X-strike Podcast

[Jakanden]

I see I am not the only one with a full gaming calendar starting next month. However, all but 6 games on my list are rentals from Gamefly. The only games I am buying are Castlevania, Chrono Trigger DS, Persona 4, Gears 2, Yakuza 2 and Little Big Planet.

My Gamefly Queue is packed though:

Too Human
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Silent Hill: Homecoming
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Dead Space
Fallout 3
Fable 2
Mirror's Edge
Call of Duty: World at War
Last Remnant
Infinte Undiscovery
Bionic Commando
Project Origin

[cacomistle]

i wasn't paying full attention to this podcast, and then heard my name. haha.

thanks for the updates

[Ekkebus]

So Fallout 3 is officially Oct 28...the week after Fable 2 and the week before Left 4 Dead and Gears of War 2 which is just fucking ducky. Fallout 3 is the first big console release this fall I was looking forward to and I thought I might actually have a couple weeks to spend with it before Fable 2. Likewise I thought I might get a couple weeks with Fable before the November rush. And now? Now 8/10 games I'm really looking forward to this fall are in a fucking 6 consecutive week stretch. Lets look shall we?

Oct 21 - Fable 2, Castlevania Order of Ecclesia
Oct 28 - Fallout 3
Nov 4 - Left 4 Dead
Nov 7 - Gears of War 2
Nov 11 - Mirror's Edge
Nov 18 - Prince of Persia
Nov 25 - Chrono Trigger DS

And then a delightful two week break before Person 4 comes out. Lovely.

[Juese]

I ended up killing my fallout 3 pre-order for funds. This fall is retarded. Fallout 3, also the same day as Guitar Hero 4.

[Reznor]

What I hate most is, Fallout 3 is released right before Halloweenis in NJ. x.x

[Ekkebus]

Damnit. It just now re-registered with me what Sonic Chroncles is...and how much i'm probably going to want it. At least its in September.

[cacomistle]

Tomb Raider Underworld
Gears of War 2
Mirror's Edge
Left 4 Dead
Silent Hill Homecoming
Chrono Trigger DS
Castlevania: OoE

there's probably more, but these are the main ones since i'm actually remembering to list them.
i don't know how soon Fatal Frame 4 and Tenchu Wii are coming out, but i'm definitely getting them.
i'm probably the only person really excited for the new tomb raider.

oh and Bionic Cornrows is hilarious

[4]

great podcast guys, as expected. i love the idea that you guys are going to do commentaries for other movies. the added twist of guessing what movie it's for is fresh and unique, and i can't wait to take a stab at whatever you guys throw at us. but i would also love it if you did a few commentaries sans the guessing game so we could enjoy them fresh with the film from the start. i don't really have anything else to add to the list of 'most wanted fall games' except for one...and it's one that should be on at least two of the x-strike members' lists. suda 51's ps2 to DS remake(not sure if this was the best idea, but who the fuck cares! SUDA!) Flower, Sun, and Rain will be coming to the DS this fall. or at least it's supposed to. so keep an eye out for that one boys.

now one of the greatest things about these podcasts is i get to go back and listen to the spoileriffic parts that i previously had to skip. and i finally got to sit down and listen through the indiana jones 4 podcast all the way through. thank you dollar theatre for finally showing this movie, if not only so i could enjoy this podcast. you've probably forgotten most of what you've said in this podcast, and i'm sorry if i'm re-opening some old wounds, but i agree with pretty much everything. the nuclear fridge blast, the cg gophers, the tarzan scene where he manages to swing ahead of the vehicles after being strung up for a minute, and the fucking alien skull magnet thing. goddamn that. and it couldn't just be left at the skull...they just had to have the interdimensional alien come to life and fly away in a space ship. how did anybody think this was a good idea? that said, it's still a really fun movie to watch considering most of the action sequences are well done, and i'm glad i got to see it on the big screen since i think that's the most necessary aspect to this experience. if you wait for dvd on this one, the many shitty aspects are gonna weigh in more heavily.

yeah yeah, i know nobody cares about the old podcast at this point. but i want to say that that podcast was one of the funniest you guys have done, and is my personal favorite. why? because i love nth mile, and i love jenny jade. her awkward intro is hilarious, as are all of her interjected comments throughout the podcast. she has this really great comedic rhythm whenever she talks. so yeah, more jenny jade please. sigh~

hello 4 indeed

[mahoney]

Man, I must be in a rare crowd to like the TMP in RE4. with the stock and a damage upgrade it was great for the long range pick off, or shooting that particular spot on the giant monsters back. Needed a stock though. I really like RE4, fun game.

I was scared shitless of ever playing Silent Hill just off the very first demo. There was no way. And then Amy has me buy Silent Hill 4 so she can watch...

