Gaming Steve Episode 41 - 03.07.2006

This week I provide the second part of my hands-on preview of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, talk about some of the changes on the site and podcast after one year, and a new person joins the Gaming Steve forums. You might know him, he goes by the name Will Wright and made a game called The Sims or something.... Enjoy!

Gaming Steve Episode 41 Program

• 00:07:02 Game News:
• Sony sells the Metreon.
• Red 5 Studios and Webzen sign a deal.
• Dungeons & Dragons Online launches.
• World of Warcraft hits 6 million and adds the Spanish language.
• Live Arcade gets five more.
• Microsoft to start $10 Greatest Hits program.
• Oblivion is done, all hail Oblivion.
• What the heck is this Microsoft Origami project?
• Another analysts predicts PS3 delay.
• Rockstar Games serves up ... Table Tennis?
• 00:30:37 SporeTalk: Spore to evolve onto handhelds? And when is a game "leak" really a "leak"?
• 00:38:36 Game Preview: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for the Xbox 360 and PC, part two.
• 01:14:15 RetroReview: Planescape: Torment for the PC.
• 01:26:55 “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a very cool prize!
• 01:30:32 Show Mail: I answer your text and Oblivion questions.
• 01:58:03 Final Thoughts: What should I do next week for my one year anniversary show? And what to expect from my reports at the Game Developers Conference 2006 and I-Con appearances.

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Posted by Gaming Steve at 4:00 PM | Comments (43) | Posted to Podcast | Preview | Spore |      

Gaming Steve Episode 40 - 02.27.2006

This week I provide the first part of my hands-on preview of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, I review a new game cut directly from the Star Control mold, retro-review the best Bungie game you have never played, answer your Oblivion questions, and so much more. Enjoy!

Gaming Steve Episode 40 Program

• 00:04:08 Game News:
• Merrill Lynch guesses at $800 PlayStation 3 cost and causes a mild panic.
• EA slashes new game prices by 20 percent.
• Infinium opens their books.
• Ex-Gizmondo Exec trashes a million dollar Ferrari.
• Condemned to storm PCs this April.
• Classic Sierra games set for re-release.
• DS Lite to wear only white at launch.
• 00:27:44 SporeTalk: An overview as to how the download and ranking system will function.
• 00:32:22 Game Preview: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for the Xbox 360 and PC, part one.
• 01:12:45 Game Review: Space Rangers 2: Rise of the Dominators for the PC.
• 01:26:07 RetroReview: Pathways into Darkness Macintosh.
• 01:35:17 “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a very cool prize!
• 01:38:10 Show Mail: I answer your audio questions.
• 01:57:03 Final Thoughts: So when can I scratch my Oblivion itch again?

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Posted by Gaming Steve at 4:00 PM | Posted to Podcast | Preview | Review | Spore |      

Gaming Steve Episode 39 - 02.20.2006

Today I got a change to sit down with Pete Hines, Vice President of Public Relations & Marketing at Bethesda Softworks and makers of the highly anticipated The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

Pete and I talk for well over an hour and cover a huge number of topics ranging from the basic to the hardcore questions that the fans wanted me to ask.

Find out how the Oblivion Xbox 360 achievements and downloadable content will work, Pete reveals a secret in-game "easter egg", new details on the Radiant AI system, as well as what's next for the Elder Scrolls series. We even manage to sneak in a few questions on Fallout 3, the new Star Trek license, as well as much more. Enjoy!

Gaming Steve Episode 39 Program

• 00:01:57 Interview with Pete Hines from Bethesda, makers of the upcoming The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
• 01:20:15 My thoughts on the game itself and a small tidbit from next week's detailed on-hands preview of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

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Posted by Gaming Steve at 11:30 PM | Posted to Interview | PC | Podcast | Xbox |      

Gaming Steve Episode 38 - 02.14.2006

This week I talk about my upcoming interview with the The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion team, I review Darwinia (another IGF Competition Finalist), answer lots of audio questions, and so much more. Enjoy!

