been playing. In email, two listeners answer recent QOTW (Questions of the Week), which includes last week's topic about game review scores and prior topics about moral choices in games, emulation, and "let's play" videos. Addie's contribution to the game-specific discussion is minimal this week, since she really hasn't done any gaming since the last episode, but mine is overly long. I played through Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (PS4), and I have plenty to say about that. I also continued past the end of Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney (3DS) for several of the extra post-game episodes. I wrap up with a Fallout 3 update (Xbox 360), where I'm once again exploring the game's Capital Wasteland for a few more achievements, quests, collectibles, and DLC expansions. This week's question for listeners is specifically about the Fallout series. With many high hop

This month's free game line-up for Xbox Games with Gold and Playstation Plus is a strong one, and we go over those lists near the top of the episode. Then, without any listener feedback this week, we get right into our What We're Playing segment. Among these, I finished Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright (3DS), The Order: 1886 (PS4), and Escape Trick: The Secret of Rock City Prison (DSi). I give a Suikoden update too, then Addie talks about playing Sports Friends (PS4) with younger brother Heath. Oh, and Heath started Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (Xbox 360), which I played with him co-op for one level. Resogun (PS4) is also a big topic this week, when Addie says that the game doesn't really explain how you're supposed to "save the last humans." This is a PS4 launch game that I really enjoyed at the time, so I go into detail with tips and strategies for playing Resogun, explaining how the whole human-saving loop works. Addie also tries her luck at my videogame hero sidekick quiz. Over the course of twenty que

Addie's friend Kaitlyn joins us remotely for this episode. I predicted it wasn't going to work, but she ended up talking rather than texting, so it was fine. Episode 33 is chock-full of game talk, which includes several iPad games Kaitlyn has been enjoying. Addie tried out Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Wii U), played more Alice: Madness Returns (Xbox 360), and together we played more of Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (PS4). My multiplayer time with Heath and Hadleigh (Addie's younger brother and sister, twins) was spent on Super Smash Bros. (Wii U) and Disney Universe (Xbox 360), respectively. I give my final thoughts on Mutant Mudds Deluxe (PS3) after collecting the last trophy, and my wrap-up on Dying Light (PS4). I also talk about a short adventure game called The Starship Damrey (3DS) and bit more about the other games I've been playing. To close out the segment, I give my first impressions of The Order: 1886 (PS4), which is a game I'm really enjoying, but which seems to be getting a lot of criticism,

In this episode, I give my initial hands-on impressions of Nintendo's "New 3DS", including a discussion about the many mistakes they've made with their product naming and their policies in general. I also talk about the problem with PlayStation's DualShock 4 triggers, with a tip on how to fix a broken one. Then we read listener email. One of those includes an answer to last week's question about games that disappointed you. But it isn't all negative. We also have great things to say about the games we've been playing. Addie was convinced by her best friend to try the popular mobile game Draw Something. I beat Mutant Mudds Deluxe on the Vita (via PlayStation TV), although I still have one more trophy to earn, once I finish all the bonus "CGA Land" levels. I also finished Dying Light on the PS4, but again, I'll probably spend a little more time with it to try out "Be the Zombie" mode, and pick up a couple more trophies. The show wraps up with a top-10 list of the games I've enjoyed, that most others didn't. Add

Highlights from Episode 31 include more listener feedback with answers to last week's question (most underrated game consoles) and a new game quiz: match the game series to the publisher. In game talk, Addie talks a little about Child of Light (PS4), Professor Layton and the Curious Village (DS), and Dance Central 3 (Xbox 360). I played more Dying Light (PS4), and I started playing Suikoden (PS1 on PSTV) and Mutant Mudds Deluxe (PSTV). In my gaming time with the younger kids, Heath and I played more Lego Batman 2, while Hadleigh had me help out with Disney Universe. Our new question of the week asks what game has been the biggest disappointment for you so far? Have an answer? Write in! Email: podcast@vggpodcast.com Web: http://www.vggpodcast.com

This week, we talk about the free games line-up for Playstation Plus for this month. Then it's listener feedback and more, followed by updates on what we've been playing. It was a light week for Addie, with mobile games Trivia Crack and Jump to occupy her time (iOS). I finished Dragon Age: Inquisition (PS4), so I'm able to give my final thoughts on that. I also played episode 1 of Life is Strange, a game from Dontnot that I've been looking forward to based on how much I liked their game Remember Me from a couple years ago. This is very different — more like a Telltale adventure game. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. I also give opening thoughts on Dying Light, another zombie-filled open world from Techland, the developer of Dead Island and Call of Juarez. With just one answer to last week's three listener feedback questions, we've added another. What do you consider the most underrated game console ever, and why? As for this week's episode title: in part of my solo game discussion, when di

