CAGcast #201: In Dreams, Furniture, but not in the Tuchas

[CheapyD]

15060[/IMG-L]This week's show features Alpha Protocol, Red Dead Redemption, and a post-show spoilerific Alan Wake discussion. We've also got the latest gaming and shopping news, your CAGbag (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71382) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/cheapyd) questions and much more!

110
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Show Linkage/Notes (click the button below to expand):


Intro: Children of the Elder God - Old Gods of Asgard

(http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=children+of+the+elder+god&aq=f) The Video Game Release List of 5/30 - 6/5 (http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/64046)

DC Universe Online enters this universe in November (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/dc-universe-online-enters-this-universe-in-november/)
Sony Gets Aggressive With PSP Game Pricing, Free PSPgo Games (http://kotaku.com/5552923/sony-gets-aggressive-with-psp-game-pricing-free-pspgo-games)
Sony bundles PS3 with HDMI cable and Little Big Planet GOTY (http://www.examiner.com/x-47192-Savannah-PS3-Examiner%7Ey2010m6d1-Sony-bundles-PS3-with-HDMI-cable-and-Little-Big-Planet-GOTY)
Japan Gets 3D PS3 Games on June 10 (http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/64058)
Kevin Butler, VP of Endangering Agent's PS3 Exclusivity (http://kotaku.com/5553734/kevin-butler-vp-of-endangering-agents-ps3-exclusivity)
John Daly's ProStroke Golf gets Move support (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/john-dalys-prostroke-golf-gets-move-support/)

Brunswick Pro Bowling to feature Natal support (http://www.destructoid.com/brunswick-pro-bowling-to-feature-natal-support-175141.phtml)
Hulu Coming To Xbox 360? [Rumor] (http://kotaku.com/5553039/hulu-coming-to-xbox-360)
Mass Effect Devs Looking For A Multiplayer Programmer (http://kotaku.com/5552446/mass-effect-devs-looking-for-a-multiplayer-programmer)
What about us? Japan gets a DS/DSi price drop (http://www.destructoid.com/what-about-us-japan-gets-a-ds-dsi-price-drop-175260.phtml)

CheapyD's Youtube Videos (http://www.youtube.com/cheapyd) (Subscribe (http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=CheapyD))
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Outro: In Dreams - Roy Orbitson (http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/in-dreams/id158622799?i=158623251)
(http://twitpic.com/1921lx)

[ProtoEXE88]

Looks like I'll be forced to finish Alan Wake before I listen to the whole thing... that's some damn good motivation there.

[SmackMyPanda]

Nice! Explicit tag. About 100 episodes late. Thanks for the episode.

[CheapyD]

Its very clear where the spoiler discussion starts...at the very end of the show.
You don't have to worry about any accidents.

Nice! Explicit tag. About 100 episodes late. Thanks for the episode.
Heh...I decided to just do a Find & Replace in the RSS feed. Now people can't say that they weren't properly warned!

[reddjoey]

sweet. gives me something fresh to listen to

[ProtoEXE88]

Its very clear where the spoiler discussion starts...at the very end of the show.
You don't have to worry about any accidents.


Heh...I decided to just do a Find & Replace in the RSS feed. Now people can't say that they weren't properly warned!

I figured as much basing it on the Metro 2033 one, and the other game you guys did too which I forget... Mass Effect 2? I don't think I listened to that part because I still haven't beaten that one either.

Definitely appreciate the whole separation from the regular episode, makes it a lot easier than to guess where the discussion ended.

[AleetPanda]

Why is it that Wombat is the only one that gets to talk about his boring personal drama?
Wombat to Cheapy "Nobody cares, lets move on."

Edit: also Cheapy, I don't think there is anything that Nintendo can do to please you and make you plug in your Wii.

[iKilledChewbacca]

Thnx, downloading now :D

- and everyone leave Wombat alone - haha

[Nebenator]

:32-:33 minutes into the show boatcrash and cheapy start talking at the same time. Audio editing problem, or rude podcasters?

[iKilledChewbacca]

:32-:33 minutes into the show boatcrash and cheapy start talking at the same time. Audio editing problem, or rude podcasters?

Haha, yeah Boatcrash was kinda talking first but I guess Cheapy being " Head Cheap Ass " he has the right to start talkin whenever he wants haha:lol::lol:

[CheapyD]

Skype problem...fixing that now. I'll have a new version uploaded shortly.
Edit: Fixed.

[Davestation]

I'd download it but I do not know what my two year old did with my touch, she stashed it somewhere and only brings it to me when it needs to be charged.....

[KingBroly]

The point of dropping the price of the DS (at least in my humble opinion) is two fold: One, clear out the remaining stock of the DS lite and two, lowering the price of the DSi/XL helps separate the pricing structure between them and the 3DS. If you have $150/$170 for DSi/XL and $200 for 3DS, it's easier to make a distinction for the consumer to say they're different products then having them bunched up at $170/$190/$200. Expect this announcement to happen at E3, the DS lite will be at $99 I'm guessing.

[RedCap]

Great show guys.

Really liked the Alan Wake spoiler discussion at the end. It did seem like there was some confusion near the end though; when Cheapy brought up the live action webisodes. I think Wombat and Ship thought he was talking about the in-game TV show 'Night Springs'? I hope Ship and Wombat check those live action webisodes out some time because they're pretty cool, and add a bit to the story.

Hope ya guys do more of these in-depth spoiler discussions.

[ZeroForte]

Just finished listening to your spoiler filled Alan Wake convo, and I have to agree with you guys... Definitely one of my games of the year.

And just like Cheapy, the moment the first episode ended, I was grinning from ear to ear. They really did a good job presenting the whole thing.

[gorgo]

Great podcast as usual! I'm holding off on listening to the Wake ending, as I have 1 episode to go.

My comments so far:

Rock Star CAN make good characters... my favorite is still CJ from GTA San Andreas.

Cheapy brought up the excellent Austrailian western "The Proposition". Which is directed by John Hillcoat, who also directed the "Red Dead Redemption" short film, and "The Road".
"The Proposition" was written by (and has a cameo by) Nick Cave, whose song "Up Jumped the Devil" was the highlight of the "Alan Wake" soundtrack. Everything is connected...

[Clarke]

Skip the clip show. Those are super boring. We've already heard the past 200. We don't need to hear them again.

[Sgt Barone]

Yay CAGcast!!!

[III MUZZA III]

Cheapy please don't mention Australia & or New Zealand as weird. Other then that i enjoy your podcast, hope you make another 200 episodes.

[CheapyD]

Cheapy please don't mention Australia & or New Zealand as weird. Other then that i enjoy your podcast, hope you make another 200 episodes.Heh...I hope to make it to Australia soon for a vacation. The time difference is only an hour (I think).

