This is not your momma’s episode of the WGP. This is full of big talk (out our ass), grand (unresearched) declarations, and big (full of shit) ideas. There’s pathos, backroom corporate scheming, much talk of the elusive “stockholder”, and explaining “how it is”. It’s hard to listen to unless you feel like fighting. And you will once it’s done. No funny picture, no game talk, no music. This is the kind of crazy, middle of the night jabbering that inspired Max and I into starting a podcast in the first place. I’m just going to leave the normal contact info on the bottom. Oh yeah, one more thing. It’s 3 fucking hours long. Good luck with that.
"Premium Casual Games"? Is that what these are called? Can I get more, please?
If you’ve listened to any of our podcasts thus far, you should already know how I feel about DLC. But to recap, I think that DLC definitely has some of its good points; the low publishing costs, the low cost for us gamers, the ease of distribution and purchase… Everything seems good, right? Well, I can’t help but be worried for the future of these DLC titles. In fact, I’m a little frightened that a lot of these games won’t stand the test of time, and that in the end it’ll be up to non-gamers (heads of companies and review boards) to decide which DLC titles of today will be republished for the next generation. That’s a decision I’d like to make, as a consumer.
One of the titles I’d be scared to see leave is Braid. Braid is a perfect example of the good parts of DLC. A single person with a vision and a lot of talent, with a few personal investors as backing, took the gaming world by storm. So the reality of this game getting phased out of the DLC arena, while near-impossible because it was so good, is worrisome to me.
While strolling down the aisles of the newest Wal-Mart (something I don’t do often), I noticed something, and immediately ate my words. Then shat myself. There it was, Braid. Disc. Package. Beauty.
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Apparently when you get hired to one of the bigger gaming blogs you get the ability to bend gaming news to your own whims. Such is the case at least for Michael Fahey, Associate East Coast Editor of Kotaku. He went on a personal mission to get Stan Bush’s dream realized; a dream to get Bush’s song “The Touch” from The Transformers movie into a rhythm game like Rock Band or Guitar Hero World Tour. Bush took the fight to Harmonix and Activision, asking all of his blog’s readers to get in their faces and get it done.
And they did it! “The Touch” will be coming to Guitar Hero World Tour for free! Seibertron.com broke the news Monday to the roar of 33-42 year old nerds world round. They then collectively made this sound and turned into a bright yellow VW bug. If you were one of the impetuous trolls who made this happen pop over and read Stan’s eternal thanks. If you’re just an avid fan of free Guitar Hero World Tour DLC then get ready for some 80′s greatness*.
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We’ve heard some details about The Pitt, Bethesda’s newest block of DLC for their most post-apocalyptic franchise, Fallout 3. The story is a continuation of the original game taking place in the all new exotic locale of Pittsburgh, Pa. Gone are the barren wastes and iconic ruble of Washington D.C., instead you are facing the enslaved and disease ridden descendants of steel workers. But there’s hope. There is a cure for their particular plague, one you can either use to help those held in slavery to rise up, or perhaps sell off to the highest bidder. The fate of my second-favorite Pennsylvanian city is in your hands.
The trailer does a good job of showing off a different kind of irradiated hell, this one inhabited by loping mutants called Trogs. Compared to Operation: Anchorage this little piece of content looks to be more of the same in terms of tone and gameplay, but for those die hard fans who didn’t get their fill with the 100+ hours of the original game, I guess this one’s for you. 5 more hours of content, 180 more achievement points (or 4 more trophies, if that’s your bag), 3 new perks, 2 brand new weapons, and a red suit of raider armor just for kicks. Look for it March 24th.
Rob Dyrdek is my idol. He’s something on par with a modern day Howard Hughes, only instead of airplanes think skateboarding. EA announced new DLC for Skate 2 surrounding the preeminent plaza crusher and his new show, Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory. The content will feature the entirety of his skate plaza and the LA area outside to mix things up. Today gave us some great new screens and a trailer for Robert’s chunk of digital heaven. Check it all out, see if it’s worth 400 msp or $5.00 for the Xbox 360 and PS3 respectively. All I know is it’ll go great with my Bobby Light wig and bulldog puppy.
