We swear it seemed longer as we recorded, but it’s a short show this week. We’re still playing the same games (Lost Odyssey and Ace Attorney), and still reporting the news (of which there was plenty). The pre-Brawl excitement begins to hit, so expect a long and exciting show next week! Not to discount this week or anything.
The Exploding Barrel Podcast Show #27
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:47 — 23.1MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
Rejoice, for Ajguy has a new Xbox (thanks to the much appreciated efforts of Mike, Chris, and Katherine). Excitedly, he tears into Lost Odyssey. Meanwhile, Mike has been engaging in courtroom drama thanks to Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney. The Games Developer Conference consumes much of the news. And for whatever reason, we talk about the best ever worst Sega system. Good times!
The Exploding Barrel Podcast Show #26
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:25 — 36.8MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
NPD numbers delight yet again, and it isn’t the same firing order this month. Why do you love gaming? The Minotti brothers tell all in this intimate look back at how these two miscreants became so enraptured in the past time that eventually lead to their podcast stardom. Mike has fallen in love with Persona 3, and Ajguy cannot get enough Audiosurf. Never heard about it? Come and learn, my friends.
The Exploding Barrel Podcast Show #25
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:07 — 26.2MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
Now that Mike has finally completed the Orange Box, it’s a Half Life bonanza. Spoilers to follow. Ajguy also really enjoys Poker Smash. If only he had an Xbox to play it on. Go make a sandwich and grab a drink! You’ll need the energy while you listen to this podcast. We wouldn’t want you to get dizzy.
The Exploding Barrel Podcast Show #24
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:04 — 28.4MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
Now that Ajguy is over the stomach flu, we come back in full force with one of our best shows yet. Smash Bros. is out in Japan, and Ajguy and Mike go through all the juicy details. Unrelated to the fact that we watched Family Guy’s Blue Harvest, we discuss the best Star Wars game ever. Tales of Advanced Wars, Rez HD, and the enjoyment thereof round out Our Week in Gaming.
The Exploding Barrel Podcast Show #23
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:11 — 37.8MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
Another month, another round of NPD analysis. Guess who won. The best ever goes randomly retro as we discuss the best NES game ever. Tragedy befalls Ajguy when his Xbox 360 and PS3 are literally stolen from his new house. Hear the exciting details in this week’s show!
The Exploding Barrel Podcast Show #22
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:30 — 31.0MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
Ok, we’ll be honest. This is a short show this week. Not a lot to talk about as the January game drought continues. But what we lack in quantity, we make up for in quality. We discuss the games of 2008 that have us most excited, and dip into some CES related stories. Good times!
The Exploding Barrel Podcast Show #21
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:09 — 25.0MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
I know, an actual blog post. Crazy, huh? I’m trying to make good on some New Year’s resolutions and this is one of them.
As the title above hints, EGM (and 1UP at large) have apparently lost some publisher cooperation from Ubisoft, the Mortal Kombat team, and Sony Sports due to less than favorable review scores (such as EGM’s 4.5 review of Assassin’s Creed. You can find out more about the whole mess here.
I find it unbelievable that these companies would pull something like this so shortly after the whole Gerstmann thing. Eidos got so much bad publicity for that, and Ubisoft, a company that saw almost all of its big games for the next few months delayed, does not need any of that.
People bought Assassin’s Creed after seeing all the hype for it on websites and in magazines like EGM. By the time the issue with the review came out, I’m sure a lot of people had already decided whether or not they would be buying the game. Without this preview coverage to cement that idea in people’s minds, they far more likely to wait for the review (which will still come eventually) and decide from that opinion.
Imagine if you never saw anything about Assassin’s Creed before its release other than a 4.5 in EGM. Would you have bought it? Of course not. But we all saw the gorgeous screens and read the previews that promised fluid controls and a dynamic world. And while we did get some of that, a lot of it was only taken halfway. And while we all enjoyed the first time we pick pocketed someone or saved a citizen (as I’m sure EGM and other previewers did), we soon realized the repetition within the game (something previewers may not have because of their limited and controlled time with the game).
I’d say the loss of the Mortal Kombat guys and Sony Sports is no big deal, but Ubisoft is still a major player (though I feel their role is becoming diminished as they continue to become a franchise whore house in the vein of the EA of recent years). All three companies have just decided to cut the free advertising and delay the inevitable review.
– Ajguy
This week is a Final Fantasy spectacular! Mike prevents to much anticipated First (and Last) Annual Final Fantasy Awards. Ajguy joins in the fun too as the brothers Minotti venture into the world of Final Fantasy XI. Gaming news and the 411 on 411 round out the first Exploding Barrel of 2008!
The Exploding Barrel Podcast Show #20
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:12 — 28.1MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