[n11n12]

Think positive Wombat. Maybe the Mass Effect mulitplayer will be that awesome orgy/gang rape simulator that Fox news was trying to warn us about. Maybe Cooper Lawrence was psychic.

And instead of calling it the Sony Bowel Movement, I think it should be called the Sony Fuck Stick with sub-controller.

[LiK]

Alan West? Wake up Cheapy, wake up!

Btw Cheapy, Stern loves Sex & the City, you should know something about it. lulz :)

[KillerRamen]

I subscribed to the podcast on Zune... Is it official? I've never seen it mentioned anywhere.

[rogueweapon]

Ship.. Alpha Protocol.. really!? You rip a AAA title and gush over a turd. Your review credibility just crashed. RDR is no ME2 but it still is a great game. Did you like GUN when it first came out? I was disappointed. Red Dead isn't perfect but it sets the bar for western games.

[dacool561]

Great CagCast this week. One suggestion for iPhone game is a website I go to everyday since I got my iPhone last summer, http://toucharcade.com (http://toucharcade.com/). Their forum is full of helpful members that review all the new iPhone release games that is often much more helpful than their official reviews. They also let you know of good sales on games so you can get your cheap on =)

[Jasonofindy]

Another good show guys. I think the question this week from the listener regarding whether you play games in front of your kids actually goes well with the discussion of the ongoing popularity of Mario platformers. I'm a dad in my mid-30s with a 5 year old and a 2 year old. I play MOST of my games after the kids go to bed for the evening.

However, the Mario games are some of the few that I feel I can not only play in front of them, but with them. My 5 year old was 2 when the original Mario Galaxy came out. If you didn't already know, in Galaxy 1 a second player could control a pointer on screen to grab the little crystals for you, and she loved it. Flash forward to now and she is 5. Galaxy 2 retains the limited 2nd player role but with the added abilities to "hold" enemies in place, to "grab" and hold coins, 1ups, and red power-up mushrooms for me until I need them, and the returning ability to grab crystals. These abilities are perfect for her and we have a great time playing together. If I want to play with my two year old son he can still play Mario Galaxy 1 style by waving the remote around to grab crystals.

Similarly, last year's New Super Mario Bros. Wii also works well with the 5 year old. She can play through the boards with me and simply choose to push A to enter the floating safety bubble and float along behind me in the difficult sections.

Regarding Shipwreck's "too much pointless Talky-Talk" complaint in the Galaxy games, I agree completely. At least in Galaxy 2 they streamlined the level select back to more of the old linear "world map type' instead of the annoying hub you had to run all over in Galaxy 1 to enter the levels. As far as level design and variety, I'm 45 stars in and so far I'm thinking that Galaxy 2's levels have been a step above Galaxy 1.

PS- I agree with the guy above that felt that clip shows were not really worth the time and effort they take to create.

[usickenme]

Either you guys were talking all over each other or the audio wasn't synced right in places (around 32 minutes).

I liked the iCarly reference...It a funny show. How close is Gibby to a young Wombat.

[tenma]

Mid-way through the spoiler part of the Alan Wake discussion. Gotta say I definitely agree with Wombat more than Cheapy or Ship at this point. I agreed with Wombat that Wake is definitely better than Resi 5, but definitely not better than 4. Also agreed that the forest setting did start to get a bit tiresome close to the end. Ship is right that the locations are inherently somewhat limited, but I still felt like they could have mixed it up somewhat (fighting in shallow streams, more fighting in non-factory structures, etc). I loved Alan Wake - the gameplay was fun, the atmosphere was great, the literary in-jokes, TV episodes and radio clips were well done - but while the storytelling was done very well, I still don't think the story itself was as great as Cheapy and Ship think it is.

I was actually surprised to hear Cheapy (I think) say earlier that Red Dead Redemption's story felt too game-y one moment, and then praise Alan Wake's a second later. I think both games had great storytelling, but between the two felt Wake's was definitely more game-y in theme and plot progression. I know a lot of it is obfuscated at this point in order to add on to it with future DLC episodes, but certain mechanics and motivations behind some of the forces in the game just constantly reminded me that I was playing a game. I definitely don't consider it any more or less mature in story than RDR.

It's just kind of interesting that I feel like I loved both RDR and Wake as much as Cheapy, but for completely different reasons I guess.

Great show as always. I look forward to hearing the subsequent shows after E3 especially.

[PhaperPlane]

Another excellent show guys! On the topic of Hulu coming to Xbox 360/Live rumour, if it is true, I will personally be frustrated. As I live in the UK, we don't get Hulu or Netflix for that matter. In fact, Hulu was going to be launched in the UK and Ireland last September but it never actually has arrived. I'm extremely disappointed, there's not much good video on demand services over here since our Broadband is terrible and what the minimum speed for the UK is under constant discussion with the government (They just recently backed an agreement to get everyone in the UK on a 2 Mpbs connection by 2012). I can't watch my favourite shows because the speeds I get are so terrible.

I live in a new-ish city, on a 2 Mbps connection which is quite unreliable, and majority of the houses use aluminium wiring. This turned out to be a huge mistake as these houses are stuck with incredibly slow broadband speeds or nothing at all. BT (a very large Internet and phone line provider) wants to lay down fibre optics across where I live, which is great, but the trial won't happen until this summer OR late next year. Despite the fact a small fraction of people still don't have basic ADSL speeds of 1 mbps. But it's an even worse case in the country side, companies don't want to provide broadband or fibre optics to these small villages because they don't think it's a good financial investment. One village which I saw on the news installed Fibre optics themselves by setting up a mini phone exchange and now can get speeds of 40mpbs! (Unfortunately, the village had to raise £37,000 themselves just to buy the mini exchange!)

If the UK got Hulu or Netflix in the near future, I wouldn't use it. I'd be more likely buy the DVD/Blu Ray box set or just record it because I won't have to wait an hour for my internet to stream the show.

[collipop]

I totally agree with wombat on the Alan wake discussion. I got bored of running through forests and I found the last level very tedious.

I don't know what cheapy thought was so good about the ending. I felt kinda disappointed by it especially knowing that it would have been more complete and satisfying if DLC never existed. I'm not really interested in going to back to the game months after I have finished it, I paid my money and want the game to finish complete.

Don't get me wrong I think the game is good but after shipwrecks and cheapys praise of the game I expected the actual gameplay to be more fun.

[SeanNOLA]

I'll be seriously irked if they charge for Hulu on 360. I used to watch Hulu on my PS3 all the time, for free, and it was awesome. Then they took it away. Why? To shop around and figure out how to get more money for it? Boo, Hulu. Very boo.

[CaptainJoel]

Good show, guys! I was really happy to hear the Alan Wake spoiler discussion and it has convinced me to pick up the game. It sounds really fun!

