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Precipice stuff

By Gabe – May 25, 2007

So the latest PC gamer should be arriving on news stands any day now if it hasn't already. This particular issue has a very early look at our game, On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode One. They actually sent one of their guys (Dan Stapleton) up to Canada to visit Hothead and get a first hand look at the game in development. Dan apparently liked what he saw because the resulting article is actually really positive.

Playstation 3 Update 1.80, etc.

By Tycho – May 25, 2007

This thing is pretty huge. 

I don't mean in terms of kilobytes - I mean it's packed tight with powerful features.  Upscaling of content has been in demand, and it's been delivered.  Like the 360 Elite, you need to be hooked up via a managed connection (i.e., HDMI) to upscale a DVD.  Past that, it will knock up your old PS/PS2 games  to 1080p, but the results we've gotten here haven't been supernatural - still appreciated, though.

The real flavor is elsewhere:  specifically, the ability to stream video, pictures, and music from "a DLNA compliant device," which you'll find just about every computer already is.  That's only half of it.  The Remote Play option of the PSP (the one that lets you enjoy certain types of content stored on your PS3 via your PSP) is deeply enriched by this capacity.  You can do this much already.  But with the next update for the Playstation Portable - 3.50, to be released before the end of the month - you'll be able to access your PS3 remotely via any wireless connection.  I must say, starting a download at home while I'm still at the office sounds pretty Goddamn good. 

Also, while we are loving the PSP, am I the only person enthralled by the idea of R-Type Tactics

(CW)TB
 

Now, We May Speak

By Tycho – May 25, 2007

We attended the same Nintendo Media Summit you have seen reported elsewhere, in the hopes of seeing Super Mario Galaxy or Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - titles which are not minigame compilations, portable puzzle games, or games for my mom. I don't want to say that the complimentary breakfast and lunch were a factor. Let me say that we were hungry when we made the decision to go.

On The Keeping Of Secrets

By Tycho – May 23, 2007

Gabriel and I played Starcraft, everyone played Starcraft, but for the most part he and I would play two Terran armies against Zerg computer opponents in an effort to simulate Starship Troopers. It might sound like you could only get a couple nights of entertainment out of this scenario, but you'd be underestimating our feelings toward Starships and the proud Troopers that wait within.

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The Rising Cost Of Rock

By Tycho – May 21, 2007

The aggregate price for all Rock Band peripherals was originally three hundred dollars, going by the vague entries in the Gamespot database, but those strange figures are really the chicken entrails of the gaming industry - its powers of prophecy are somewhat in question.

My sincerest apologies

By Gabe – May 18, 2007

A few eagle eyed viewers noticed that I accidentally drew a Nebulon-B frigate in today's comic. Gabe mentions the Mon Calamari and the Corellians but the Nebulon-B is actually produced by the Kuat Drive Yards.I deeply regret the mistake and I have since corrected it in the comic by replacing the original drawing with one of the Mon Calamari Cruiser "Liberty", sadly lost in the Battle of Endor . I am in no way trying to diminish the Nebulon-B frigate or the fine craftsmanship of the dedicated workers employed by KDY. Again I apologize for any inconvenience or offence my carelessness may have caused.

-Gabe out

The Suggestion Box

By Tycho – May 18, 2007

I have no time for Lair, I'm afraid. My limited playtime with the game has only encouraged me to further limit said playtime, throttling this value until it reaches zero. As one of the long-known exclusives, a kind of cult has formed around the game - one whose creed hinges on the glorious arrival of their reptile saint. It is a weird hunger, one quite outside reality, and it would be best to manage those expectations before their piss-smelling vagrant messiah stumbles into the retail channel.

Omeganauts, Assemble

By Tycho – May 16, 2007

We'll be going over PAX preregistrants soon to determine this year's Omeganauts, and anyone who has registered by June 15th is eligible.  If you'd like to hurl yourself into the running, please do so at your earliest convenience. 

