Episode 15: It’s About Time
File Mirrors
- High Quality MP3 - SteamPodcast.com
- High Quality MP3 - Archive.org
- Low Quality MP3 - Archive.org
- OGG Vorbis - Archive.org
This week’s podcast features the following on-air personalities:
- Bob Somers - SteamPodcast.com
- Ramzy Bekheet - SteamPodcast.com
1337 C4T of Episode 15
This Week’s New Releases
All scores are from MetaCritic.
- Tomb Raider: Anniversary - PC, PS2 - 79% (6 Reviews)
- WarTech: Senko no Ronde - Xbox 360 - 55% (3 reviews)
- Crush - PSP - 82% (4 reviews)
- Smash Court Tennis 3 - PSP
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas - PSP - 50% (3 reviews)
- MindStorm - DS - 40% (2 reviews)
- Bionicle Heroes - Wii - 52% (7 reviews)
- Tetris Evolution - Xbox 360 - 52% (16 reviews)
- Steel Horizon - DS - 40% (10 reviews)
The following news articles were discussed on the show:
Thank you Blizzard. It’s about time.
Valve Reaches 13 Million User Milestone
Valve’s online PC distribution service, Steam, has hit more than 13 million active accounts and is averaging more than 7 billion player minutes a month of online gameplay.
Previously Valve was going to release The Black Box (HL2: Episode 2, Team Fortress 2, Portal) for less than The Orange Box (HL2, both epsiodes, TF2, Portal) so that fans who already had HL2 and Episode 1 could save a little money. Unfortunately, Valve has decided to pull the plug on The Black Box. Valve’s Doug Lombardi explains:
We’re going to have one package, The Orange Box, available on the PC (US$49.99) as well as the 360 and PS3 (US$ 59.99). In addition to the three new products—Portal, Team Fortress 2, and Half-Life: Episode Two—The Orange Box will also contain the full version of Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One. Those who purchase the PC version of The Orange Box will get three separate Steam product codes: One for the three new games, one for HL2, and one for Episode One. This way a PC Orange Box owner can give away their Half-Life 2 or Episode One unused Steam product codes if they don’t need a copy of those games. We are excited to deliver the highest value of new gaming content ever offered in one box.
Also, this has only been confirmed for the boxed versions. Presumably you’ll still be able to get the games cheaper if you purchase them individually through Steam.
For anyone considering buying this card, this video review is for you. As it stands, this card isn’t as cracked up as we all thought it to be. No one’s sure if it’s lackluster performance is simply because of the card itself, or if it’s drivers are simply crippling it. As for now, we can’t be sure.
Meet the Heavy - Valve Shows Off New Facial Animation Technology
Valve released a video showcasing the new facial animation technology available in the next version of the Source engine, and it’s looking pretty sweet. The video is hilarious and features a brief interview with the heavy gunner from Team Fortress 2. This kind of technology really shows that Valve is trying to innovate in ways other game studios have never tried before.
Jack Thompson Sets His Sights On Halo 3
In a letter addressed to Bill Gates, Thompson writes:
Here’s the deal, Mr. Gates: Either Microsoft undertakes dramatic, real steps, through its marketing, wholesale, and retail operations to assure that Halo 3 is not sold, via the Internet and in stores, directly to anyone under 17, or I shall proceed to make sure that Microsoft is held to that standard by appropriate legal means. I have done that before successfully as to Best Buy, and I shall do so again as to Microsoft and all retailers of Halo 3.
It seems odd how he says that his main agenda is focused towards preventing the sale mature games to minors, yet he’s on CNN every other week talking about a bunch of shootings that people over the legal age committed.
Geometry Wars Headed to the Wii
The latest issue of Nintendo Power revealed that the much-loved Xbox Live Arcade game is being fleshed out into a full fledged game, Geometry Wars: Galaxies, to be available on the Wii and DS.
The game is slated to feature an extensive single player campaign and several multiplayer modes. The original “Retro Evolved” version will be included as well.
IGN have done a pretty in depth article on the upcoming Wii exclusive ‘Manhunt 2′. This article looks at some of the new features that we’ll be seeing in the next installment of the Manhunt series, and some of the reasons why this next version will dominate the original.