Also, I completely agree with Wombat about DCU Online. It shouldn't have a monthly subscription fee, I think it should instead opt to have a free online play like Guild Wars does. I think that if it did then a lot more players would probably feel inclined to get the game day one and purchase the inevitable expansion packs.

[butaneko]

Shouldn't the title be "In the City, the Bathroom, but not in the Tuchas"?

[LiK]

Finished the Alan Wake spoiler discussion...

Pretty good discussion. I liked some stuff you guys pointed out. Kinda surprised at how critical Wombat was with the game.

Oh yea, FACT: Wombat hates trees!

[DCJ83]

I just wanted to say that I have to agree with Cheapy when it comes to the Ratings for Red Dead Redemption. If that game wasn't made by Rockstar, It would've gotten a lower score. It's a good game, but it's not really anything special. It is pretty much a slower Grand Theft Auto like you guys were saying, but with Dead Eye and Horses. Not to mention I don't think the Multiplayer is all that great either. Free Roam is nice, but Matchmaking absolutely sucks.

Alan Wake on the other hand, I think is underrated and should be getting higher scores. I agree with what you guys had to say, that if that game came out a week or a month later and not on the same day as Red Dead, the rating for it would be higher. The story alone is great, and the atmosphere of the game as you play really gets you excited because you don't know what's going to happen next, and even at the end, you still wanted more.

This is something that I think a lot of games these days are lacking. The story could be good, but if it's something predictable, it lacks the user's excitement and the only reason they'll continue playing is just so they can finish the game to finish it, not because they want more.

[reddjoey]

For those curious, it's available for streaming

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Proposition/70043423

[Fjordson]

I just wanted to say that I have to agree with Cheapy when it comes to the Ratings for Red Dead Redemption. If that game wasn't made by Rockstar, It would've gotten a lower score. It's a good game, but it's not really anything special. It is pretty much a slower Grand Theft Auto like you guys were saying, but with Dead Eye and Horses. Not to mention I don't think the Multiplayer is all that great either. Free Roam is nice, but Matchmaking absolutely sucks.
Or, you know, maybe there are some people out there who feel it deserves its review scores. I'm a bit of a R* fanboy, but I have multiple friends who aren't that big on their games, and hated GTA IV, yet they're really into Red Dead.

Not saying you or Cheapy are wrong, but neither are the people praising the game, if that was their honest experience with it.

[Baron O Hell]

I'll give a shout out to the Keith and The Girl podcast. They are not Howard Stern but have the same sort of humor.

[tenma]

Or, you know, maybe there are some people out there who feel it deserves its review scores. I'm a bit of a R* fanboy, but I have multiple friends who aren't that big on their games, and hated GTA IV, yet they're really into Red Dead.

Not saying you or Cheapy are wrong, but neither are the people praising the game, if that was their honest experience with it.

Agreed. I personally wouldn't rate RDR a 95/100 (probably more like an 87 or so), but I don't think the scores are just due to it being Rockstar. There are other publishers and developers out there who are just as respected - if not more so - that I don't see this argument being used towards. I think just as some people think people are rating Rockstar games higher just because they're Rockstar, I think there are people who may be predisposed to give Rockstar games lower scores simply because of the hype and advertising blitz. I remember it being especially cool to trash on GTA IV after it came out, after all. But had RDR come out as it currently is and gotten a 60 metacritic score I wouldn't just assume its because all the reviews had this pre-disposition.

There are a ton of games out there that get scores I don't agree with. I could come up with a bunch of theories about what that is, but I usually just chalk it up to "X person had a different reaction to it than I did" and nothing more. As someone who's not a part of the gaming journalism community maybe it's naive to have this view, but it's how I feel.

[Super_Cholo]

Awesome show guys as usual. I listen to your podcast while I run my iPhone repair business. Thanks to you guys, I have met a few cags who needed iPhone repairs. I usually sit down to 30 or so iPhones and iPods, turn you guys up and get work done. It seems to help for some reason, when listening to your show I get everything done with time to spare. Although when you make me laugh I tend to drop these tiny ass screws. I've had to buy 3 sets of replacement iPhone screws in the past month.

If you guys ever need repairs done for your iPhones, iPods or smart phones let me know. I will do it all at cost for you guys. And yes this is a legitimate business. (richsiphonerepair.com)

[bickle]

You rip a AAA title and gush over a turd. Your review credibility just crashed.

So everyone should just shower praise over a title if its a AAA title? Regardless of whether or not the person enjoyed it? Why do you even bother listening to someones review/comments on a title if you've pre-decided what they should say? If Ship/Cheapy/Wombat like or dislike a title, I want to hear it. I don't want them to just spew out what someone is 'supposed' to say about a AAA title.

And FWIW, I agree with most of the criticisms of RDR that were mentioned. I wish I had waited to hear Ship's comments, rather than trusting all of the reviews that seemingly gave scores because it was a 'big' title.

[DarkZion]

This show felt rushed to me. Like you guys were just making all topics as short as possible just so you could do the Alan Wake discussion at the end. Then again, there wasn't much news to discuss, so that could just be it. But it was still a great show.

And about the Should Mario Die topic, I don't think Mario should die until the games become something like the Guitar Hero games and four are coming out in a single year, and they all lack quality. It was almost 3 years in between the Super Mario Galaxies, and there's no lack of quality in either of them.

[spineynorman]

This was my favorite CAGCast since the permanent addition of Shipwreck. You seem to have found your chemistry. Nice job guys - very entertaining.

I'm starting Alan Wake tonight and can't wait to finish so I can listen to the discussion at the end of the episode.

[LimpDaddy]

Great show guys! I really think you are guys are hitting your stride. Your E3 coverage and trip should really bring you guys together even more.

[Filler2001]

@Cheapy
regarding the Red Dead Redemption ending

Go to the train station in the city with the government agents (AKA, the "modernized" place) and do the random encounter their. Thats where the real ending (The mission leading to the credits) begins.

When you guys beat the game, it would be awesome if you guys put aside 20-30 spoiler filled minutes of discussion of this in the next two weeks.


And also Cheapy:

Having rented and finishing Alan Wake, Im a little confused with all of the love going around for it. Although this was a pretty cool game, the Playstation has had much more cinematic, immersive, and epic experiences. Uncharted 2, Metal Gear Solid 4, and several other story driven games (In my opinion) easily top this. My problem isn't preference either. My problem is that you give so much time to games like Mass Effect 2 and Alan Wake and only talk about other console exclusives for 2-3 minute intervals (at best). I love the show, but this just bugs me a bit.

[shimbibby]

Sony move = poop stick!
Awesome show!

[Hoffer]

I was ready to hit delete 5 seconds in when I heard clip show. Wombat's voice saved the day.

P.S. I hate clip shows. :)

[flamecannon]

I found the RDR talk pretty disappointing. Cheapy can't seem to appreciate any story that isn't slowly and deliberately spoon-fed to him, and Shipwreck spends so much energy looking for the good parts of shitty games that actually good games seem to barely hold his interest, with a few exceptions for stuff like Mass Effect.

