CAGcast #108: Out of the Closet

Cheapy, I have to disagree with your assertion that the Xbox 360 is currently microsoft's best product. While yes, it has a lot of market penetration, Vista does too and its a POS ... well for the microsoft fans we'll call it a work in progess.

While the 360 is a good product, I really thing the Zune is the best product from Microsoft right now. The Zune 2 is has been getting rave reviews and is really a fantastic MP3 player. I have known plenty of people that just gave it a try and never looked back at their ipods. Microsoft was really smart and offered a subsciption service called the Zune Pass; which i just love. Something apple as really resisted. Other than some occasional issues, its really a fantasic and very reliable product that has been worth every penny.
 
[quote name='CheapyD']What about hd movies via cable on-demand?
The funny thing is that broadband penetration percentage and households with HD TVs are are about the same (around 20%).

I didn't think the latest Kubrick transfers were anything special. Didn't look that much better than DVD to me. Certainly not the jump that VHS to DVD was.[/quote]

How poplar is cable on-demand? I don't have exact numbers, but I don't imagine it's very popular. IIRC, that is streamed live over the cable line, not downloaded. So that isn't effected by broadband. But even then, that's only rentals, and therefore, won't ever replace Physical Media, as that's what people prefer, owning a physical copy. Which is evident because, they have been around for a while, and did people stop buying DVD's? And I hope that never is the case, I like my movies in 1080p and not ultra compressed.

And Once again, Cheapy, Broandband is considered anything that isn't dial up. There are quite a few DSL lines that are only 112kbps, some cables that are only 640kpbs. There are very few that have the faster 4mbps, and even then it's not the best for downloading movies in HD. We aren't as spoiled as you in Japan are when it comes to broadband connections. ;) (unfortunately).

And I've heard the exact opposite on all the Kubrick Movies, especially Space Odyssey and The Shining.
 
Maybe he gained weight for a new role?
Checked imdb and he's in a ton of shit coming up.

Can't believe he's almost 50 allready.
I feel old lol.
 
Not a bad show this week, guys, though you both seemed a little flat, neither of you seemed to be your usual chipper selves. Wombat, I hope that the specialist you saw was able to give Mrs. Wombat some good drugs or something and that she's on the road to recovery..

Wombat that footpad thingie is gross. I'm scared of it, too. I'm sure that it's complete BS. Reflexology is one thing, but crap that "draws out the toxins..." I think all it does is clean up your feet.

The movie with Billy Blanks that Wombat was thinking of is Showdown, but he's actually done a few movies in that vein.

I won't be picking up Apollo Justice quite yet, as much as I like the series. I'm still playing PW3, and experience says that in the relatively nearish future Apollo will drop to $19.99 (probably right before the NEXT one in the series comes out) so since I'm not done with PW3 yet, may as well wait...

Cheapy, finally, what do you think of your iPod Touch? I have discovered, with the purchase of a new nano, that I really like the flash-based iPods, I think I could see myself purchasing one in the next 6 months or so. What are your impressions of it?

/tk
 
[quote name='Wombat']I did play the demo. I am not wrong, I just didn't like it, it is my opinion and I am well aware that I am in very slim minority here.[/quote]

I gotta agree, I played the demo on my friend's PSP, it was exactly how Wombat described it, and I can't comprehend why it got any good reviews.
 
Good show guys...

The new KR hurt my head, they called that "acting".....I called that 2 hours of ford car promotions. They have found a way to crap on alot of old school great TV shows, just waiting for the A Team crapfest to air.

About the writers/reviews letter:
I could care less who gets fired were, only a handful of guys in this business have made a true name for themsevles. The guy from newsweek comes to mind, he has a wonderful way of talking/writing about games w/o going into that "12 year fanboy" phase. A problem that ALOT of podcasters/reviewers have a close bond with.

Another great podcaster is gamingsteve from gamingsteve.com, he also MAKES games for a living. Something that 98% of the people out there talking about games dont do.
 
Wombat I don't believe you even got pass the first few stages. In order to get the full experience you need to get at least half way. There is miracles you can do in fever mode. You cant do those unless you look at the screen or remember the pattern. You havent even scratch surface of patapon.
 
