Gaming on the Rocks

Greg tells us if it's a good day to die hard and the rest of us meditate on Destiny and the acute failure of Aliens: Colonial Marines. Unfortunately this episode is posting a "bit" late. But no worries, will be back with a new one before you know it! Meanwhile you can hear us wax poetic about 80s action stars and discuss why some sitcoms stay funnier longer than others. Most importantly, Jim and I give our belated takes on Bungie's reveal of Destiny and why new video game announcements should be taken with a not insignificant grain of salt. To reach the podcast for comment or question, you can email us at gameontherocks(at)gmail(dot)com, or reach us on Twitter: @ethangach @greggaliffa @themanofseal @JPontheChase Track Listing (found here): Super Fighting Robot X (MMX3 - Opening Stage) - WillRock, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/)  

The 2013 Oscars happened last Sunday, and on this one you can hear us discuss how they went, and why most other award shows would do well to stop emulating them. On this supplemental we explain why Daniel Day-Lewis was not last year's best actor, how The Master was robbed, and why award shows like the VGAs make a mockery of themselves every time they try to mimic the Oscars. To reach the podcast for comment or question, you can email us at gameontherocks(at)gmail(dot)com, or reach us on Twitter: @ethangach @greggaliffa @themanofseal @JPontheChase  

We discuss how creator Jenova Chen's studio, thatgamecompany, went broke trying to make Journey, and what that will mean for his team's next project. We also breakdown the video game industry's addiction to vaporware, which Wired's Chris Kohler wrote so eloquently about after January's Nintendo Direct. To reach the podcast for comment or question, you can email us at gameontherocks(at)gmail(dot)com, or reach us on Twitter: @ethangach @greggaliffa @themanofseal @JPontheChase Track Listing (found here): Faunaphonic (Forest Frenzy) - zircon, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) dolilop do wop (Ice Cave Chant) - analoq, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) Echoes (Life in the Mines) - Sadorf, Sir NutS, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/)  

On this supplemental we look at the PS4 and what Sony is promising for its next generation. We discuss our hopes for the new console but also the questions that remain. From the core principles of the PS4, to social networking and Gaikai streaming, we take a hard look at the kind of experience Sony is offering for the next console generation. We also talk next-gen games like Killzone: Shadow Fall, the Witness, Deep Down, Watch Dogs, and Destiny. To reach the podcast for comment or question, you can email us at gameontherocks(at)gmail(dot)com, or reach us on Twitter: @ethangach @greggaliffa @themanofseal Track Listing (found here):  - The Life and Death of Kirby (Kirby) - Insert Rupee, Benjamin Briggs, halc, OverClocked ReMix (http://www.ocremix.org)

This time around we talk about David Cage and Warren Spector's recommendations from this year's DICE summit, as well as biggest gaming franchises we've never played, but always wanted to. The discussion about video games, violence, and the industry's "Peter Pan Syndrome" touches on arguments made both here and here as we look at the medium's more creative games (hint: they aren't AAA titles). We also talk about what new rumors about the Hulk's role in the next Avengers movie could mean for the development of the character and the comics. Finally, the crew confesses to the biggest titles in video games and movies that we missed out on over the years. To reach the podcast for comment or question, you can email us at gameontherocks(at)gmail(dot)com, or reach us on Twitter: @ethangach @greggaliffa @themanofseal Track Listing (found here and here): Mystic Variations (Mystic Mysidia) - AeroZ, OverClocked ReMix (http://www.ocremix.org) affirmation (MMX5 - Ending) - melody, OverClocked ReMix (http://www.ocremix.org)

This time around we talk Ni No Kuni, House of Cards, and whether our tastes in entertainment keep changing as we get older. A recent post by Danielle Riendeau gets us all thinking about the media we love and whether our preferences have been set since high school (Riendeau's comments are a response to this article by Jennifer Senior). And I use my preliminary opinion on Ni No Kuni to reflect on JRPGs more generally with Greg, reminiscing about the Playstation and Super Nintendo days when grinding through random encounters, poorly translated dialogue, and exotic art styles were enough for us to invest 40+ hours in a single game. Finally we discuss the Netflix original series House of Cards--at least the first two episodes, so no big spoilers to worry about if you haven't yet seen it (we will of course be doing a supplemental podcast about the entire first season sometime later this month). To reach the podcast for comment or question, you can email us at gameontherocks(at)gmail(dot)com, or reach us on Twitter: @ethangach @greggaliffa @themanofseal Track Listing (found here, here and here): - Wounded Soldier (The Wounded Shall Advance Into the Light, Xenogears) - Kira of Trance, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) - Short Skirts (Tifa's Theme) - djpretzel, Vigilante, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) - X-Hunted (MMX2 - X-Hunter Stage 1) - Dominic Ninmark, StrangeJam, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/)