Funny Videos
Wrap Up
Keep your fan mail, suggestions, and comments coming. The coolest email address on the net is still fans@steampodcast.com.
May 28th, 2007 at 11:23 am
OK you wanted some comments, here you go!
Finally, a well Steam/Valve themed episode. The StarCraft info was absolutely obligatory, but you might cut the console talk. Just a proposal!
You could also simply remove the ‘wating’ instead of adding that god damn elevator music! Oh and Bobs enormous yawn? That should be cut too
In all - a quick, fun episode that we didn’t have to wait a month for. I would call it a success!
May 29th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
When is the next episode? just kidding…
The multiple download choices is screwing up my podcast software.
Any ways, the title of the episode should be “Hell, It’s About Time.” StarCraft was the best game ever, but people were worry that StarCraft would be a Sci-Fi version of WarCraft 2. I am worry that SC2 is going to be a Sci-Fi version of WC3. also, I like sprites, I hate 3D units.
There should be a protest for the black box. I have about every Valve game expect for cs:cz. I dont want to re-buy hl2 and hl2:ep1
P.S. Jack Thompson sucks
May 29th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
The black box WILL be available on Steam.
May 29th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I never buy online
May 30th, 2007 at 4:03 am
Kayo, what software are you using to download the podcasts?
May 30th, 2007 at 4:11 am
Great podcast again guys loved it as always and you caught me off guard and I never realised a new episode was out until today.
sudo apt-get install elevatormusic
May 30th, 2007 at 11:41 am
hello there steampodcast
good podcast
May 30th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
JC Says: “sudo apt-get install elevatormusic”
lol, only linux users would get that.
for podcast downloading, I use a program called ‘Juice,’ it use to be called iPodder. The problem I am having is that I download twice, and it appears on my list 3 times.
May 30th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Ok, I used to use Juice back when it was iPodder, but I switched to iTunes after I got an iPod.
I’ll check it out and see if I can fix things so that it’s easier for Juice to digest, no pun intended…
Also, since Fedora is better than Ubuntu…
yum install elevatormusic
June 5th, 2007 at 9:47 am
So… do we NOW get to ask when is the new episode?
June 5th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Any info on Multi cores for the source engine, this is the 1 thing i have been waiting for from valve for the longest time.
PC>Wii>PS2>XBox360>PS3
June 6th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Hey!
I remember back in the day a few episodes back when you got your Wii, I listened in disgust to how much you liked you it. But I got one out of the blue for my birthday and fell in love with it. Now that manhunt is going to be on it I had an absolute conniption about how cool it’s going to be to play it. I say if Jack Thompson tries to pull something we put a manhunt on him. I play Wii tennis and never have the feeling to go play tennis. I also play Peggle and never have the feeling to… well… you know.
Anyway I think the podcast rocks my socks.
Peace.
P.S. Is the man canon the grave lift? Because when I played the Halo 3 beta that was the only thing I could resemble to a man canon.
June 7th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Thanks for all the comments guys, and the next episode probably won’t be out until at least the 16th. I’ve got final exams this week, but once I’m done I’ll be free for the summer so we’ll be able to get you new episodes on a more regular basis.
Also, we may have something special in the works… stay tuned.
June 7th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
I understand Bob. School work is starting to get heavy on me too.
June 8th, 2007 at 12:33 am
I’m out of school!
June 17th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Excellent podcast as usual guys, I’ve got finals too, what a pain.
Thanks for recommending Peggle, SO ADDICTING!
June 18th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Any plans for the new episode?
June 19th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
hey nice job long time lurker no time poster just want to say that the Halo 3 beta is or was at this point tons of fun and about the look it was in HD but bungie did not put in the full dynamic lighting or HDR for the beta and the game was rendered in real time (like H2) the only bad thing is weap. balencing and such and the matchmaking being slow but from what bungie said from the start to the end people racked up over 620 years in game time
June 26th, 2007 at 6:30 am
Guys, PopCap is having a sales on steam, all games are priced at $9.95
Peggle