Seriously, Cheapy, you always go on about Japanese games like Metal Gear having stories that "nobody can possibly follow"...that's not really true, if you look at message boards, there are _thousands_ of people who can follow and discuss complicated storylines; the fact of the matter seems to be that you aren't very smart and any game that asks you to keep track of what's happening is lost on you. RDR is a similar situation-Marston's character is subtly developed over several hours of dialogue; for the ending to have the proper emotional impact you have to understand who he is, what doing everything he's done has meant to him, everything his son represents to him...overall, more thinking than you seem to prefer from your video games, which is fine, but try to realize that people don't just say it has mature storytelling just because there's swearing in it. And Alan Wake wasn't written by God Himself, the story there is quite good, but it isn't nearly as far ahead of other games as you seem to think. It's just told in a way that's easier to digest for someone like you.

Not trying to bash or anything, I'm a huge fan and have been for the past 110 or so shows, this is just something that bothers me whenever Cheapy starts talking about stories in games.

[usickenme]

I found the RDR talk pretty disappointing. Cheapy can't seem to appreciate any story that isn't slowly and deliberately spoon-fed to him,.

True but it goes beyond story... I think the Super Mario Galaxy 2 talk (last ep) made me realize that Cheapy is a " lazy" gamer. Any games that goes beyond point and shoot is seemingly no good. Which is fine but it does mean his credibility is nill with me.

We all have reviewers (or people who talk about games) that resonate more than others.

[AshesofWake]

Cheapyd, when you said you stop watching Weeds because the main character just got so stupid, i wanted to hug you. That's exactly why i stopped watching the show, i loved that show! and then it just got soooo stupid with the characters, ridiculous. haha. just was happy somebody else agreed on that. Most people keep watching it and justifying the characters, but yeah. just had to vent that...

[RichMeisterMan]

Ok, I've avoided the spoiler talk from Alan Wake at the end of the show. I don't know if i want to throw 60 dollars at the game or not though. Is it really atmospheric? Is it a game that people typically not into games would be down to watch if they're into thriller/scary movies?

[rogueweapon]

So everyone should just shower praise over a title if its a AAA title? Regardless of whether or not the person enjoyed it?

No. And people shouldn't like something just because it's popular. I have an issue with the inconsistency. I'm not a RDR defender, but AAA titles are polished and in general are in a league above shit games. Ship sank a lot of hours & chose a 2nd play through of a shit game vs. playing a really good game. Maybe some of his bitterness comes from him buying RDR, while the turd he fell in love with was free.

[RichMeisterMan]

I found the RDR talk pretty disappointing. Cheapy can't seem to appreciate any story that isn't slowly and deliberately spoon-fed to him, and Shipwreck spends so much energy looking for the good parts of shitty games that actually good games seem to barely hold his interest, with a few exceptions for stuff like Mass Effect.

Seriously, Cheapy, you always go on about Japanese games like Metal Gear having stories that "nobody can possibly follow"...that's not really true, if you look at message boards, there are _thousands_ of people who can follow and discuss complicated storylines; the fact of the matter seems to be that you aren't very smart and any game that asks you to keep track of what's happening is lost on you. RDR is a similar situation-Marston's character is subtly developed over several hours of dialogue; for the ending to have the proper emotional impact you have to understand who he is, what doing everything he's done has meant to him, everything his son represents to him...overall, more thinking than you seem to prefer from your video games, which is fine, but try to realize that people don't just say it has mature storytelling just because there's swearing in it. And Alan Wake wasn't written by God Himself, the story there is quite good, but it isn't nearly as far ahead of other games as you seem to think. It's just told in a way that's easier to digest for someone like you.

Not trying to bash or anything, I'm a huge fan and have been for the past 110 or so shows, this is just something that bothers me whenever Cheapy starts talking about stories in games.

You do not know what you are talking about when it comes to John Marston as a character. He was a cool character that was pissed away due to a lack of development. 90% of his dialogue involved just being pissed about getting the run around or telling people he doesn't want to talk about his past. The only time in dialogue that John Marston stood out was when... You are confronted by Dutch with that doctor and when when the doc asks him what he's gonna do, John replies that he is going to give him up and watch him get torn limb from limb and after the doctor whimpers, John tells him he is just joking and chuckles.

They should have ditched the honor system and told a fleshed out story, because things don't even mesh if you make John bad. Although I'm really not sure if Rock Star is capable. The over arcing narrative is really weak anyway. The story really only exists in the last part of the game when you get back to Blackwater. None of the characters you meet in Mexico or before the Fort Mercer assault even matter because they never show back up! The only character that was worth a damn was the Sheriff anyway, because he was memorable and at the same time normal.

That said, I was pretty satisfied with the end and how things played out, but I sure as fuck wasn't blown away.The story was paced weird/poorly and the characters all in all were pretty lame. They were on to something with John Marston, but blew it.

[Ltor]

iCary? Christ.

[apathylad]

As soon as I heard about this Mass Effect multiplayer business, the first thing that came to my mind was an MMO. It would be pretty cool if I can play as a Turian with a scouter like Garrus, but there's no real way of knowing what the multiplayer could be. I'm hopeful that it's a spinoff, so as to not to draw resources away from the single player of Mass Effect 3.

Anyway, I enjoyed this week's episode, but unfortunately I didn't hear the ending because I still haven't purchased Alan Wake. I was a little disappointed that there was no mention of this week's Modern Warfare 2 map pack (at least, I don't think there was). It would have been nice to have thrown criticisms of Activision for having a total of $30 for 10 maps when discussing how expensive Project Natal is rumored to be.

[Fjordson]

Great episode, dudes. Loved the AW talk. I pray that sells a lot, I want a sequel!

Really surprised with the lack of love for Red Dead, but meh. Different strokes I suppose.

As for multiplayer in Mass Effect, I hope it's something separate from ME 3. I'd hate to see any RPG/conversation aspects be dumbed down in order to make room for co-op, or to somehow balance a multiplayer mode.
You do not know what you are talking about when it comes to John Marston as a character. He was a cool character that was pissed away due to a lack of development.
So anyone who thought he was a great character doesn't know what they're talking about? Interesting.

[xlaxparkax]

I got Red Dead Redemption a few weeks ago, and while I do enjoy the game, I must admit it has some flaws. John Marston can survive a shootout, but he dies instantly when he falls into the water because, apparently, cowboys can't swim, the auto aim is nice, but sometimes you'll end up killing the wrong people and your honor points will go down, and the horseback takes some time to get used to. The story is okay, nothing spectacular, but there are a lot of odd moments, especially during those "stranger" quests. It is a solid, fun game, one that I enjoy a lot more than GTA4, but i have to agree those ratings are ridiculous.

