How do you think the games industry is coping with the credit crunch so far? I haven't seen any developers/publishers going out of business lately, and it would be good if I could get your opinion of the situation.

Just please don't let me hear some bs about stoners giving gamers a bad name.....

How much bullshit is Mega Man's DLC? Companies are starting to charge for difficulty settings, for fuck's sake. How bad does it have to get before even the hopeless fanboys say, "Enough is enough," and stop making excuses for their beloved franchises being milked until their teats are sagging?

Greeneggsnsam:
Yes, a lot of people do, myself included, otherwise Capcom never would have made an 8bit game in this day and age of overproduced, faux-epic FPS crap.

ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWAH

a recent study showed everquest 2 gamers to be in 'better shape than the average American' based primarily on the BMI (body mass index). I'm curious as to what each of your guys BMI's are and whether you think the offical classification is relative to how you actually feel. I've met many people with a Healthy BMI rating that can't climb 2 flights of stairs without needing a rest, where as I'm labeled as obese yet play a full 80 mins of rugby every weekend and do cardio training 2-3 times a week. Do you think it makes sense that peoples health is judged by a formula based on weight versus height developed not by a modern medical professional but a 19th century Belgian maths teacher. Seriously Chocolate and beer are 2 of their countries greatest achievements don't you think it's time to get rid of the Body mass index as a credible measurement.

Since were talking about control schemes, I think this is as appropriate a time as any. After reading an excellent cblog by Matthew Blake, about trying to get his parents to understand Portal, this question came to mind: Do you think that controllers are now so complex that it is a barrier for getting new gamers in to gaming? We don't think so as we've been we've been playing since the originol 6-8 button pads, and each change has been gradual, but to someone completly new to gaming the Xbox 360 controller (which seems to have become the standard for this generation) is myriad of complicated and archaic hummdings and doowhops. There's the four face buttons, each with unique function, two clickable sticks which are both used for movement, along with a dapd which some times moves you, other times not, along with two triggers and two shoulder buttons, which are completly different. This list grows even longer when all the different permutations and combonations of timed presses are factored in, making it quite a meanicing obstacle for someone who's just looking to play a simple game fun videogame.

Which is why new gamers and former non gamers gravitate to games like Guitar Hero or the Wii. It's not that they all only want music games or simple renditions of sports (although I'm sure they're are plenty that do only want just this) it's that the Wii, and more specifically the Wii Remote is easy to understand, and thus easy to use.

I didn't quite understand this until I I tried to play a Flight Simulator for the first time. They're were so many options and choices of things to switch on, things to keep off and a plethora of nonsensical actions that I had to choose between that I ultimately gave up. I'm sure that for someone who's followed the genre, everything makes perfect sense and is easy to use, but I was utterly bamboozled by it, and while I'm sure I could master it if I sat down and read up on it all, I had no incentive to.

Based on this, do you think that controllers like the Dual Shock 3 and the 360 Wireless are scaring off new gamers is a problem we should be at all concerned about, and if so, what should be done about it? By no means should we simplify everything as that would lead to less deep and enjoyable games, but perhaps Wiimote esque controllers should exist for every console as well?

Got some Questions:

On the topic of controls what game disappointed you most because it's controls, basically what game were you looking really forward to only to have your hopes destroyed by terrible controls?

Also on the topic of Megaman 9 dlc a lot of people say how much they hate dlc right after release but never say what is acceptable, in your opinion when do you think dlc goes to far?

If you could have a sequel to any game that the developers refuse to make a sequel to what would it be?

Mapping grenades to the back button: absolute genius or pure brilliance?

Also, you guys wanna get baked? I got nachos.

Seriously though what is a prime example in your mind of a perfect control scheme for an FPS? Explain why.

Greetings chaps,
What gaming 'innovation' (be it with hardware, graphics or gameplay mechanics, whatever) would you prefer to see wiped from the face of the earth and why?

Today's pun is: Eternity's Child, this is one naughty child that should be grounded for eternity!

have you guys created any meta-games (or games inside of games), by establishing your own external rules and sort of ignoring what the original games desingers had in mind, and if so, what were they ?

And by it gave me a good life I mean it gave me a good laugh in my above post. Way to talk on the phone while typing, Koholint.

The Royal Society of Chemists recently had an open internet contest to think of a name to suggest to CERN to replace the existing name of their Large Hadron Colider. The winning name was Halo, which they spun with some bullshit PR speak to suggest that it invoked images of angelic radiance. However, given the fact that it was "the most suggested name" and the general level of intelligence of the internet, I am willing to bet that the name was inspired by the object the game Halo is named after.

Having said all that, how goddamn pathetic is that?

Also, could you think of some better names?

I suggested Mammon Machine, of Chrono Trigger fame, for giggles.

Are you guys looking forward to Wario Land: Shake It and/or Kirby Ultra Super Star this week?

What game coming out this week deserves more buzz than it's been getting? Which one has gotten more hype than it's truly worthy of?

Hey guys, long time listener first time caller;

Jim with relation to the larger gamer/gentleman topic. If you could wish yourself thin would you or are you happy with your rotund self?

If Microsoft gave you the option would you swap your gamer points into spendable Microsoft points for DLC, baring in mind doing so would dramatically reduce the size of your e-penis?

Also do you think this is every likely to happen?

Have any of you watch Consolevania, I'm a fan just wondering if any of you are, its not really a plug as they won't pay me, they are scottish.

Would you ever like to see more IP in the style of 16 bits i.e Braid (sorry) or Flip-side?

Also have any of you played Flip-side and if so what did you think?

Quote

You'll be gearing up for Gears of War 2

Fall in to Fallout 3

I too would like to hear Topher's f'asian :D?

Why must the choice be between fatsos or stoners? Surely gamers can be both.

Nintendo isn't even talking about mad world or shown anything on GTA for the DS. Considering that these are there only self proclaimed "Hardcore" games (other than animal crossing) do you think that Nintendo has for the most part given up on anything but there family freindly stuff. Do you think that they'll try to get there audence back in the next generation of councels? I cant see any reason why they would considering they are raking in the cash and dont seem to be slowing down. One more ? Do you think that any other company may try to go the way of nintendo?

If soulja boy taught us anything its that being a stoner and playing games, especialy Braid is always a good thing.

On control schemes I'm a big fan of the Button to scope/hip shot that COD4 obviously did well with, adds a sense of realism. Also not a big fan of auto cover GoW style, makes finding cover way to easy and have no strategy considering you can just spam A and find perfect cover. I think utilizing a system like FEAR or STALKER just throwing in somthing like leaning and varied levels of crouching can give the player enough tools to utilize anything as their own cover making the experience allot more individual.

With all the issues and problems Wall Street has been recently experiencing and the declining value of the US dollar, will the sales and merchandise of Mega Man 9 be enough to pull the economy out of the rut we're in?