Gaming Steve Episode 38 Program

• 00:03:17 Game News:
• Crystal Quest shoot onto Xbox 360 Arcade, but it isn't the same Quest as before.
• The DS to support voice chat.
• "Hasta la Vista Baby" ... Halo 2 heading to PC.
• DS download stations coming Stateside.
• Half-Life 2 becomes episodic.
• Solitaire games gets NYC worker fired.
• Xbox 360 shortages coming to an end?
• A look at the January top 20 console sales.
• 00:25:18 SporeTalk: A quick overview of what the heck is Spore anyhow? And some info on the Spore demo.
• 00:41:35 Game Review: Darwinia for the PC.
• 00:52:12 RetroReview: Command & Conquer for the PC, Macintosh, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, and Saturn.
• 01:02:43 “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a very cool prize!
• 01:07:36 Show Mail: I answer your audio and email questions.
• 01:57:41 Final Thoughts: What do you do when you get into the gaming doldrums?

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Posted by Gaming Steve at 11:45 PM | Posted to Podcast | Review | Spore |      

Gaming Steve Episode 37 - 02.06.2006

This week I talk about Diablo III and Starcraft 2, give details about my upcoming talks at I-CON 25, review an IGF Competition Finalist, answer a ton of show mail, and so much more. Enjoy!

Gaming Steve Episode 37 Program

• 00:06:08 Game News:
• New DS hitting Japan this March.
• The US gets Brainy this spring.
• Xbox 360 loses the remote.
• Stargate enters the MMO universe.
• Blizzard stirring up hell recruiting for the Diablo team.
• The Empire strikes gold.
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Supreme Commander delayed until 2007.
• PCs to be Condemned this spring.
• 00:29:13 SporeTalk: I answer lots of questions about Spore.
• 00:38:19 Game Review: Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space for the PC.
• 00:49:42 RetroReview: Aliens vs. Predator 2 for the PC.
• 00:56:47 “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a very cool prize!
• 01:02:28 Show Mail: I answer your audio and email questions.
• 01:46:00 Final Thoughts: Results from last week's Final Thoughts contest, why Starcraft 2 isn't coming any time soon, and more.

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Posted by Gaming Steve at 1:00 AM | Posted to Podcast | Review | Spore |      

Gaming Steve Episode 36 - 01.25.2006

This week I give details about the first official Gaming Steve Tournament for Mario Kart DS, a new contest about your "funniest" gaming moment, and answer a ton of show mail.

Gaming Steve Episode 36 Program

• 00:04:17 Game News:
• GameStop expects to fulfill 360 orders in February (but not online or EB Games orders).
• Give thanks, the Revolution to be released by Thanksgiving.
• Majesco no longer a "premium" publisher.
• WoW nabs millionth European customer and more than 5.5 million worldwide.
• China's online game regulations relaxed.
• Gizmondo Europe bankrupt.
• Heroes of Might and Magic V beta now open.
• E3 dresses up the babes and games.
• Nintendo snags 3 million online.
• New Mother has a date.
• 50 Cent sells through a million.
• Star Trek: Legacy to beam onto PCs and the 360.
• Sony zips up Zipper.
• 00:31:12 SporeTalk: I answer lots of questions about Spore.
• 00:41:09 Game Review: Dragon Quest VIII for the PlayStation 2.
• 00:58:32 RetroReview: Baldur's Gate II for the PC.
• 01:10:47 “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a very cool prize!
• 01:14:26 Show Mail: I answer your audio and email questions.
• 02:01:11 Final Thoughts: A new contest and details about the Gaming Steve Mario Kart DS Tournament.

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Posted by Gaming Steve at 9:00 PM | Posted to Classic | Podcast | Review | Spore |      

Gaming Steve Episode 35 - 01.18.2006

This week I review a Japanese import for the Nintendo DS and actually play it on the show. The results are, err, interesting. Also the results from the "Final Thoughts Contest" from a few weeks ago and the list of your favorite games of 2005.

