So what happens when I try to do a shorter podcast? I end up recording my longest show ever. Nice. Check it out:

• Hot Coffee news until your head explodes!
• Every 30 seconds Xbox Live grows by one.
• World of Warcraft just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
• Microsoft confirms worldwide Xbox 360 launch.
• Advertising to invade all video games all the time.
• Hot Coffee Part 2 — The Sims 2.
• GameTalk: Hot Coffee is over — now what?
• SporeTalk: How is Spore going to handle controversial downloadable content and the “new, more sensitive” ESRB?
• In-depth review of Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee for the PSP.
• RetroReview: Heroes of Might and Magic III for the PC.
• “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a new prize!
• Plus some more random thoughts on why gaming is good for “the children” and some recommended reading.

Get the podcast from this page (104 minutes): Gaming Steve Episode 18.

You can also subscribe to the weekly podcast.

As many of you out there are probably aware the gaming community has been under attack yet again, only this time the stakes have been significantly raised. A few weeks ago it was discovered that there may or may not have been hidden sex scenes and mini-games in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This discovery had brought the politicians and watchdog groups out in droves and has caused a serious investigation by the ESRB ratings board.

Because of the serious impact this could have across the entire industry I thought we should investigate this issue more closely and discuss the larger issues at stake. In this special edition of Gaming Steve I speak with Dennis McCauley from GamePolitics.com who was instrumental in breaking this story and has written extensively about this topic. In this episode of Gaming Steve Dennis and I speak about:

• Dennis McCauley’s web site GamePolitics.com and why he started this very interesting web site.
• The “Hot Coffee” mod in general.
• What is the status of the ESRB investigation into this matter.
• What was the response from Rockstar and Take Two Interactive.
• How this content may affect the entire gaming industry, even if it wasn’t part of the original game.
• How the ESRB rating differ from the MPAA movie ratings.
• Here come the politicians … and will they ever stop lambasting GTA and violent video games?

Get the podcast from this page (40 minutes): Gaming Steve Episode 17.

You can also subscribe to the weekly podcast.

You want your podcast? You’ll get your podcast! Check out the latest podcast goodness:

• Help out on the Gaming Steve website, if you dare!
• Microsoft and Nintendo, strange bedfellows indeed.
• The Justice League of America … coming to a console near you.
• Let the Madden madness begin!
• Chip an Xbox, pay the man.
• Gaming addicts get their own clinic.
• PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make.
• BlizzCon buzzes into town.
• GameTalk: The ESRB under fire.
• SporeTalk: What to expect in the upcoming months.
• In-depth review of Laser Squad Nemesis for the PC.
• RetroReview: The Operative: No One Lives Forever for the PC.
• “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a new prize!
• Upcoming game releases.
• Plus some more random thoughts on slow gaming summer.

Get the podcast from this page (92 minutes): Gaming Steve Episode 16.

You can also subscribe to the weekly podcast.