This week, we talk about the Xbox Games With Gold line-up for February. Then, it's a big bag of email in which several listeners ask really great questions. We want to open it up to discussion, so let us know if you have comments about or answers for any of these: 1. What's your stance on using emulation to play retro games? 2. Is there a gaming accomplishment that really challenged you? 3. What do you think about the growing trend of episodic gaming? We also answer one listener's request for PSP game recommendations, although many of my own choices are rated M games which I probably should have mentioned at the time, in case the listener is younger or just looking for E or T rated games (sorry). In our "what we're playing" update, Addie talks about her progress in Broken Age (Act 1 on PC), I talk about Heath's renewed interest in playing Lego Batman 2 (Xbox 360 - I helped on a few levels), and then I give an update on my progress in Dragon Age: Inquisition (PS4). The show wraps up with a new quiz (games from

The bulk of this episode is listener email and a quiz, but somewhere in the middle, we talk about what we've been playing. Addie made it to chapter 3 in Portal 2 (PC) and I'm about 62 hours into Dragon Age: Inquisition (PS4). Listeners weigh in with their thoughts on the potential success or failure of "Steam-Boxes" and "Android Consoles" -- plus what games they're looking forward to playing this year. As for the quiz, we test your ability to link game developers (or writers, designers, and producers) to the games they're known for. After finding out her score, Addie has vowed to get revenge on me with a new quiz of her own. Website: http://www.vggpodcast.com Email: podcast@vggpodcast.com

2015 is just getting started, so on this episode, we look ahead to the games we're excited for. Plus, we make a few predictions about what might happen in the world of video games this year. Bill returns for the third time as a guest, filling us in on hardware trends and new happenings in the world of gadgets and electronics, as revelead during CES. Also, he explains why Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is a worthy entry in the series. Addie shares her excitement about playing Alice: Madness Returns, a rated "M" game that she might not should be playing at all, but we'll see how it goes. I give my closing thoughts on Sunset Overdrive, and then talk a bit about Dragon Age: Inquisition (which I may still be playing for weeks to come; it's huge). We're still interested in hearing from listeners about what you're looking forward to in 2015, and even your own gaming predictions. Write in and let us know (or to talk about anything, really; we read emails every episode). And yes, there was no episode last week, due to il

Our farewell to 2014 wraps up with a look back at the games we enjoyed this year, including countdown lists of our favorites. We also read and discuss listener feedback, the free games offered in January for XBox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus subscribers, and all that we've been playing during our holiday vacations. I finished Far Cry 4 (PS4), Nightshade (NES), and Maniac Mansion (NES). I also talk quite a bit about Sunset Overdrive (Xbox One), which I recently started playing. We made progress in Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (PS4) too. Heath -- he's six and not often on the show -- made it through the co-op campaign in Portal 2 with me. We've been playing off and on for several weeks, and he helped solve a few puzzles I had forgotten from when I played the co-op with Bill a couple years ago. As always, you can write to us at podcast@vggpodcast.com. We want to know what you're looking forward to gaming-wise in 2015, or even what has you a little worried. But even if you don't have an answer, feel free

Our holiday episode ends with a trio of Christmas songs, karaoke-style by Addie. But before that, it's business as usual as we discuss the games we've played since the last episode. I finished Ultima 6 (SNES on Retron 5), and an awesome NES game called Clash at Demonhead (which, thanks to a faulty ROM load in the Retron 5, crashed on me near the end). Then, a little more Far Cry 4 (which I've almost finished), and my opening thoughts on another NES game, Nightshade. Addie and I started Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (PS4), but we're still very early in. No listener feedback for the second week in a row, but hopefully this week's question will get a few good replies. What was your favorite game of 2014? Let us know! Email podcast@vggpodcast.com. We also have a new quiz this week, although between Addie being tired and not really knowing this year's release dates, it was kind of an... interesting one. Also, since this week's episode was a bit short, I include two Clash at Demonhead tunes before Addie's Chr