Can I talk to all the video game DLC developers out there please? Everyone else, put on some headphones or read a book. Watch Entourage, that show’s great. Just the developers left? Good.
Screw functionality and gameplay. I said it, screw it. I don’t care at all, not anymore. How can I? Next time you’re planning a new expansion or block of DLC and the drawing board does not have “DeLorean from Back to the Future” scrawled across the top, just switch professions. Criterion is offering up 4 new impossibly good cars for their smash ‘em-up racer, Burnout Paradise. Among those available are close recreations of the General Lee, KITT, Ecto-1 and of course the impossibly cool Time Machine from the trailer above. Pricing and vehicle profiles after the break.
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GTAIV‘s brand spankin’ new DLC falls onto Live’s own private interwebs very soon. 4 hours WG time to be exact. I figure I should give you the run down all the the pertinent info so that you, the well informed gamer, can make an educated decision on how to spend your money.
Price: $19.99 (1600 msp)
When: Tuesday February 17th, 2009 @ 3:00am
What is it: Grand Theft Auto 4: The Lost & Damned, the first of 3 episodic pieces of DLC for GTAIV.
What you get: A new main character for one. Lost & Damned is all about Johnny Klebitz and his biker gang, no Niko aside from the odd cameo, (they didn’t even bring Niko’s voice actor back in for the DLC). Fun will be had by all, though actual details are in short supply. One thing we do know, you get to see full frontal male nudity. Dan Houser, Rockstar’s VP, has said L&D will show you, “a different side of Liberty City” for all the good that does. I am still kinda hoping for gang wars to come back.
About the game dong: Video right here, you know you want it. If you wanna play the game spoiler free just put the video on mute and skip ahead to about 3:09.
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Me and all the Spectacu-philes out there have been counting down to this DLC release. Nikko, the hard-rockin’ main character of Nickelodeon’s hit movie Spectacular!, is poised to grow into this generation’s James Dean meets Frank Sinatra. Just to play bass behind that astounding man would be on par with being 1/4th of the back-up band of Raptor Jesus. Several other bands including a 3-pack from some girl named Thin Lizzy have been added to the bill, but to what effect I don’t know. Are they trying to sweeten the pot? Any more sweet and looking at the track list alone would put you into a diabetic coma. Full info and videos after the break.
Some people can be satisfied with horse armor or a new playable character, but for me that just doesn’t cut it. I look a gobs of DLC. I like huge oozing piles of like Knothole Island and Lost and Damned. So when I saw that Ubisoft’s new spiritual sequel to my favorite time travel trilogy was going to be getting so downloadable love I payed attention.
Looks like they’re beating Fallout 3′s future DLC to the punch, allowing players to pick up the game were they left it. This time however the prince and his affirmative action sidekick will be facing off with a new enemy in a new environment and with new powers and abilities. Essentially every part of the game is added to. The Prince now has a the ability to sprint while Elika can now “Energize” her surroundings, temporarily restoring the area. With these powers they’re to track down and defeat the Shapeshifter.
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Major Nelson was happy enough informing the world of new clothes for our avatars. Once again the outfits are 100% free and available now, most likely through the spotlight menu. I guess you could go check it out… I wouldn’t though. It probably isn’t worth your time.
Look, I’m not trying to be that guy who’s never grateful, I am grateful, really, but soccer shirt? European soccer shirts? 18? 18! I am just gonna look this gift horse in the mouth until it gets embarrassed and wanders home. How is it that Microsoft just continues to pile on these niche clothing packs? I don’t snowboard, I don’t go to raves, I am not a secret agent, and (shocker), I am not a fan of European soccer. Please Pepsi, sell me an ok looking .25$ hoodie so I can start ignoring these free BS updates. Full list of available countries jerseys after the break.
what they’re saying