Episode 539: Two Plus Hours

The previous week’s episode had too many technical issues to post, so this week’s episode overcompensates by being over two hours long. The Gaming Flashback this week is none other than 2009’s Minecraft, which is still going strong well into 2019.

This week’s news includes:

  • Microsoft explains Xbox Game Pass for PC, selling games on Steam (from GameWatcher)
  • The Avengers game is being revealed at E3 2019
  • Super Mario Maker 2‘s lack of costumes and online matchmaking with friends upsets fans
  • Wolfenstein: Youngblood to feature ray-tracing technology

All this and Listener Feedback.

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Episode 356: Gi-BlowEpisode 356: Gi-Blow

This week’s podcast finally reveals the winner of the E3 Swag Bag. The episode is packed full of show, including a Gaming Flashback about Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and the Gaming History celebrating Donkey Kong‘s 33rd birthday.

The news includes:

  • Another EA exec explains why mobile Dungeon Keeper suffered
  • PS4 fails to inspire Japanese market
  • Former Epic director Bleszinski unretires to reveal Project Bluestreak
  • Divinity: Original Sin developer turned off global chat to silence trolls
  • Bartle: “Free-to-play has a half-life

All this plus the Question of the Week: “Have online players caused you to quit playing that session?”

Episode 430: Audio IssuesEpisode 430: Audio Issues

This episode has some audio issues due to circumstances requiring Jonah to tape from outside in the NYC streets. Otherwise, this week’s news is Poke-mazing as some major issues hit the video game world this past week.

The news includes:

  • Valve’s Counter-Strike illegal gambling controversy continues
  • Red Dead Redemption sales jump 6000% after Xbox One backwards compatibility announcement
  • Pokémon Go raises security concerns among Google users

This is the contest’s last week. The Question of the Week is “How much is too much data to share with a game company?”

Microsoft’s High Hopes Holiday LineupMicrosoft’s High Hopes Holiday Lineup

This year Microsoft believes they’ve got a heavy hitter lineup of titles starting around now until the end of the year including: Gears of War 2, Fable 2, Guitar Hero: World Tour, Rock Band 2 and Fallout 3. They’re also looking at Lips, their karaoke title with a casual appeal to bring on the sales figures this season.

What about the PlayStation 3? Some of these titles, such as Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2 are not exclusives so both consoles have their chance, right? Microsoft’s looking at historical data on trends from Madden 2009 and see the 360 console out-selling the game even though it’s a shared franchise title.

Strong sales on the Xbox 360 suggest we’ll see those same sales this holiday season. Sure, the PlayStation 3 will get some big numbers thrown up but they may not compete on the same level as the Xbox 360.

All-in-all, Microsoft wants to toss up the one-million game units sold for the holidays, not including consoles we believe. That’s a strong holiday sales cycle if they can pull it off.

Even with economic downturns and financial markets doing poorly, entertainment tends to be something people are willing to invest. Will they pull it off? Will PlayStation 3 keep up?