This year's Omega Prize differs substantially from our offerings in the past.  Here's how:  Winner and guest secure passage to this year's Tokyo Game Show, flight and Hotel included, assisted by five thousand dollars in cash as a kind of general purpose "Misbehavior Fund."  Ain't a bad wage for three days' work. 

(CW)TB

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Jim Beam

By Tycho – May 16, 2007

Even now, the metamorphosis has begun - common Crackdown disks are starting to spin, and splinter, and light is coming out.  The gates have swung wide, and now you may know what we know.  In this comic scenario, I am the man being obliterated by his friend and Kiko is the one behind the red lance of energy. I wanted to be angry, but it was simply too awesome.

my bad

By Gabe – May 14, 2007

I’d like to apologize to one of the teams we played last night in Halo 3. Sadly today’s comic really isn’t too far from the truth. Halo has some strange power that makes me really want to talk shit. I honestly don’t endorse that sort of behavior in any of the other games I play. Also, I’m used to playing Rainbow 6 where voice communication is limited to your own team. So I feel bad because last night I was defending our flag against a team of penny arcade fans who honestly seemed like a good bunch of guys. However after being put down by one of them a couple times I finally got the jump on him and as his body hit the ground I said something to the effect of “go fuck yourself.” And also I think I made a spitting noise.

The Third Time

By Tycho – May 14, 2007

If only this strange illness were confined to my cohort, Gabriel! If only it did not creep, pooling and leaping to the nearby host, there to deliver its terrible payload!

Downloadable Content

By Tycho – May 11, 2007

Welcome to the show notes for Downloadable Content 05/11/2007, "Disparities." The episode is available for direct download at this link, or feel free to subscribe to our iTunes compatible feed here. This guide will help you navigate our frequently insane and often rambling conversation.

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Disparities

By Tycho – May 11, 2007

It was announced in January that Hellgate: London, the futuristic sequel to Diablo, would offer up some kind of hybrid pay model for its online experience. The word is out, now, and there isn't much consensus on whether their "Elite/Free Play" tiers represent a reasonable value. At this point, I don't know if we as potential consumers know enough about the base, boxed experience to discern if it's enough content. It seems like every post, now, we must discuss the transformation of gaming from product into service.

Additional Downloadable Content

By Tycho – May 9, 2007

Welcome to the show notes for Downloadable Content 05/09/2007, "The Dangers of Exposure." The episode is available for direct download at this link, or feel free to subscribe to our iTunes compatible feed here. This guide will help you navigate our frequently insane and often rambling conversation.

RSPD news!

By Gabe – May 9, 2007

There’s a good chance you’ll see some news about Ron Gilbert working on our game popping up today. I believe a press release has gone out to all the major game news type places. The press release covers all the basics about how Ron is a pioneer in the adventure game genre and how he was the co-creator of the Monkey Island series. I just wanted to share a quick personal note about the story.
 
We had our first meeting with Ron pretty early in the design process. Tycho and I were getting the story fleshed out and we had some ideas about the design and over all pace of the game. We laid it all out for Ron and then he picked up a whiteboard marker and started teaching class. I’m not sure how many people can say they got a game design 101 course taught by Ron Gilbert, but that’s exactly what Tycho and I got that day. His insights into the way you move the player through an interactive story so that they get to explore the world but don’t loose the narrative were incredible. He was drawing diagrams and helping us really visualize the game in a way that had never even occurred to us. We’re ridiculously lucky to have him on board and helping us with On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode One.
 
You’ll actually be getting another pretty in-depth look at the game towards the end of this month.  I can’t really give anymore details right now but I think most people will be pleasantly surprised with the progress. In the meantime here’s another bit of concept art. This was drawn by me and colored by Imaginary friends studios.

Downloadable Content

By Gabe – May 9, 2007

I’ve got the show notes for Downloadable Content 05/07/2007. The episode is available for direct download at this link, or feel free to subscribe to our iTunes compatible feed here. It’s only about fifteen minutes long and it’s just our initial rambling in the morning. Listening to these back is really weird. I’m sort of surprised that we every actually write anything.