Also, thank you Wombat for bringing back the godaddy.com background music.

[shipwreck]

No. And people shouldn't like something just because it's popular. I have an issue with the inconsistency. I'm not a RDR defender, but AAA titles are polished and in general are in a league above shit games. Ship sank a lot of hours & chose a 2nd play through of a shit game vs. playing a really good game. Maybe some of his bitterness comes from him buying RDR, while the turd he fell in love with was free.

For the record, I was sent both Alpha Protocol and Red Dead Redemption so that has nothing to do with me preferring one game to the other.

[grognard66]

Cheapy please don't mention Australia & or New Zealand as weird. Other then that i enjoy your podcast, hope you make another 200 episodes.

To be fair, I think Australia & New Zealand were the only countries/ethnic group/religion/sexual orientation CheapyD hadn't managed to insult by this point. :)

[Energy Penguin]

I love RDR, but I understand why some people don't. It is very much a R* game. The mission structure, the tone of the dialogue, the open world jank is all there. So if you don't like that stuff, you may not love the game.
And the high scores may have something to do with it being a R* game, but that happens all the time. Look at Galaxy 2, it has a 98 on metacritic currently. A 98, for what most reviewers are calling a Galaxy expansion pack. If Galaxy 2 was Super Fred Galaxy 2, instead of Mario would the scores be anywhere near as high? I don't think so. But reviewers can't find it within themselves to score a Mario game below 95. It's impossible. For a Mario game, a score under 90 would be considered a complete pan and welcome the ire of grown men who love Mario.
It seems most reviewers have a score in mind before they begin playing AAA titles. That is why I appreciate Ship's reviews. He is honest and tries to be as objective as possible when he reviews games. As for his love of Alpha Protocol, I believe he said his recommended purchase price was $30, half its price. That should tell you that he enjoyed, but it is certainly flawed.
Love the show!

[retromufc]

True but it goes beyond story... I think the Super Mario Galaxy 2 talk (last ep) made me realize that Cheapy is a " lazy" gamer. Any games that goes beyond point and shoot is seemingly no good. Which is fine but it does mean his credibility is nill with me.

We all have reviewers (or people who talk about games) that resonate more than others.

It's ironic that the head of this website and the main character on the podcast is so ignorant to the subject he is supposed to be knowledgeable in. He comes across as so crude & unlikable I can't see how anyone enjoys listening to him. He is definitely the weak point for this site's podcast.

It's too bad because wombat and shitwreck are entertaining and actually have great insight into games. Cheap has nothing to add but shit jokes and crap about his family, how he milks his sites members, and that he lives in Tokyo. Every time one of the guys starts going in depth about a game he always moves the conversation on. That's why I haven't listened to this crap in weeks and probably never will again. I mean, if he died and the show was just wombat and shitwreck I would, but you'd have to drop the spare tire first.

[CheapyD]

Although it makes perfect sense for you to be reading and writing about a show you don't enjoy, perhaps you can do it without involving my death? Stay classy.

[retromufc]

Although it makes perfect sense for you to be reading and writing about a show you don't enjoy, perhaps you can do it without involving my death? Stay classy.

Well, you don't necessarily have to die. I'd probably start listening again if you quit.

[Walt Jay]

Hey guys,

I noticed that the new CAGcast logo has one guy under each word "Cheap Ass Gamer". Right now, Ship is under "Cheap", Cheapy is under "Ass", and Wombat is under "Gamer".

Considering the three personalities, wouldn't it be more appropriate to have Ship and Wombat switch places? Wombat is always looking for a handout and Ship plays a ton of games. Keep Cheapy where he is since he is a self-described asshole :)

[usickenme]

It's ironic that the head of this website and the main character on the podcast is so ignorant to the subject he is supposed to be knowledgeable in. He comes across as so crude & unlikable I can't see how anyone enjoys listening to him. He is definitely the weak point for this site's podcast.
.

I would actually disagree. Many of his insights have been spot on. When it comes to games, there is a difference in taste between him and myself.

By the way, just because someone doesn't like certain games doesn't mean they don't know anything.

[rogueweapon]

For the record, I was sent both Alpha Protocol and Red Dead Redemption so that has nothing to do with me preferring one game to the other.

aight, you got a free meal and you went for seconds of the big mac instead of going for the filet mignon :applause:. Personally, I like a filet or a porterhouse myself.

[Curufinwe]

Well, you don't necessarily have to die. I'd probably start listening again if you quit.

If he quit there wouldn't be a podcast, retard. :roll:

[tomscab]

Eh not the best show ever, especially because i havent played alan wake so you kinda miss out on a lot of it... and am i the only one who was really disappointed that it wasnt a clip show...and does anyone else feel like cheapy is too lazy to go through with actually making one...Challenge extended cheapy, challenge extended

[RichMeisterMan]

So anyone who thought he was a great character doesn't know what they're talking about? Interesting.

Please enlighten me as to what it was about John Marston that was so great. Despite tons of dialogue on his side he had little more personality than Gordon Freeman.

It's one thing to thing to like him but to call him awesome and go on about how the game "subtly" builds him over time in an attempt to make someone look like a lazy idiot is ridiculous.

[jkanownik]

Mass Effect multiplayer done perfectly:

* Computer terminals everywhere to access a multiplayer training simulator
* Option to play vs bots or players
* Experience gained in the multiplayer simulator affects your single player character
* Fame, weapon accuracy and awareness can be improved in multiplayer
* Reaching certain levels in multiplayer triggers special missions in single player
* Billboards/news in single player game show events that occurred in multiplayer
* You age slightly while playing multiplayer creating a risk/reward scenario
* Aging very slightly decreases run/walk speed, makes you less desirable (i.e. romance becomes more difficult) and increases your chance of ED (creating hilarious alternate romance results)
* Post game content in single player to give you a reason to keep playing
* Stats have an affect on a future game

All you need is a simple deathmatch mode with a couple maps to implement this. If it is successful you can build on it post launch.

[shafnitz]

Gotta put in my two cents about Alan Wake.


I disagree with a lot of Wombat's beefs with the game. I don't think the endings of the subsequent episodes were necessarily worse than the first, I think that it was so new and different the first time, it was impossible for the rest of them to feel as special. I still enjoyed each episode ending and had a huge grin on my face at the end of each one. Having said that, everyone's entitled to their own opinion, so I won't say you're wrong. Even though you're wrong. :P

About the very end, Stucky is not in the parade. The first time I played the game, I thought the same thing. I thought everyone that had died was back, but it's not the case. Watch the ending video again.

Along those lines, I would recommend even playing the game a second time. There's so much that I missed the first time I played through that shed light on a lot of the things you might think went unanswered.

In the interest of keeping this short, I'll end there. I honestly feel like I could talk about this game for hours. It's now one of my favorite games of all time.