Dead Rising was an okay game. Fun and interesting elements that were new. I liked how every time you died you could start over with a "kind of new game plus" in that you kept all of your xp from the first run through. You could level up a couple times based off of pictures alone.

I concur, Castlevania was never scary, and I don't as they meant it to be that way. Nice podcast, and that coming from the guy that has played all of one survival horror game (argued to be action horror).

[Jakanden]

I have a fat PS2 that has never had problems playing any game (Blue disc or dual layer) and still works perfectly despite having been in about 5 moves. I also have a first gen PS1 that still works fine today.

My 360 has died on me twice though despite waiting a year to pick one up. However, the fact that I put up with all the problems is a testament to how much I enjoyed the system although were it to happen again, I would likely get rid of it as I use my PS3 more now anyway. I have to admit that MS really did step up and take care of the people who had these problems. Like mentioned in the podcast, they sent me the coffin and all I had to do was drop the 360 in, and put it in the mail with no cost to myself. It took 5 weeks to get it back the first time, but by the second time they had it down to about 2 weeks and other people I know have had it in as short as a week.

I am still weary about MGS4 on the 360 considering that they had trouble fitting it into one Blu-Ray. That would be at least 4 or 5 DVD's on the 360 if they do not compress the shit out of everything. It isn't beyond the realm of possibility though considering they did 4 DVD's for Lost Odyssey.

Regarding film ratings, I highly recommend checking out "This film is not yet rated" which really highlights the inefficiency and hypocrisy of the ratings board. I believe this is the same film you guys were talking about as well. I found it to be a really informative and, more importantly, entertaining look at the industry.

[Juese]

That was indeed the film we were referencing. Sucks, I haven't gotten to actually see it yet, just hear the highlights. On the list, on the big ol' list.

[Jakanden]

If you are remotely interested in the subject, I would recommend moving it to the top of said list.

[Reznor]

Post about PC Gaming to follow in an edit, still listening to the new podcast.

Holy fuck, the time segments on the front page I've seen have been WAY the fuck off.

[horsewnoname]

Woo hoo improv!

Weird, the first time I downloaded it, the podcast cut off at 103 minutes. Everything is fine the second time around though ^_^

Oh, and woo hoo Wicked! I went to NYC to see a few shows with friends back in '06, and Wicked was on the line up. I absolutely did not expect to like it because it was so popular. I freaking loved it though and now tell everyone to go see it, lol. I totally agree that the book is better, and I've gotten into debates with friends who prefer the show over the book. And if you enjoyed Gregory Maguire's style of writing, he's got a few other books outside of his growing Wicked series. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is pretty good, along with Mirror, Mirror.

[Jakanden]

Long podcast, but enjoyable. Here are my thoughts as I was listening:

PC Gaming: I have kind of moved on from it for a number of the reasons mentioned. The DRM, system requirements, hardware compatibility problems and multiple other issues have bothered me for awhile. I have been a die hard PC gamer from about 93 to last year and was a staunch defender of PC's for years. Until last year, I had played every single FPS I ever played on a PC as well as other stuff like Oblivion and Fable. However, the current gen of consoles offer a lot of the features from PC with the added bonus of not having to worry about requirements and the ability to rent console games from things like Gamefly so I have pretty much given up on it. I don't think it is "dead" as many people have said for years, I just no longer care for it.

Rock Band/GH 4: I guess I am just over these series as a whole and I have no intention of getting or playing either. I will just stick with DLC for Rock Band 1.

Namco DLC: While I think their DLC is asinine, I do not fault them for allowing stuff like buying levels and in-game items. If people really want this kind of stuff, let them do it. I myself would never purchase them, but if someone really wants it, let em. However, much of their other stuff is bullshit (ie: costumes), but they aren't the only ones with retarded DLC (Ninja Gaiden II for example).

What makes me buy a game: I only buy a handful of games and generally rent the rest. The only games I buy is a game that I KNOW I will play more than once. If it is a game I will play through once and never play again, I won't buy it and will rent it. That is pretty much my main requirement for buying although there are exceptions. I already know what games I will buy for the rest of this year and I can count them on one hand. Everything else is a rental or something I can live without. Also, I have gotten over pre-order bonuses for the most part as 99% of them are useless.

Considering how many games are now coming out, I have learned to skip most games as I just don't have the time for all of them as I also do other things like reading or riding my motorcycle. A game has to be something either special (Little Big Planet, Mirror's Edge) or a new game in a series I really love (Yakuza, Persona, God of War) for me to even give it a shot. I currently have no backlog (and will never have one again), and even though there are a ton of games coming out this fall/winter, I am only going to play enough to keep me busy each week but not enough to be overwhelmed.