Gaming Steve Episode 35 Program

• 00:01:45 Game News:
• BloodRayne opening declared "a debacle".
• EA trademarks "System Shock".
• The Tetris are coming! The Tetris are coming!
• 25 to Life (anyone remember this game?) is released.
• 2005 a record year for US console gaming.
• 2005 is also a record year in the UK.
• Meanwhile Nintendo totally owns Japan in 2005.
• US PC sales drop 14 percent.
• 00:21:29 GameTalk: What is the future of PC gaming?
• 00:36:33 SporeTalk: I answer lots of questions about Spore.
• 00:47:43 Game Review: Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! for the Nintendo DS.
• 00:56:30 RetroReview: System Shock 2 for the PC.
• 01:06:10 “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a very cool prize!
• 01:09:06 Show Mail: I answer your audio and email questions.
• 01:46:00 Final Thoughts: Results of the "Final Thoughts Contest" from a few weeks ago, what were your best games of 2005, and getting "into the gaming zone".

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Posted by Gaming Steve at 8:00 PM | Comments (4) | Posted to Classic | Podcast | Review | Spore |      

Gaming Steve Episode 34 - 01.10.2006

Welcome to my first interview podcast for 2006 where I got the chance to sit down with Jeff Strain, Founder and President of ArenaNet, and makers of the hugely successful Guild Wars.

During our talk we discuss the upcoming expansion Guild Wars: Factions, Jeff's thinking behind creating a dynamically generated MMO world, the technology behind their worldwide servers and content streaming system, the upcoming schedule for new future content, as well as much more. Enjoy!

Gaming Steve Episode 34 Program

• 00:03:16 GameTalk: Interview with Jeff Strain from ArenaNet, the makers of Guild Wars.
• 00:31:00 Show Mail: I answer your audio and email questions.
• 01:09:00 Final Thoughts on my contest from last week, the new Gaming Steve T-shirts, and what I'm currently playing.

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Assassin vs Ritualist in new Arena.

Isle of the Nameless (new training ground).

Male Ritualist looking all evil.

Posted by Gaming Steve at 4:00 PM | Posted to Interview | MMORPG | Podcast |      

Gaming Steve Episode 33 - 01.03.2006

Why not start off the new year with a healthy dose of some Gaming Steve? I'm back with the first podcast of 2006, enjoy!

Gaming Steve Episode 33 Program

• 00:02:17 Game News:
• Pokemon USA threatens to sue cancer researchers.
• World of Warcraft pop 5 million and counting.
• Monster WOW patch released.
• G4 takes on Trek.
• EA adjusts earnings downward.
• NHL checks EA exclusivity offer.
• Judge blocks California game law.
• Jack Thompson buys shares in Take-Two.
• Video games get commemorative postage stamps.
• Why was Take-Two's Paul Eibeler the "Worst CEO of 2005"?
• 00:35:03 GameTalk: Too much mail! Moved this week to the Show Mail segment.
• 00:35:53 SporeTalk: A look at my third exclusive Spore artwork and important Spore-related dates.
• 00:42:19 Game Review: Condemned: Criminal Origins for the Xbox 360.
• 00:58:30 RetroReview: The Bard's Tale for the IBM PC, Apple ][, Apple ][GS, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, Amiga, NES, Macintosh, and Sinclair ZX.
• 01:11:33 “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a very cool prize!
• 01:14:14 Show Mail: I answer your many email questions.
• 02:13:12 Final Thoughts on ... does anyone listen to this section?

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Posted by Gaming Steve at 10:00 PM | Posted to Classic | Podcast | Review | Spore |      

Gaming Steve Episode 32 - 12.27.2005

In the last Gaming Steve of 2005 I sit down with the Vice President of Big Huge Games, Tim Train (Civilization, Master of Orion, Alpha Centauri). Big Huge Games made the excellent Rise of Nations and is hard at work on the upcoming RTS Rise of Legends.

In the interview we cover the game's unique setting, issues we both had with Alpha Centauri, how the RTS genre is evolving, playing Magic: The Gathering, how to balance a complex RTS, the very cool Rise of Legends single-player campaign, the why the director's cut of the movie Aliens really stinks. Oh yeah, and I also go over my best games of 2005. Enjoy!

Gaming Steve Episode 32 Program

• 00:03:14 GameTalk: Interview with Tim Train from Big Huge Games, the makers of the upcoming Rise of Legends.
• 01:13:41 Special Feature: The best games of 2005.
• 01:51:08 Final Thoughts on what 2006 will bring us and farewell until then!

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Posted by Gaming Steve at 5:00 PM | Posted to Interview | PC | Podcast |