[Fjordson]

Please enlighten me as to what it was about John Marston that was so great.
Don't take my original post the wrong way. You said you didn't like him, so don't. I couldn't care less. I just thought it was unfair to say that people who thought he was a good character "don't know what they're talking about".

I liked his dialogue, the voice work, the small insights into his character that are in the game (like when he's approached by a hooker and mentions that he's married). I liked that he had a family and a whole background separate from the game. It was a nice change of pace from earlier GTA protagonists who weren't much more than generic gangsters at the start of the game. Niko in GTA IV was somewhat of an improvement on that, but the family aspect made me relate to John a lot more than Niko. I thought he was likable and seemed like an inherently good person underneath all of his past transgressions.

But that's just me.

[H4Y4TO]

In my opinion, it was a good show... The cagcast and tqcast are the only podcasts that I can listen to because all the other ones sound to dry to me


I am really wanting to pick up Alan Wake...

[CaptNink]

I liked his dialogue, the voice work, the small insights into his character that are in the game (like when he's approached by a hooker and mentions that he's married). I liked that he had a family and a whole background separate from the game. It was a nice change of pace from earlier GTA protagonists who weren't much more than generic gangsters at the start of the game. Niko in GTA IV was somewhat of an improvement on that, but the family aspect made me relate to John a lot more than Niko. I thought he was likable and seemed like an inherently good person underneath all of his past transgressions.



I feel the same way about the John Marston character - he is very likable. He has qualities that I like. If he were real, I think he would be a cool person to know.

Now, in a literary sense, is he a well-written, fleshed-out character? I don't know, and I don't really give two shits. I enjoyed the Marston character and that's what makes him great to me.

Another awesome CAGCAST guys! Keep up the solid work! :applause:

[Fjordson]

I feel the same way about the John Marston character - he is very likable. He has qualities that I like. If he were real, I think he would be a cool person to know.

Now, in a literary sense, is he a well-written, fleshed-out character? I don't know, and I don't really give two shits. I enjoyed the Marston character and that's what makes him great to me.
Agreed. There are definite flaws to the way R* tells a story and how they write their characters, but I still liked John /shrug

[RichMeisterMan]

Don't take my original post the wrong way. You said you didn't like him, so don't. I couldn't care less. I just thought it was unfair to say that people who thought he was a good character "don't know what they're talking about".

I liked his dialogue, the voice work, the small insights into his character that are in the game (like when he's approached by a hooker and mentions that he's married). I liked that he had a family and a whole background separate from the game. It was a nice change of pace from earlier GTA protagonists who weren't much more than generic gangsters at the start of the game. Niko in GTA IV was somewhat of an improvement on that, but the family aspect made me relate to John a lot more than Niko. I thought he was likable and seemed like an inherently good person underneath all of his past transgressions.

But that's just me.

Where did you get that I hate the character? My original post was directed at someone that tried to over exaggerate how well developed John Marston and the game's story was in an attempt to make Cheapy out to be an idiot.

I never said I didn't like John Marston, and I said that he was a good/cool character. He just wasn't as well put together as this clown was trying to say.

As I already said, I was completely content with the game, and I was down right giddy when... I got to plug that asshole federal agent that did John in at the end. Cliche or not; I enjoyed the end.

Agreed. There are definite flaws to the way R* tells a story and how they write their characters, but I still liked John /shrug

...this is exactly what I was getting at with that other guy.

[Fluffy]

Where'd it go? I'm with Ship, bring it back.

[ianoid]

@CheapyD Stern is off this week? Great opportunity to check out the Adam Carolla podcast/show. Teresa Strasser (kind of hot, new mom) and Bald Brian (recent cancer survivor, still slurs) are very funny sidekicks. Check out the one with the legendary Billy West.

You should almost expand your horizons from Stern if just to get yourself exposure on other podcasts/radio shows/whatever. Stern is great though.

[Chase]

Cheapy, I too am not a fan of the 'Galaxy' series and am just tired of Mario-based games. What is the last Mario-based game you enjoyed? I last enjoyed Mario Kart DS--though I didn't prefer to race as Mario.

[collipop]

Eh not the best show ever, especially because i havent played alan wake so you kinda miss out on a lot of it... and am i the only one who was really disappointed that it wasnt a clip show...and does anyone else feel like cheapy is too lazy to go through with actually making one...Challenge extended cheapy, challenge extended

I wish these spoiler discussions were an extension to the cagcast instead of replacing other discussion. If you haven't played the game then you feel cheated out of half an hour of cast.

Also I was really glad this wasn't a clip show as I'm not really a fan of them.

[Corizzle]

Alan Wake spoiler, although very minor.

I loved you guys clearly mixing up Night Springs and Bright Falls. Night Springs is the Outer Limits/Twilight Zone parodies that play on the TVs in the game. Bright Falls is the live action internet mini-series that is a prequel to the game.

I believe Cheapy was talking about Bright Falls but Wombat/Shipwreck were thinking about Night Springs.

[DarkNessBear]

Alright, here is what I'm trying to say about Shipwreck. He has a bias against bad/unpopular games. Not necessarily in the sense he will rate bad games higher (which sometimes might be the case), but when discussing a poor game over a good game he'll much rather bash a good game (excessively) over berating the bad one.

I'm sure Shipwreck will give RDR the same if not a higher score than Alpha Protocol. Yet when discussing RDR there is not one positive thing said, yet when it's time to talk about Alpha he's just beaming with excitement.

I just think Ship prides himself on playing EVERYTHING and liking the uncommon title. This is just an observation, nothing serious, no hard feelings. Love the show!

I still haven't gotten over Ships insane bashing of LBP...

[boyneverbored]

On Episode 201 Cheapy read a comment from a first-time listener claiming he was turned off by "the poop jokes" and that it left a bad first-impression. Well, I had the exact opposite experience.

My first episode dates back to 150-something where Cheapy discusses a poop-test trip to a Japanese doctor's office. He lamented on the unwieldy size of the poop tube and how he even got some on the tiled floor. Was it a little nasty? Sure, but with Cheapy's account came a load of humor with a coat of the real prize: honesty.

Keep it up, Cheapy. Your honesty in all that you say about your business to the hole in your underpants is well-noted. And happy 200 to the whole crew. Eff keeping it classy; just keep it honest.

[ultrarobotninja]

I was ready to hit delete 5 seconds in when I heard clip show. Wombat's voice saved the day.

P.S. I hate clip shows. :)

Me too! I almost turned off the show! Im glad I didnt thou, I thought this was a great episode.

BTW, cheapy , I just so happen to have a pretty scandalous picture of the Major and none other then Jabba the hut himself. Surely you can use this to blackmail him to get wombat and ship into the conference.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb99/ultrarobotninja/maj.jpg

[RichMeisterMan]

Seems to me, Cheapy, that you should put a poll up before you do a clip show. I for one don't really care to have one either. And I am sure that you'd rather not waste your time with one if no one wants to listen to it.

