Episode Nine

Netflix for FREE on XBoxes? Linky XBox One is NOW $400 (by dropping Kinect) to compete with PS4 Linky PS Now Closed Beta Link Steam Home Streaming PC Gaming is more profitable than Consoles (duh!) Linky Pre-E3 News Photo by JD Hancock

Cliffy B leaves Epic? Linky Irrational Games shuts down as Ken Levine leaves? Linky John Carmack leaves ID? Linky Where are we going to get our AAA titles now? PC gaming in the Living room in late 2014? Anyone ready / willing / wanting this? Linky Maybe use the nVidia Shield Linky Martin O’Donnell fired from Bungie Linky 2014 Gaming forecast, any winners you want to talk about? Borderlands 3, a sequel prequel. Link Captain America 2, perhaps recent movies in general. Captain America 3 to release the same day as Batman vs. Superman. Evolve, from Turtle Rock (L4D developer) Site Link What are you playing lately?  

In our first podcast of 2014, we discuss: Steam active user base exceeds Xbox Live Sony launches bricks at user base and the state of the Wii U as it turns 2. EA launches BF4 in what can charitably be called an ‘Alpha state’ The past Console generation that was called ‘next gen,’ the games it spawned in console-land and PC, our thoughts on it, retrospective. 2013 in gaming and tech retrospective, what mattered to us and why Valve Steam Machines announced at CES AGDQ & the world of speedrunning What we’re playing Art based on a photo by Piero Sierra  

The OTF staff fires up its warp engines and discusses: Apple news Batman Arkham City goes GFWL-less – GOTY free on Steam; GFWL shutting down Steam Universe/Machines/OS Fall / next-gen titles people are looking forward to and why? What we’re playing lately

Post E3 / next gen impressions, hopes, dreams, etc. Valve’s Pipeline to teach HS students how to get into the video game industry Steam Summer Sale

Windows 8 Failed to Boost PC Market Linky PC Market seeing a sharp decline in 2013 Linky Funny Linky Apple’s re-org suggest unification of iOS and OS X Linky Epic Games seeing an exodus of employees Linky, more than just Cliffy B Linky Ubisoft’s former creative director of Assassin’s Creed left in 2010, then joined THQ Montreal, which was later acquired by Ubisoft, at which time they fired him. Linky BioShock Infinite ‘over the top’ violent? Linky Gearbox ripped off the art style of Borderlands? Linky Proof: Linky Farcry 3 Blood Dragon DLC is 1980’s Action Sci-Fi Cartoon Come to Life! Linky MegaUpload tries to combat US government corruption (from Hollywood), will that get anywhere? Linky Lucasarts folds; Star Wars license handed over to EA, who announces no major SW releases in 2014. Linky J’nathus’s random topic  

iPad Mini – Too Mini, or just Mini enough for the 7″ crowd? Windows 8 is out… What ELSE has ‘Surfaced’??? Steven Sinovsky leaves Microsoft The Wii-U came out this ‘Wii-kend’ Hostess is out of business… anybody missing the twinkies? J’nathus’ random topic Artwork based on a photo by Joe Hagan

L4D2 Valve’s first Linux game Link Windows 8 is actually peachy – you should install it. INSTALL IT NOW!!! Steam Big Picture mode EA making more from PC rather than PS3 Link Forbes says if you don’t use Facebook, you’re suspicious Link Reddit disagrees Link Black Mesa Source is actually happening? Link Ubisoft scraps always-on DRM Link iPhone 5 announced Guild Wars 2 launch

Jonathan and Tim discuss the pros and cons of Windows 8, including practical user considerations and share predictions on hurdles for new users.

E3 post impressions Windows 8 Release Preview – It’s going to flop Valve is working on a Linux client – Escape hatch from Win8 much? Mass Effect – Most Important Sci-Fi series of our generation? Link Jonathan’s Random Topic – Let’s talk about Reddit Artwork based on a photo by Jaymar Turner