Iwata comes out swinging in the most recent Nintendo Direct, telling fans and consumers to expect big things in the coming year--but Greg isn't impressed. We also look into some rumored PS4 specs and speculate about who is best positioned to take over our living rooms by the end of 2013. And finally, we discuss how J.J. Abrams directing the next Star Wars movie will affect the franchise and what it could mean for his continued involvement in Star Trek. Filling in for James this week is our friend Eric Crawfood whose graphic art you can check out here. This episode's drink was Cognac about which you can read more here. To reach the podcast for comment or question, you can email us at gameontherocks(at)gmail(dot)com, or reach us on Twitter: @ethangach @greggaliffa @themanofseal @eszoteric Track Listing (available here): Bullet Fists of Lightning Fury [MMX - Spark Mandrill Stage, Boss 1] - Ergosonic, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) Zero's Plight [MMX5 - Zero Stage 1, Opening Stage Zero] - DJ SymBiotiX, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) Let There Be Light [MMX - Dr. Light, Get a Weapon, MMX2 - Dr. Light] - Cerrax, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/)

In this episode we discuss the 85th Academy Awards, including recently announced nominations and why it may or may not be worth thinking about them in the first place. In addition, Greg gives us his initial take on Capcom's reboot of Devil May Cry and we discuss the creator behind Bioshock Infinite, Ken Levine, and how his design philosophy has shaped the franchise and could be employed in video game development more generally. To reach the podcast for comment or question, you can email us at gameontherocks(at)gmail(dot)com, or reach us on Twitter: @ethangach @greggaliffa @themanofseal @JPonthechase Track Listing (here, here and here): Golbez 'N Goblins (Golbez, Clad in Darkness) - bLiNd, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) Devil Flare (Knight of Fire) - RoeTaKa, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) Airships Make Me Happy (The Highwind Takes to the Skies) - Star Salzman, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/)

Welcome to 2013, everyone! We've got some big changes here at GoTR. Mainly, we're moving. But fear not, we'll be taking up residence over at WouldYouKindly.com, who has so generously decided to host our podcast for y'all. Spread the love, my homies. So please head on over there and check us and all the other podcasts out. Sharing is caring or something. As for this ep, we keep things focused on technologies. CES has finished up and we discuss the bigger news from the event, i.e. Ouya, Steam Piston, Project Shield, etc. We also give a run down of our most anticipated games of the upcoming year. Listen and enjoy! To reach the podcast for comment or question, you can email us at gameontherocks(at)gmail(dot)com, or reach us on Twitter: @ethangach @greggaliffa @themanofseal @JPonthechase Track Listing (available here, here and here): Aerofunknamics (Funky's Fugue) - bLiNd, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) Braving the Storm [MMX - Chill Penguin Stage, Dr. Light] - Metal Man, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) The Prodigal Son Returns (Castlevania) - Mustin, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/)

In our special, super-long episode 10 of Gaming on the Rocks, we give a 2012 year-in-review -- right before 2013 starts. Better late than never! We take some extra time (a lot of extra time) to discuss this 2012's best video games, films, comics and television. We also give our top three in each category and it -- like always -- ends in yelling at each other. We've made it to 10 episodes everyone. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT. We hope you enjoy this special look back at 2012 and we also hope to see you in 2013. You know, like, tomorrow.  Coolthanksbye. Tracking Listing (available here, here, here, here, here annnd here): Every Story Begins with a Name (Opening - Bombing Mission - FFVII) - Big Giant Circles Cry of the Chasmal Critter Chain (Cave Dweller Concert - Donkey Kong Country) - Adhesive_Boy, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) The Last Fatima (Aveh, the Ancient Dance - Xenogears) - Avaris, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) Labyrinth of Dance Floors (LOZ: A Link to the Past) - Jeff Ball, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) Satsui no Koto (Ryu - Street Fighter) - zircon, Joshua Morse, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) Facing (Epilogue - FFIV) - Fishy, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/)

Trailers. Trailers. Trailers. A crop of stunning scifi film trailers was released this week, so we decided to dissect a bit.  We discuss Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim, Joseph Kosinski's Oblivion, J.J. Abram's Star Trek Into Darkness and M. Night Shyamalan's (!...?) After Earth. We also discuss some new video game trailer's courtesy of last week's VGAs. On the list: Tomb Raider, The Last of Us, Bioshock: Infinite and the mysterious (probably Metal Gear Solid-related) Phantom Pain. For those wondering (Eric) why this episode is called 9.1, last week's recording didn't go so well. My computer decided to auto-tune all of us, so we scraped it. Anyway, enjoy. Tracklist (can be found here, here and here): - Last Dance of the Giants [Majora's Mask] - Kozilek, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) - Lunatic Moon (Red XIII's Theme ~ Cosmo Canyon) - Sixto Sounds, zircon, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/) - The Masamune (Frog's Theme) - ellywu2, OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org/)