The year is coming to a close soon, so "game of the year" buzz is everywhere. We'll save our own favorites for later, but in case you missed it (like we did), we go over several of the nominees and winners of the 2014 Game Awards (which was held in Las Vegas earlier this month). Listener email is non-existent this week, although a Question of the Week from a listener (from last episode) was held back to include this time. First, we want to hear your picks for what kind of game is best suited to a mobile/tablet touch interface; or, if you prefer, what particular game have you played and found to work great on a mobile touch device? A second Question of the Week, though, is a repeat. If you'd like to share your PlayStation or XBox Live or Steam or Nintendo ID with other listeners, let us know what it is, what it means, and how you came up with it. In game talk, we give updates on what we've been playing. Addie made more progress in LittleBigPlanet 3 (PS4) and Heath finished it, I'm told! Addie talks about her p

We have plenty on the agenda for today's episode, which includes a lengthy off-topic segment, a little news, some discussion about certain bits of said news, and heaps of listener feedback. We also talk a little about the value of collectible video games when those games are eventually released digitally (ex: Suikoden II). Game talk covers a big variety, although much of this is a pre-recorded monologue so that Addie's parts aren't interrupted during the main show. These include Broken Sword 5 (Vita), NES Remix Pack (Wii U), Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Wii U), Final Fantasy X and X-2 HD Remaster (PS3), Gravity Guy (iOS), Hanging With Friends (iOS), Chariot (XBox One), Far Cry 4 (PS4), Secret Ponchos (PS4), and Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright (3DS). We also brainstorm a little about upcoming episodes; especially what we might do for a holiday episode this month. All of this and more, in one of our longer episodes this week. Enjoy! Comments or questions? Email us at podcast@vggpodcast.com.

It's another rushed episode after Addie gets home from rehearsal, but we manage to get through several games and topics, including this week's listener feedback. One listener wants to know how you got your gamer tag, and what it means, so that's our Question of the Week. I give my final thoughts on Assassin's Creed: Unity (for real this time -- and mostly about its multiplayer), and an update on my progress in Final Fantasy X (I'm very near the end now). I talk a little more about Broken Sword 5 (the Vita version, which I transferred over to Playstation TV). Plus, I have a few initial thoughts on Far Cry 4 (PS4), which is the next big game I'm playing. Addie and I share our thoughts on the first two levels in The Simpsons Game (Xbox 360), plus she fills me in about Plants vs. Zombies 2. A little more about LittleBigPlanet 3 (PS4) and Super Smash Bros. (Wii U) round out this week's game chat. In future episodes, I'll be able to talk more about the Xbox One, now that recent price drops and holiday sales have ma

It's Thanksgiving week (here in the United States, anyway), and we're thankful to have reached our 21st episode. We spend a bit of time on off-topic stuff to start the show (movies, TV, and more). Then it's news, which includes a rumor that ZombiU 2 might actually be coming to the Wii U next year. The free game line-ups for PlayStation Plus and XBox Live Games with Gold (December) were announced after recording, but that's included as a sort-of insert to the show. Two super-long listener emails answer recent Questions of the Week, which includes our choice for this week's new questions: What's your favorite recurring song or theme in a game, and what music makes you think of a particular game even if it's not actually related (ex: music you were listening to while playing something)? In our "What We're Playing" segment, we talk about Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, LittleBigPlanet 3 (PS4 version), and for me, my near-final thoughts on Assassin's Creed: Unity (which I finished, but may play a bit more just to col

We speed through most topics this week due to time constraints, but we do talk some on the meaning behind Little Inferno (WiiU). Some spoilers there, so skip ahead at that part if you don't want to hear. I also give an update on my adventures in the realm of Brittania (in other words, more on Ultima VI: The False Prophet), and a lengthy, detailed monologue about Assassin's Creed: Unity... how it plays and what it's about, but no real story spoilers or anything. We wrap it up with a question about a question. Give us your ideas for things you would like us to ask our listeners. Fun and unusual topics are probably best! Write to us at podcast@vggpodcast.com.

Our feature segment this week is an interview with Jason Scott of the Internet Arcade, which is something we talked about in last week's episode. Addie asks the tough questions, like "what's your favorite color," but before that, we hear about how this project came into existence, what they're hoping to accomplish, plus extra insight into some of Jason's other projects. He hasn't been interviewed about the Internet Arcade before now, so you're getting an exclusive here! Listeners write in to answer our recent Questions of the Week, and at one point, we both get confused on whether the short tune Addie keeps humming is really from Super Mario Bros. I think it all comes down to a single note: higher, and it's Mario; lower, and it's something else. Addie has been playing the demo version of an iPhone game called Geometry Dash. I finished The Evil Within (at almost thirty hours clocked), and I played more Ultima VI (SNES via Retron5) and a little more Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright (3DS). To wrap up the epis