So Crystal Dynamics did some kind of update for Tomb Raider over Steam...and now every once in awhile, with the right camera angle, I get to see what Lara would look like as a Sinead O'Connor lookalike:

LOL...I think that makes it better!

^ Fire arrows, FTW!

Sorry about the delay on the podcast folks. Technical difficulties. I am seeing if Yoda can help.  If not, I'll come up with a work around.

Foolz said:

No one else thinks there's a touch of Broken Sword to Uncharted? Just me then? Fuck you guys.

The point-n-click adventure games?

Forgive me for posting a couple of random thoughts here. I've had a few beers and I'm feeling chatty:

1. Today I took my son to Gamestop to spend some money he got from his grandparents a while back. He bought Carnival Games for the Wii. As we left the store he informed me that this would be his last purchase for the Wii and that going forward he would only be playing and buying for the Wii U. Good luck with that kid. Daddy's not real good at sharing his toys.

2. You know how a lot of reports have said that Microsoft will go full steam on the whole cellphone inspired "buy your X-box 720 at a reduced price and then pay a monthly fee" option? It's been boggling my mind how the hell that would work. Say you miss a few payments, what are they going to do? Repo the console? Worst case scenario seems they'd just cut off your X-box Live. And that's when it hit me.... Internet connection required to play. That's how they're going to pull it off. Every system has to be online, so they know you're playing. And if you're not paying... then you've got a useless hunk of electronics. Forgive me if the smarter people here had already figured that out. I only get smart when I drink.

3. I'm giving serious thought to only buying digitally going forward. I've officially gotten so lazy that getting up to change discs is too much physical exertion. Switching games from the couch may be the last bit of incentive that I need to go this route.

Ravenprose said:

I've thought about doing that as well, but I find brand new retail disks are often cheaper than digital. For instance, Catherine on PSN is $40, but I got it on Amazon for $20. Ico and SotC are $20 each on PSN, but the retail collection containing both games only goes for $20. As long as digital-only costs more, my laziness will have to take a backseat to my cheapassness.

Digital has 2 price advantages the way I see it. First there always seems to be sales going on and they usually happen there before retail. Wii U eShop and PSN are always doing discounts, and each week there always seems to be something pretty cheap that I'd want to buy. Catherine for instance was dropped to $20 on PSN during an Atlus sale before it ever made it to that price on retail. If you were a Plus member it was even cheaper than that.

And that's sort of my second point. If you're a member of Plus or you're with Wii U's member program there are extra savings. Plus members get deeper discounts, and Nintendo's Deluxe Digital Program gives you 10% back in credit for every purchase you make on the eShop. Little stuff like that can make you get ahead if you play your cards right.

Ravenprose said:

robio said:

3. I'm giving serious thought to only buying digitally going forward. I've officially gotten so lazy that getting up to change discs is too much physical exertion. Switching games from the couch may be the last bit of incentive that I need to go this route.

I've thought about doing that as well, but I find that brand new retail disks are often cheaper than digital. For instance, Catherine on PSN is $40, but I got ia retail copy on Amazon for $20. Ico and SotC are $20 each on PSN, but the disk collection containing both games only goes for $20. As long as digital-only costs more, my laziness will have to take a backseat to my cheapassness.

I'd love to see a Netflix of gaming take off for the broadband-enabled.  I do onwder though what impact that would have.  The $50 price point (average) weighs heavily into how much you are willing to give a game a chance.  If everything is like a demo, what's to stop you from playing when you start to hit the slightest resistance in a game?

robio said:

Digital has 2 price advantages the way I see it. First there always seems to be sales going on and they usually happen there before retail. Wii U eShop and PSN are always doing discounts, and each week there always seems to be something pretty cheap that I'd want to buy. Catherine for instance was dropped to $20 on PSN during an Atlus sale before it ever made it to that price on retail. If you were a Plus member it was even cheaper than that.

And that's sort of my second point. If you're a member of Plus or you're with Wii U's member program there are extra savings. Plus members get deeper discounts, and Nintendo's Deluxe Digital Program gives you 10% back in credit for every purchase you make on the eShop. Little stuff like that can make you get ahead if you play your cards right.

Hmm,  fair point. I didn't bother much with PSN until I got Plus this year.

Wait! Nintendo has sales now? They never had sales on Wii!  

aspro said:

Yep. And same way the cell phone companies do it. Miss a payment they cut you off. MS may be just dumb/smart enough to try it.  In which case, So long Xbox, it's been nice.

I absolutely believe they're dumb enough, or at least cocky enough to try it. When I was in Gamestop today I noticed that nearly half of the store is now Xbox green. They are the biggest thing in the West and they know it. Time for them to throw their weight around. Sadly enough, while I think it'll hurt them a little, I do not think it will hurt them that bad. Their marketshare will take a hit, but not a huge one.

You see, I've learned something about the modern day young gamers. They're fucking stupid as hell. They really are. To see how excited people are about sharing videos of them playing their games via the new PS3 share button really drove that point home. So I figure there will be plenty of these douchebag young gamers who will be happy to pay whatever and give up all their freedom just so long as they can insult the fuck out of other people they're playing against on Xbox Live.