Three guys walk into a Podcast, none of them duck! Options

[thirteen37]

I think MS is leading with Indie Marketplace because it plays to one of their core businesses: they're a giant in software development. That's the same reason Live's great, Microsoft does infrastructure software like that all the time.
It's not just enthusiasm, it's that people all over the company actually "get it".

It's too bad the hardware end of the business isn't in the hands of a real computer components manufacturer.

[Ganesha]

It's too bad the hardware end of the business isn't in the hands of a real computer components manufacturer.

They did that last gen with the Xbox and it cost them a mint, which is why they were so keen on dropping the Xbox and launching the 360.

Unfortunately hardware failure is here to stay. Playstation popularized it, PS2 legitimized it, 360 is just maintaining the status quo at this point.

[Daniel]

Unfortunately hardware failure is here to stay. Playstation popularized it, PS2 legitimized it, 360 is just maintaining the status quo at this point.

Oddly enough, the first console I ever had fail on me was my old NES. Well, it didn't totally fail all at once; It was a steady decline. For the longest time we had to smash the cartridges down, blow inside the console and the cartridge, and any number of other things just to try and get it to work again. Eventually even all that stopped working and we just gave up on it. However.... my old PS1, PS2, *and* this PS3 have never failed on me. Frozen games? Sure. But never a hardware failure. I hate to think I'm just lucky because.... well.... I'm never lucky. >_<

In anycase... Don't you dare leave Nintendo out of that list... When you know as well as I do that their NES was *notorious* for it's hardware failures... So much to the point where the idea of 'smashing down the cartridges' can be commonly (and successfully) referenced without even mentioning their name.

[Ganesha]

Oddly enough, the first console I ever had fail on me was my old NES. Well, it didn't totally fail all at once; It was a steady decline. For the longest time we had to smash the cartridges down, blow inside the console and the cartridge, and any number of other things just to try and get it to work again. Eventually even all that stopped working and we just gave up on it. However.... my old PS1, PS2, *and* this PS3 have never failed on me. Frozen games? Sure. But never a hardware failure. I hate to think I'm just lucky because.... well.... I'm never lucky. >_<

In anycase... Don't you dare leave Nintendo out of that list... When you know as well as I do that their NES was *notorious* for it's hardware failures... So much to the point where the idea of 'smashing down the cartridges' can be commonly (and successfully) referenced without even mentioning their name.

You'll note I said "popularized."

I think I've gone off on jags related to that here in the past when DorkSword wasn't being a hilarious caricature of politics, and just a plain creepy Nintendo fanboy.

I had to send my NES to Nintendo back in the day to get the load/eject mechanism repaired. Nevermind the contact corrosion. I can't remember how many control pads we went through on the Bally Astrocade. Also everybody I knew that owned a Master System had busted control pads. . .

Though most of the old hardware was still a lot more reliable than modern consoles because the technology was less complex, things ran cooler, cheap solder wasn't used, and motherboards didn't get screwed up.

Honestly, my problem with Sony is largely everything they do. Things Sony has done right in my experience: PC CD-Roms, strangely reliable compared to the alternatives in 2001, made me question why Sony's console optics were so prone to failure. Minidisc, a great technology; but horribly overpriced and killed by the record industry since they don't want you having the ability to record / copy stuff yourself. PSP, amazingly solid and forward thinking for a handheld. Still shames it's closest competitor in the same space.

Outside of that, I'd rather throw my money at Panasonic or Toshiba than Sony given the choice. Whenever "I buy a Sony" I expect failure. That's been consistent for PS1, PS2, PS3, and every Sony portable disc player and car stereo I've ever purchased.

At least with the PS1 it was an easy fix. Swap out the optical assembly. DONE!

[thirteen37]

I saw a headline somewhere that there was a slim 360 in the works, hopefully it fixes the reliability issues. On the other hand I really don't want to own both systems, it's a waste of money when there are more games for just the one I've already got than I can reasonably buy and play and properly appreciate.

[Ganesha]

I saw a headline somewhere that there was a slim 360 in the works, hopefully it fixes the reliability issues. On the other hand I really don't want to own both systems, it's a waste of money when there are more games for just the one I've already got than I can reasonably buy and play and properly appreciate.

One can hope; but they've been saying the new version is better than the last for how long now?

It's just like Windows!

In the interest of Covering My Ass; there's also a rumored PS3jr redesign in the works. Mainly internal revisions. Nothing external, but this would explain the shortages North American retailers are experiencing if they're depleting inventories to make way for an "improved" model.

Also Dan, forgot to mention; "popularized" sort of how Nintendo didn't invent analogue controls much to the chagrin of NinThings, just popularized it again.

[Ky Kiske]

I saw a headline somewhere that there was a slim 360 in the works, hopefully it fixes the reliability issues. On the other hand I really don't want to own both systems, it's a waste of money when there are more games for just the one I've already got than I can reasonably buy and play and properly appreciate.

360 goes on a diet, just in time for Project MolyneuxEgo Natal?

