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EvilCast Recap - Episode 180: E3 2013 Predictions Special

As the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo prepares to roll into Los Angeles and fill the week with news and events, I've been summoned back to the EvilCast podcast at GamesAreEvil to join Blake Grundman, Ross Polly, and Keri Honea and share some E3 predictions.  Can Microsoft beat back the negative press surrounding the Xbox One?  What will Sony reveal to increase PlayStation 4 hype?  Will Nintendo be able to turn the Wii U's fortunes around?  We also discuss a few news stories from the past week and turn some attention to what we've played recently.  Listen to me go on about Injustice: Gods Among Us, Sleeping Dogs, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons.  Also, we dip into Star Trek discussion for some reason.  Do you think we'll ever see Thomas Riker again?  Episode 180 holds the key.  I'll be back on the EvilCast later this week for two more podcasts to talk about all of the big E3 news, so be sure to watch for those episodes as well.

Power Button Presents Kombo Breaker - Episode 32: Pre-Natal Vitamins!

Considering that Microsoft's upcoming Xbox One with enhanced Kinect camera is causing so much stir lately in the gaming community, it seems only appropriate to revisit Episode 32 of the classic Kombo Breaker podcast in which we were joined by Dave Rudden (now with the Official Xbox Magazine, then with the now-defunct GamePro) to discuss the Kinect accessory back when it was still just called Project Natal and whether or not we thought the product had a chance at catching up with what the Nintendo Wii already accomplished in that general control-type arena.  In the end the Wii and the Kinect offered difference experiences, but at the time when this episode originally aired — June 19, 2009 — this was all fresh, unexplored, and unknown territory.  Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, or subscribe via iTunes, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that you can reach all three of us via , you can leave a message on the Power Button hotline by calling (720) 722-2781, and you can even follow all of us on Twitter at @PressTheButtons, @aubradley84, and @JoeyDavidson or for just podcast updates, @ThePowerButton.

Power Button Presents Kombo Breaker - Episode 32: Pre-Natal Vitamins!

EvilCast Recap - Episode 178

My friends Blake Grundman and Ross Polly at Games Are Evil turned on the Matt-Signal and summoned me to guest on the EvilCast podcast once again, so I arrived in style to discuss some of the week's big news stories and goodness there were some big news stories this week.  We talk about Electronic Arts dancing back and forth across the Nintendo Wii U development line and wonder what is in store for the tablet-based console, then shift gears to Batman: Arkham Origins and what role Kevin Conroy may play in it (if any).  After that we get into a heated discussion about Microsoft's Xbox One and what the new console will mean to the industry, customers, and the used game business.  Finally, we wrap it all up with a discussion of what we've been playing lately.  I talk up God of War: Ascension and Injustice: Gods Among Us.  Lots to talk about, so spend a few hours with us.  Head over to Games Are Evil to download Episode 178.

Power Button Presents Kombo Breaker - Episode 22: Sprinkles and Blood Rain From the Sky

Classic episodes of Kombo Breaker are back this week with an extra 13% more me as panelist Joey Davidson skipped out on us to go on his honeymoon with his new wife when this episode was recorded.  Where's the commitment to the program, huh?  The original airdate of this episode is April 4, 2009.  We decided not to invite a guest to fill his seat, so tune in to hear me discuss my thoughts on Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, a tease of the then-embargoed The Godfather II (Electronic Arts sent over an early review copy; I wish I could tell you more, but EA made me an offer I can't refuse), a little about the Toy Cars of Burnout Paradise, Dan's reactions for the latest Call of Duty map pack, Brad's trip to the Game Developers Conference, skepticism of the then-newly announced OnLive service, Nintendo of America's official 2009 statement regarding the non-release of Mother 3 (which may as well be their current statement, too), the unrivaled success of Game Informer magazine, and, for some reason, television talk about Lost and 30 Rock.  Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, or subscribe via iTunes, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that you can reach all three of us via , you can leave a message on the Power Button hotline by calling (720) 722-2781, and you can even follow all of us on Twitter at @PressTheButtons, @aubradley84, and @JoeyDavidson or for just podcast updates, @ThePowerButton.

Power Button Presents Kombo Breaker - Episode 22: Sprinkles and Blood Rain From the Sky

Power Button - Episode 99: Talking About Voices

When it comes to discussing video games we often talk about characterization, settings, themes, art direction, music, gameplay, and business practices, but we don't spend near enough time praising the actors that give our favorite characters a voice.  That changes on this week's episode of Power Button in which Brad Hilderbrand and I kick around the notion that actors and their characters are inseparable and whether or not recasting a role changes a game for better or for worse.  We have great things to say about actors such as Nolan North, Tara Strong, Laura Bailey, Kevin Conroy, David Hayter, John DiMaggio, Mark Hamill, Jennifer Hale, Maurice LaMarche, Rob Paulsen, Camilla Luddington, and so many more.  Join us for an hour of talking about voices.  Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, or subscribe via iTunes, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that you can reach us via , you can leave a message on the Power Button hotline by calling (720) 722-2781, and you can even follow us on Twitter at @PressTheButtons and @aubradley84, or for just podcast updates, @ThePowerButton.