[quote name='Celticfan106']I gotta agree, I played the demo on my friend's PSP, it was exactly how Wombat described it, and I can't comprehend why it got any good reviews.[/quote]

playing a demo is not the same as playing the full game. it got good reviews b/c they finished the game
 
Hey Cheapy, that KITT car is an RC car you have to buy parts to make. The company Skynet/aoshima makes tons of these models under the Mini-Z line and they even have a Batmobile and Delorean from Back to the Future. The Back to the future model has lights that light up blue as the car races along.

Apparently KITT lights up as well and there is also a KARR version out there....

http://www.aoshima-bk.co.jp/skynet/mini-z/knightrider/

I dont read Japanese
 
I think you guys should answer questions during the show, instead of trying to answer them in the end. By the time you guy reach the end of the show, its like you're tired and ready to go.
 
It seems in Japan they have the view that every black guy is a Hip, dope-slangin, ass-lovin, rap artist. That said, I would love to be in Japan and see these "Real Black Music" posters I keep hearing of. I would probably stand outside of the store laughing my ass off, then walk in the store and laugh some more.

Great cast, keep it up.
 
[quote name='strongyboi']playing a demo is not the same as playing the full game. it got good reviews b/c they finished the game[/quote]

I don't know man, I loved the Rez HD demo, and I love the full game, I hated the Zuma Demo, I hated the full game. Of course, these are probably very different, but, why not post my opinion.:cold:
 
Here's some more great DLC crap, for MLB 2k8:

Q: What content is planned for DLC?
A: Updated trading cards by period, rookie cards, etc. First batch is ready to go and will be available on or around ship date. With new cards come new challenges and uniforms.

Oh why thanks, ready to go already... how kind.
 
oddly enough, one of the guys that ran the tai-bo company (aka Billy fucking Blanks) used to bring his kids into the Babbages I worked at. He drove a bullet-proof Lamborghini SUV, i'm not joking. I can only imagine how much money The Billy fucking Blanks has.
 
Billy Blanks grew up in my hometown, and his brother Willie (I kid you not) runs Blanks Boot Camp workout facility, where Tae Bo is taught.
 
[quote name='Wombat']I did play the demo. I am not wrong, I just didn't like it, it is my opinion and I am well aware that I am in very slim minority here.[/QUOTE]

Well, then I guess I'm in that minority. I didn't like it at all. Different strokes...


 
With all the success of these music games.. especially Guitar Hero.. I just want to know.. where is Guitaroo Man?!

I'd love to play a game with using the guitar hero controller with guitaroo man action.
 
Guitar Hero + DDR at same time = hardcore win.
(playing same song on Guitar Hero as DDR, and starting both Guitar Hero song and DDR at same time)
 
oh, and the discussion about video game journalism...very nice. not only can you entertain, but you can invite educated thought. i almost thought i was listening to npr.
 
Great Cast as always.

For shiggles, I want to mention that I work for an "As Seen On TV" store in our local mall. The Billy Blanks deal made me chuckle a little. And yes, I've sold PLENTY of Billy's Bootcamp systems and his various Tae-Bo tapes.

And Wombat, we'll be getting those foot pads in here soon at the store. If you want a hook up, drop me a line.
 
[quote name='ShinAkumA21']i wish i had a japanese girlfriend[/quote]


Don't limit your self. You might pass up someone great along the way waiting for specifically a japanese girl.
 
[quote name='chwisch87']Cheapy, I have to disagree with your assertion that the Xbox 360 is currently microsoft's best product. While yes, it has a lot of market penetration, Vista does too and its a POS ... well for the microsoft fans we'll call it a work in progess.

While the 360 is a good product, I really thing the Zune is the best product from Microsoft right now. The Zune 2 is has been getting rave reviews and is really a fantastic MP3 player. I have known plenty of people that just gave it a try and never looked back at their ipods. Microsoft was really smart and offered a subsciption service called the Zune Pass; which i just love. Something apple as really resisted. Other than some occasional issues, its really a fantasic and very reliable product that has been worth every penny.[/quote]
I agree
 
Wombat stated that, “(Assassin’s Creed) is not a 4.5 game” as if it is a factual statement. A game review is inherently subjective, and based on a reviewer’s opinion; therefore there is nothing “strange” about a reviewer giving a game a 4.5 even if it falls outside the generally accepted range of review scores by other gaming outlets. There seems to be a feeling by gamers that review scores are somehow objective, when by their very nature they are not. This is the problem with the how gamers react to review scores, the assumption that there should be some sort of parity in review scores. Just take a look at the CAG forums, there is no general consensus on any game, ever, why should it be expected of reviewers.