[Ganesha]

Episode 5 is out of the bag!

Tell your friends, tell your neightbors, tell a unicorn.

[wongumfie]

I joined twitter just to "follow" you guys. It makes me sound like a stalker. Gah, I have been really busy lately, and will continue so for a week. Afterwards though, I will try to contribute. As for my budget towards gaming, it looks like $160 for the whole year, if lucky. Oh, and I knew you guys had the episode up before you posted. I subbed you guys through iTunes. Maybe I should start a facebook thing. Meh.

Oh, and "meh" is added in the dictionary now.

The one game I will buy is SSF4 though. I know you guys don't like it but hey, it only costs $40 and I will definitely get the moneys worth.

[Ganesha]

Thanks man!

I'll rent SSF4. Some of the improvement sound good, Hakan looks awesome (for this game), but I still hate the Ultra system and visuals in general.

Also Capcom still has to prove itself with netcode.

Can't speak for Jason or Jon on that tip.

Also considering setting up a Facebook page when I get some free time.

Hard to keep up on what the "It" social networking stuff is these days. Seems to shift every few years, which makes me question Facebook; but if it's useful now. It's useful now.

[Ky Kiske]

Ugh... I've joined the Twitterati. My sensibilities are shrieking.

Thanks for following us Wong! SSF4, not so much for me... I tried SF4 and found it interesting but ultimately lacking. I'm more interested in BB:CS and KOFXIII honestly. I'm not all offended by the SF4 3D art*, I just didn't really get a lot out of the actual game.


* = if you want to see REAL 3D Street Fighter horror, check out the SFEX games on PS2.

[Daniel]

lol, I remember SFEX. My God it was bad.

[Ganesha]

To be fair, the first two SFEX games weren't terrible. It was the third one where the wheels fell off and the thing exploded in Michael Bay fashion. SFEX1 was essentially a remake of SF2 with some engine tweaks, not unlike SF4. Which is why I love to joke about it being SFEX4. :X

[Ganesha]

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10:38 - Arcade Mania: The Turbo-charged World of Japan's Game Centers (Paperback)



20:24 - April Budget Reckoning

25:06 Deal Spotting









Backlogging

42:36 - Super Robot Taisen OG Saga Endless Frontier
(http://www.atlus.com/srtogsef/)
Rated T
Developed by: Banpresto, Monolith Soft
US Release April 28th, 2009



Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey6EJKVMlJ4

57:41 - Brutal Legend
(http://www.brutallegend.com/)
Rated M
Developed by: Double Fine Productions
US Release October 13th, 2009



Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxnho1yTjRo

Thanks for listening.

Remember to follow us on Twitter: WCG_Podcast

Send your favorite local retailers and show feedback to wcg.podcast {at} gmail.com

Have a nice day.

[wongumfie]

Damn dude. Every time I see a deal, you guys already have that deal the day before. :-/

Anyways. Great show. Keep up the good work. It is good to see that you have 31 followers on Twitter.

[Ky Kiske]

FooFaRa, the live auction website we recently mentioned, seems to have suddenly closed. No reason is given.

I have looked into these sites just a little, having recently found another one called Haggle.com. The premise behind the extremely low prices is that buyers prepay for a certain amount of bids, and then the cost of those prepayments goes towards the seller's purchase price on the sold item. Thus, you pay - let's say $15 - for 25 Haggle bids, then each time you want to bid on an item you spend one of your purchased bids. Each bid increases the final auction price of the item, which is then billed to the winner's account. These are supposedly live auctions, with a running timer, and each bid placed on the item adds time to the timer.

Frankly I have begun to think the entire thing is a rip-off. I made a few bids and instantly - instantly - there was another bid there. Like there's a little subroutine written to keep you dropping quarters into the slot, if you will. A quick flyby on the BBB website wasn't any help unfortunately, but at this point saving some kind of absolute proof of honesty, I'm going to suggest people stay away from the live auction sites. It just feels too shady.

[Ganesha]

Jason returns, new features, and a contest to win a free game!

New episode is up!

Working Class Gamer Podcast on iTunes!

Working Class Gamer Podcast on Zune Marketplace!

[Drakol]

Really good podcast you got there, Ganesha. I'll listen to some more tomorrow morning.

[Ganesha]

Thanks man. Hopefully Jon, Jason, and I can help folks stretch their gaming dollar.

Shoot us some feedback official like.

Trying to fill a niche.

[wongumfie]

I think I got something for once.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Buy-2-Get-1-Free...Titles/14147064

Buy two PS3 Greatest Hits and get one FREE. Only the selected few though.

I just bought Uncharted, inFamous, and Resistance 2. Pretty good deal, considering that I have always wanted to buy inFamous and Uncharted. I rented Uncharted before but I like a copy for myself.

Happy saving!

[Ganesha]

Thanks wong!

Passed it along to Twitter.

[Daniel]

lol, Infamous, LBP, and Socom on the only ones there I don't already have.