[megma42]

Here is how 3d should be done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw

[Z_meista]

This show seems rushed, but it was good nonetheless. Looks like you guys are more synchronized with each other now. Keep it up.
I think cheapy was kinda sad when Wombat almost didn't make it to E3 because he would not have his entourage. :)

[pelf21]

Didn't shipwreck say he knew RDR was the "better" game? But he prefers Alpha Protocol.....big deal....I dont see why people are crying about it....Are you people buying games based on Ship's reviews? Without him agreeing with you, can you not sleep at night?

[rteg48]

Great show but I heard you guys complain a lot about how Rockstar can't write good characters. Personally I think Niko Bellic and John Marston are some of the best adult video game characters because they seem like well round characters who have no qualms about killing people they would rather be doing something else. Where as most other "adult" characters just seem like a bunch of flat characters who are either kill happy (like Marcus from Gears) or whinny characters who cry every cut scene (like Dom from Gears). Which adult video game characters (i.e. no Mario, Link, or Sonic) do you think are the best?

[retromufc]

This episode is suggesting that they do a clip show? That would be perfect Cheap could make one long episode out of all his awkward shit humor. Sounds like a winner.\\:D/

[E*Master]

As a die hard GTA fanboy I will have to agree with you about Rockstar's crappy main character's lacking character. The only int interesting main character has been Tommy Vercetti who was voices by Ray Liotta in GTA Vice city. I do suggest you give GTA IV another chance and try to finish it. I know Cheapy is a die hard Saints Row guy which is a game I tried very hard to get into but always found the controls and animations to be too boxy despite trying it on all 3 consoles it was available for including the PC version. I just can't deal with the free aim. Otherwise the game is awesome.

Also, do you guys find Red Dead Redemption to be really Buggy? I'm finding the game to have a lot of invisible walls, like when I shoot an animal near a tree and I can't skin it because it's "Out of reach" despite it laying at my feet.

[Mayday]

Great show this week, but man, the title is awful. What is the process for naming the show?

[dohmai]

Good Show!

Will there be a LA E3 CAG meetup?

I would like a free steak!

[Thomas96]

I think it was terrible how you guys just dismissed Modnation racers due to the load times... I don't remember you guys being that hard on Metal Gear Solid 4.. now that game had load time issues. (I completed it once, I couldn't dare bring myself to go through that again - I think wombat beat it twice right?)

Congrats to Wombat for the promotion; how about some general advice for us hard working CAGs that's trying to make it to the top.

[Davestation]

Hey Wombat, where is the love for Burn Notice? This time last year you where plugging the hell out of it and now the premiere was on Thursday and nothing....
Wombat was right, Alan Wake is not as good as Cheapy and Ship made it out to be. Maybe I should not have played Alone in the Dark because that left a bad taste in my mouth and parts of Alan Wake resembled that horrible game.

[jkanownik]

Just finished Alan Wake last night (I was a little LTTP because I had to 100% RDR first) and finished listening to the CAGcast this morning. I was pretty disappointed with the depth of discussion on the game. The Night Springs/Bright Falls confusion was painfully awkward. It was also funny to hear Wombat's complaints after obviously rushing through the game. Alan Wake is a game to be savored, not rushed through. There are so many little pieces done right that make the game amazing and most were barely touched upon.

The environments are significantly larger than any other linear game I've played this generation. It's a large risk for a developer to create tons of assets and design space that many players won't even experience but it adds so much to the believability of the world. The extra time and development resources definitely showed.

The atmosphere and pacing are awesome. The combination of music and the use of darkness effects builds a tension that is seldom seen in games. When the music gets going and the darkness is swirling around you, you want to move on as quickly as possible. When it is light out you want to explore the world.

The little nods to Twin Peaks are a great addition to fans of that show. I got a smile on my face when I saw the diner, Rose in uniform in her trailer, red chairs, the Light Lady and others.

The game handles risk/reward so well. Exploring the darkness is usually rewarded but it comes with a risk. I didn't dare to explore when the darkness was really swirling or I was low on supplies. If I was well stocked I would venture out but I would be nervous the entire time.

The manuscripts/TV's and radios all added to the game. I wanted to collect them all which is rare for me. Once I got into the story I listened to the full radio broadcast every time and watched every TV. I can't remember any other game including optional elements that add so much.

The balance in the weapons is so good. Using environmental light along with flashlights, flares and flashbangs in addition to normal gunplay creates a unique and varied experience. Every weapon has a use and it is extremely rewarding learning how to best use them all. The flare gun is as satisfying as any high powered weapon has ever been.

The games not perfect (I had issues with the combat and controls), but it definitely one of the best games I've ever played.

Some additional spoilered comments:

The police radios in Ransom (episode 3) are awesome. You have to stop and listen to each one as you go. At one point the Sheriff makes fun of Alan's tweed jacket. I suspect Wombat didn't listen to these because there's no way Alan's outfit could bother you after he gets made fun of for it.

How could you not comment on the fact that it is possible that Alan Wake was created by Thomas Zane? Alan's age fits perfectly with this possibility and how else could Zane refer to him specifically in his writing?

Stopping during The Departure breaks up the pacing so that it doesn't seem like you're driving forever. I'd be interested to know if Wombat stopped at the motel and the brightly lit barn along the way.

Did Wombat not understand that the story had to be believable in order to be effective? It is mentioned multiples times. The better the story Alan was writing was the stronger it became. If he wrote in more help it would have been a worse story and given the darkness more power. There's also the point that the darkness was controlling him the majority of the time he was writing the story. He had to break free from the darkness's control to write his escape.

[MSUHitman]

On discussion of Alan Wake last cut scene:

No Wombat, Stucky nor anyone else who died during the game (shrink, park ranger, etc.) is alive at the end. Everyone who died or was affected physically by the Dark Presence (Rose/Nightingale) stayed that way at the end as either being dead or changed by the Presence.

This is reinforced by reading the Alan Wake Chronicles book in the LE that talks about all the funerals for people they've given up searching for 1 year later and the town's/FBI refusal to talk about the events that happened the week before Deerfest.

Also it seems Barry and the sheriff will survive through the DLC. The sheriff gives the only live interview (very brief) to Clay (who compiled the info on the Chronicles 'book' ) and Barry sues Clay to stop Clay from trying to interview Barry about Alan Wake.

Also yeah as others said you guys got mixed up at the end. Cheapy was talking about the Bright Falls prequel series that was on the Web/XBox Marketplace and Wombat/Shipwreck were talking about the Night Springs episodes hidden throughout the game you could watch on the TV's hidden in-game.