Wombat’s second point was that the text of the review and the score,” don’t add up.” I don’t know what deciphering code Wombat is using to translate reviews into review scores, it’s not like there is a mathematical formula adding positive and negative statements to come to a final score, but Crispin’s review was pretty harsh. His last line was, “It all pseudo-ends with a badly handled sequel tease, but count me out if the next Creed is more of this repetitive crap."

There actually is a section in many gaming magazines devoted to asking developer’s “why” they made certain design decisions. The section is usually referred to as a post-mortem. I know “Games For Windows Magazine” does them pretty regularly. The post mortems and in depth articles are usually in the earlier parts of the magazine that most gamers skip past to get to the preview screen shots and review scores.

I agree with rocksolidaudio on this, the audience is the problem. All the focus is put on the review scores and very little on the actual content of the magazines, which is why the actual journalists are seen as disposable. The review score is really meaningless without the context of the text review, but that one single review is also somewhat meaningless without some historical context of how those reviewers’ opinions on games generally correlate with yours. I know some reviewers that would give a game a 10, and back it up with some substance, but their tastes in games differ so much from mine, that the score and review is meaningless to me. I also know some reviewers that I tend to agree with, and therefore the score and text hold more weight. Half the time people discussing reviews say “the IGN review” or “the Gamespot review”, when they should be referring to it as the Jeff Gerttsman review” or “the Crispin Boyer review.” These are usually the reviews of one person and not the review done by the entire company. When the audience starts holding up certain reviewers and game journalists as providing insightful and in depth commentary on games, they won’t be as disposable.
 
Wombat nailed Patapon. After playing the full version, I think it's highly overrated.

After playing for 45 minutes, I thought I was a payroll clerk entering 10-key. The game just isn't fun; it's more like an extended WTF (Work Time Fun) minigame. The game should come with a warning, "Listening to the 'soundtrack of this game may make you or the people around you go catshit crazy."
 
[quote name='MSUnman']To that guy who was asking about if he should sell his Assasins creed for 18 bucks, dont do it! Come on over to GoozeX.com and trade it for something you do want. I just started using GoozeX in January, and I love it. I was able to unload stuff like Halo 3, Untold Legends(PS3) and those awful burger King games and turn into Assasins Creed, Super Mario Galaxy, and the champions of norrath games. And once im done i can retrade them. I was suprised their system does work very well.

Dont mean to sound like a commercial or advertise for them but Im done trading my games to EB Gamestop to only get a third of their true value. No more them making money by taking new sales away from the publisher and ripping us the consumer off by giving us less than our games deserve in trade in then trying to sell used games for 5 dollars less than a new copy.

GOD I HATE THEM!!!! ok rant over[/quote]


Ok, Maybe I'll give that a shot. thanks bud. :)
 
On Skiing:

Not to be a douchebag, but skiing is way more than just balance -- you wouldn't believe how much it works your quadrilaterals (top parts of your upper legs) especially on powder days when you're skiing in 2 feet of powder on a steep incline. It also is extremely hard on your knees and shins, works your back muscles, and to a lesser extent your arms for the use of poles and pushing yourself through flats.
 
Great show guys and Wombats Wife.

I always get a good laugh when you talk about your Knight Rider toys Cheapy D. I have the full size version in my garage, an 83 Trans AM white :) I did watch the new show and thought is was a terrible 2 hour Ford commercial. The writers for TV have greatly improved over the last 20 years and with that shows writing formula it just can't compete the way it is with Heros, Lost, 24 ect...

I want Video Game journalist would do more in-depth research based articles. One Topic is the PROD with the 360's. One easy story to research which wouldn't take much time, effort or money is: Does Microsoft fix the PROD when you send it in for repair?
I ask this question because I've read a lot of message board post of people send them in to get fix and sent back something that is either broken or only works for a few months then breaks again. What kind of repair does Microsoft do? Take some before and after shots have an electronics person explain how Microsoft repaired it.
Another question is are the repairs you get from craigslist or Kijiji better? Do they know how to fix your console so it doesn't break again? Have one of those repair guys talk about what they do to fix them. How long do their repairs last?
 
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