Episode 15: It’s About Time
Sunday, May 27th, 2007File 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.