Power Button - Episode 99: Talking About Voices

Power Button Presents Kombo Breaker - Special Edition: BioShock 2 Developer Conference

2K Games's BioShock 2 is getting a little extra attention these days thanks to interest in BioShock Infinite, so it seems only appropriate to revisit this episode of the old Kombo Breaker podcast which originally aired February 9, 2010.  Before you step into the shoes of a Big Daddy, why not learn what went into the making of the game?  Just prior to the release of the game a few members of the development team at 2K Marin sat down for a phone conference in which they discussed the development process, and rather than just provide a brief transcript of their remarks, I recorded the whole hour-long conversation that we presented as a special extra edition of Kombo Breaker despite the fact that we're not in it beyond my initial introduction.  Would you kindly listen to it anyway?  You'll find it's a nice bookend to last week's Episode 98.  Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, or subscribe via iTunes, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that you can reach all three of us via , you can leave a message on the Power Button hotline by calling (720) 722-2781, and you can even follow all of us on Twitter at @PressTheButtons, @aubradley84, and @JoeyDavidson or for just podcast updates, @ThePowerButton.

Power Button Presents Kombo Breaker - Special Edition: BioShock 2 Developer Conference

EvilCast Recap - Episode 174

Down two members of their usual panel, Blake Grundman and Ross Polly of the EvilCast podcast at Games Are Evil invited me to sit in yet again for this week's episode.  With topics like Nintendo's diminished presence at E3 2013 and how the new Star Trek video game missed the mark (including a fun flashback to E3 2011 where Blake and I attended an early pre-alpha preview of the game), how could I say no?  We also talk about layoffs at Electronic Arts, Nintendo's Wii U image problem, and Zynga's latest troubles in the wake of the launch of Draw Something 2.  Mix in some discussion of the Injustice: Gods Among Us mobile game and a few other recently released titles and you have yourselves Episode 174.  Join us for some heated discussion and to hear Ross admit he's never seen Robocop but has somehow seen the non-existant Blade Runner 2.  I'm still not sure how either of those are possible.  Also, I'd like to apologize to the people of Detroit in advance.  You'll understand why when you listen to the show.

EvilCast Recap - Episode 173

Whenever a chair goes empty on the EvilCast podcast, I'm invited to sit down and fill it.  I'm doing that again this week on Episode 173 in which I join Blake Grundman, Ross Polly, and Chris Nitz to discuss the news of the week and the games that have been consuming our free time.  I was recovering from a cold at the time, so please pardon the occasional cough.  Listen to us talk about layoffs at studios, the mysterious disappearing XCOM sequel, big news from Nintendo including re-releases of twin Legend of Zelda games and the triumphant return of EarthBound in addition to new 3DS and Wii U releases, and more.  Ross has his weekly Top 5 for us, then I talk about Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Sonic Dash, and Wario Land 2.  Blake says that the EvilCast's audience grows whenever I show up, so bring the force of PTB over to Games Are Evil and check out the show.

Power Button - Episode 98: Enraptured With BioShock Infinite

After exploring the floating city in the sky that is Columbia, Brad Hilderbrand and I have come back down to Earth to share our thoughts on BioShock Infinite.  Join us for an hour of spoiler-filled discussion about the game's controversial ending, Elizabeth's characterization, the Comstock paradox, the inventive (and stolen!) soundtrack, fun moments, standout elements, frustrating boss battles, padding, and especially memorable encounters.  Columbia is waiting for you!  Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, or subscribe via iTunes, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that you can reach us via , you can leave a message on the Power Button hotline by calling (720) 722-2781, and you can even follow us on Twitter at @PressTheButtons and @aubradley84, or for just podcast updates, @ThePowerButton.

Power Button - Episode 98: Enraptured With BioShock Infinite

EvilCast Recap - Episode 171

I'm guesting on the Games Are Evil podcast again this week.  In fact, I've taken appearing as a guest to a new level by hijacking the usual introduction and claiming absolute power.  That sort of thing is bound to happen when one is invited over enough.  I join Blake Grundman and Keri Honea to discuss the depressing news of the week (mostly studio closures and layoffs at places like LucasArts, High Moon Studios, and Square-Enix), the Ouya's rough launch, and hit on a list of the best game-breaking video game bugs of all time.  There's also some non-spoiler discussion of BioShock Infinite, a look at Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, and time spent with the latest Gears of War.  Spend some time with us.  I bet you'll enjoy it.  You can find Episode 171 of the EvilCast over at GamesAreEvil.com.