Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008...9:39 am
GameHounds Episode 13: Contest-o-Rama
Back after a two-week break, we bring you GameHounds Episode 13: Contest-o-Rama.
Why a “contest-o-rama,” you ask? Well, that’s because we have two — count ‘em — TWO contests going on.
This is your opportunity to win some pretty damned fabulous swag. If we weren’t part of it, we would be all over this like a couple of pitbulls in a porkchop factory.
What could you win? How about a code for Rocketmen: Axis of Evil, courtesy of Platform Nation.
No? Then how about a limited-edition (as in only 500 made) GTA IV Xbox 360 Elite, and a whole host of other prizes, courtesy of All Games Radio and others.
In addition to outlining how you can win these fabulous prizes, we launch into gaming news of the past week, including:
- Blizzard tells legendary purveyor of crap Uwe Boll to go schtup yerself.
- Xbox Live goes down Monday morning for “Spring cleaning.” Is that what they call getting rid of all that leftover racial epithets and obscene mail?
- New York Times story laments how Wii owners aren’t buying games. Let’s face it, I guess the causal gamer is not the Holy Grail of Gaming after all.
- Developers Epic and Bethesda announce that neither Gears of War 2 nor Fallout 3, respectively, won’t have demos. Hey, if they make good product, we’re willing to wait.
- Metal Gear Online beta put on hold until April 25 due to massive global demand. Again, better to do it late and right than on-time and wrong.
- EA extends its buyout-acceptance deadline for Take Two and lowers its price for Take Two’s stock by about a quarter per share. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Federal Trade Commission wants to know more about this fishy deal, but EA isn’t talking. Oh, and Luke and Laura are lost on desert island and Cricket thinks she’s pregnant with Brad’s baby.
- Rockstar Social Club opens for pre-registration and cuts lose with a few tasty features of GTA IV’s in-game cel-phone not otherwise noted up to this point. Just makes us want it more.
- In other GTA IV news, a Playstation 3 GTA IV bundle has been announced for Europe for 299 GBP. No such love for the Yanks.
- Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is koming to a konsole near you in Fall 2008. And k-k-k-Ken is k-k-k-koming to k-k-k-kill you (Thank you, John Cleese).
- Infinity Ward breaks all kinds of records with Call of Duty 4 and the new DLC maps. Nine million copies sold. One million downloads of the maps in nine days. I don’t think even they had any idea.
- Girl buys Xbox 360. Xbox 360 breaks. Girl sends Xbox 360 back for repairs. Microsoft keeps Xbox 360 and when she pleads to send it back, Microsoft calls her a thief. This would be funny if it weren’t true.
- Note to listeners: If your Xbox 360 gets RRODed and you keep it in a small, poorly ventilated area, please unplug it. Or else it could burn your house down.
- This week’s game releases: Something for every platform, but nothing good. Smells like a week before GTA IV.
- From the forums: Is the Wii Wheel worth it? Why can’t we get better Xbox Live friends-list organization and slots for more than 100 friends?
Don’t forget to get those GTA IV Elite and Rocketmen entries in by the deadlines. And you can check the forums for more info or to ask us questions for next week’s episode.
4 Comments
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:21 am
I wonder why everyone gets their panties in such a snit whenever Xbox Live! has maintenance or any connectivity issues.
I played WoW from launch until 6 months ago. That game had maintenance EVERY TUESDAY and at launch and everytime they did a major update, the connectivity was complete shit and the game was broken. People had to wait in queues to get into the game to play (sometimes for as much as an hour). This game is $15 per Month ($180 per year) vs $4.17 per month for the Live! service.
I really don’t get why everyone gets so up in arms. Its the internet, shit happens, there are computers involved… shit happens… people need to learn to just get over it.
God forbid I can’t hear a 12 year old cursing me for 8 hours in one day.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:36 am
You make a damn good point, Major. In fact, when WoW first came out, for at least the first year, it was at least a three-to-four HOUR wait to get on the server I was using at the time.
Yeah, I whined a bit, but it certainly never stopped me from playing.
Console users should feel blessed.
April 24th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Just because WoW finds ways to make people put up with far worse annoyances and at a far higher price is no reason to let Xbox Live earn a full pardon!
Going down for maintenance is one thing, but they’re getting into a pattern with transient, unpredictable annoyances, and the issue is that the robust, reliable Xbox Live has been one of the 360’s best selling points, and that distinguishing feature is getting tarnished a bit. The fact that Sony is still stumbling around getting their online act together and Nintendo practically hates online are saving Microsoft’s bacon at this point.
I will freely admit that people get their knickers in a severe twist at the most minor of provocations, however.
Also, 12 yr old squeakers singing and cursing is why I exclusively game with 21+ gamers via my AGE group!
April 24th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Yeah I’d also like to say something about the prepubescents on Live, because I really enjoy playing COD4 after college or work but I was on it there two days ago and I was in a server full of these ‘works in progress’, cause thats what they are, they aren’t real people yet, as far as I’m concerned. But you know they where doing there usual bad mouthing or what ever you Americans call it, yes thats right I’m refer to you people as ‘you Americans’, its not meant as an insult but you
will probably refer to me as the Irish lad, but then some how it turned into a who can scream into the mics the loudest competition and I had to actually leave the game! Actually leave the game.
Now Microsoft ‘use’ those groupings like underground etc. which as far as I can see they have just given up on but isnt there some way to make it so that these half people cant play with real people, or make an option for me to choose so I cant be put into a game with them!!
Also Xbox Live is the best online service for a console at the moment and stuff needs to be done on it every now and then to keep it running smoothly cause not everything in this world is run on magical fairy drippings..
By the way the podcast is so good its sexual and Ireland loves it.
Fillean meal ar an meallaire.
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