Wombat/Shipwreck I think the one you discussed was the best one, although they all relate to what's happening in the story. Cheapy, watching Bright Falls before playing Alan Wake actually stopped me from playing the game at first (I started Red Dead first) because it was REALLY creepy and it just didn't make too much sense to me. I got both Red Dead and the Alan Wake CE at a Gamestop midnight launch and after watching all 6 Bright Falls episodes back-to-back after I got home I put Alan Wake on the shelf and didn't start playing it until you talked about it.

I knew the basic story of Alan Wake going in, but the prequel was such a different tone from the game that it actually discouraged me from playing it, although the series itself was very well done with great production values. The way that series tried to setup the losing consciousness/blocks of time for the writer and the something 'kidnapping/taking people' aspect just didn't draw me in.

[shafnitz]

@jkanownik

Interesting theory regarding Thomas Zane. My thoughts are that Thomas Zane might be Alan's father. The Old Gods called Alan "Tom" in the game (something I didn't notice until my second playthrough. Also, it would explain how Zane knew about the clicker that Alan remembers getting from his mother when he was a child. The explanation would be that Zane wrote Alan and his Mom out of his own life to protect them from what was happening.


Just talking about this stuff gets me really excited for the DLC.

[Jazar]

I'm not seeing the big appeal of Alan Wake. To me it plays very similar to the original Max Payne except you replace bullet time with forests. The novel pages feel like they were written by a high school kid. Alan's VO comes off like he's bored and reads a bit too quickly. The gameplay is very repetative and offers very little interactivity. The graphics just aren't that impressive. I will say it has great atmospheric effects and music but that's about it.

[RichMeisterMan]

Is anyone else here curious to see the shipwreck manor? Cheapy mentions Ship's house from time to time and says it's pretty nice.

Ship, you need to show us your digs. Don't be modest ya rich mutha fucka!

I think we may be able to finagle a video, or some pictures at the least, if more people can get behind me on this. So let's start harassing him!

[Microshock]

Haven't finished listening to the whole thing but I'm really happy that other people enjoy iCarly like me. It is a quality show.

Now a garbage show on Nickelodean is freaking True Jackson VP. That show is trash and only there for Nick to have a black girl as lead on a show.

Anyone agree?

Also. Spongebob is still good

[Z_meista]

Maybe you should call the Sony Move, the Sony Bowel Probe. It definitely sounds better than the Bowel Movement.

[Curufinwe]

Haven't finished listening to the whole thing but I'm really happy that other people enjoy iCarly like me. It is a quality show.

Now a garbage show on Nickelodean is freaking True Jackson VP. That show is trash and only there for Nick to have a black girl as lead on a show.

Anyone agree?

I bet that show is still better than the Suite Life of Zack & Cody shitfest on Disney. Any time I'm unlucky enough to be flicking channels and that desperately unfunny show comes on I only stay long enough to make the obligatory "Who's watching this except pedophiles who like 'em plump?" joke.

[bigtymer]

Maybe you should call the Sony Move, the Sony Bowel Probe. It definitely sounds better than the Bowel Movement.

Uhh, the play on words is with move not bowel....thus bowel MOVEment.

[dreamparacite]

Getting Alan Wake soon, THEN I'll be able to finish this podcast

[FriskyTanuki]

Who actually counts load times by how long it takes to get into the game from the dashboard? There's difference between the boot-up time and loading time, which is from the point that you click to start a race to when the loading screen is gone. As an avid fan of sports games, the load times in MNR aren't offensive to me. I'm eager to see word of when the loading patch happens, but it won't keep me from playing more of the game.

Also, PSP2 won't be out this year since the 3DS won't be out this year either. Nintendo just launched the DSi XL a few months ago and launching a new device six months later would be insane, even for Nintendo. That's why Nintendo is dropping the prices of the DS/DSi models since they're not cocky enough to price the 3DS above the Wii.

I already have Hulu on the PS3 and Xbox 360 through PlayOn and if Netflix is a sign of what to expect of a Hulu app, it'll be much slower and clunkier than the alternatives.

It's weird that you guys can enjoy a game that much and still mess up the name all of the time (3D Dot Game Heroes).

Decent show.

[ufskenney]

Cheapyd, when you said you stop watching Weeds because the main character just got so stupid, i wanted to hug you. That's exactly why i stopped watching the show, i loved that show! and then it just got soooo stupid with the characters, ridiculous. haha. just was happy somebody else agreed on that. Most people keep watching it and justifying the characters, but yeah. just had to vent that...
Weeds is a gateway show. You should (if you haven't already) try something a little harder like Meth (Breaking Bad). I like Weeds (I'm way behind watching 3rd season right now), but Breaking Bad is really good too. They are similar, but I like them for different reasons. Try it once, you just might like it. ;)

[shajek]

Only part way through the show, but I think Wombat should be able to import his youporn favorites into his collection. After all, they would be considered a game since he would be using his favorite peripheral.

[BJWanlund]

I'm only partway thru. It's my first show back in awhile. I decided to try it again, because I don't tend to have very many gaming podcasts that update often enough.

It's nice to hear a three-handed show, it makes the podcast that much better. I'll probably be subscribed for the foreseeable future.

Can't wait to see the CAGCast E3 coverage!

BJ

[Daiyz]

I find it hilarious that a short time after another website says CheapyD was wrong about the Slim 360 being at E3, Microsoft posts a video for a new XBox 360 on the LIVE spotlight saying it will be at E3. It just goes to show that other videogame journalists need to value your imput that much more.

Do you guys think this is the XBox 360 Slim we've been waiting for or will this be just another heavy noise box that breaks easily? Well... At least it has built in WiFi, I can get behind that.

Loved the show. Fan since 07.

[Trenchalicious]

I never realized quite how boring and meaningless my life is without the cagcast. Need a show soon before I crack.

[Whizbang]

You know, normally CheapyD and I are of the like mind regarding the games we like. His recommendation of Red Faction was spot on for me. I picked it up based on his recommendation and loved it.....then there is Alan Wake. I was suspicious of it when I researched it prior to its release and thought it would not be my type of game. Cheapy convinced me (via the podcasts) that it was in the running for the game of the year. It sounded short so I thought I would rent it first to see if I really did like it, if so then I would buy it. Needless to say, its a short game and I finished it over the rental period. For once I have to sit in Wombat's camp. I found the game repetitive, the story a little goofy and game play clunky in spots. I agree with everyone that I liked the episodic chapters and their presentation but the game dragged for me.
All in all, I appreciate the spoiler section at the end of the podcasts. I actually rented AW when I did because of the podcast. I wanted to hear what the guys had to say about it and since I knew I would eventually get around to playing the game.....now was as good as a time as any. So guys, good job and I hope you survive E3 this year.

[SilverPR]

Still waiting for your next CAGCast. Can't wait to hear your opinions and stories from E3 :)