Geekshow

GeekiN #99 – 2010

What are you looking forward to in 2010? Join us as we discuss the movies, TV, and games that are coming along for this year. Also, we fill you in on the latest news for the week.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

GeekiN #98 – A Review of 2009

Did you enjoy 2009? Listen to our review to see how we felt about the year in movies, television, and video games. Then be sure to post your own opinions. I apologize in advance for the quality of Scott in this episode.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

GeekiN Episode #93 – E3 Extravaganza

E3 kicks off on Monday, June 1st. What should you expect to see when the big companies take the stage? Randy is joined by Nathanael, aka PolygonWizard for a special episode of GeekiNtertainment. Two and a half hours of pure video game discussion. Each system gets it’s discussion time.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Batman: Arkham Asylum Gameplay Released

The new Batman game aims to revitalize the franchise, while keeping the look and feel of Gotham

Black Friday Online 2008

Are you aware that you don’t have to be a freaking looney in order to save on Black Friday. That’s right, this year, we encourage you to do all your penny pinching online with some fantastic online deals. No need to beat traffic and other shoppers by heading out into the world. Hopefully you will find some things you want by continuing to read:

Fable II, Fallout 3, and Batman: Arkham Asylum – Oh My!

Lots of big news on the DLC front this week. Well, if you are on the 360 and PC, it’s pretty big news, that is. Unfortunately, as mentioned when Fallout 3 was announced originally, it’s DLC will not be seeing release on the PS3. However, PC and 360 fans will be seeing new content for the already large world of Fallout 3. In addition, PC gamers will also be getting an official game editing kit for download. The first of the DLC for the game hits in Janurary, followed by more in February and March. The kit will be released next month. Keep reading for more details on the Fallout 3 content, the Fable II DLC, and the new Batman: Arkham Asylum trailer!

This Week in Video Games

If you are a fan of video games, you may be looking for a chance catch your breath. Recently, a lot of big name titles have been dropping. Depending on your tastes, this may be that week. Or if you are a World of Warcraft or Call of Duty fan, this may be even worse than some of the past weeks we’ve had. Still, look hard enough, and there is probably something here you could enjoy. Question is, do you have the money left to do so?

This Week in Video Games

The fall video game season has begun. And with it will come a rush of new titles just about every week. This is one of those weeks. Even though LittleBigPlanet was pushed back a week to the 28th, see still have a crowded week. Here are the big players:

Star Trek Online Details Coming Sunday

An MMO Star Trek game has been in works for at least a year or two. A company by the name of Perpetual Entertainment held the rights to the title. I followed along with a sense of mild interest. A killer space MMO would be something that would appeal to me beyond all of the Fantasy based MMOs. In fact, my favorite MMO was City of Heroes. While it eventually got boring, and it’s problems eventually about drove me insane, it was still something that could hold my attention much longer than the typical fantasy based title.

Microsoft E3 Conference Details

The Microsoft E3 conference went down today. A list of big events during the conference:

Fallout 3: Exclusive DLC for Xbox 360 (In addition to PC)

Resident Evil 5: Online Co-op is included. Friday, March 13th 2009 release date

Fable 2: Release date October 2008. Online Co-op confirmed.

Gears of War 2: Ride a Brumak, 5-player co-op streaming enemy mode online, but story-mode apparently only 2 players. Release date November 7th

Xbox Dashboard Face Lift: Completely re-designed dashboard. Mii-like avatars. 8-player party system used to play games, chat, share photos, and share netflix (!) movies. Lots of clothing and accessory options. Apparently partially designed by Rare. Release date: Fall 2008

XBL Arcade/Primetime: 1 vs. 100 (Avatars, win real prizes, blah blah), Geometry Wars 2, Galaga Legions, Portal: Still Alive (Exclusive to Xbox 360. New Challenge mode, same single player game), South Park (Nothing really shown. Just that it was a South Park game), Uno Rush, Original Banjo Kazooie, Original Star Ocean, Primetime = Game shows like 1 vs 100

Netflix: Exclusive to Xbox 360. Netflix subscribers will get the option of streaming movies to their Xbox 360 for no additional fee. May be shared with people in your Live Party (See Xbox Dashboard Face Lift). Doubles the number of Xbox Live content pieces available.

Scene-It Box Office Smash: Sequel to succesful Scene-It game for 360. This time with Online play and downloadable content to expand the game with. The way it should have been done to begin with. Uses Avatars.

You’re in the Movies: Weird Xbox Vision Camera game. Act out scenes based on the mini-game’s criteria. Ala – Swat at bugs as they appear on your screen. Then when you and your friends get through a game, it takes those recorded scenes and makes them into a cheesy B-movie that had nothing to do with your mini-games. Hillarity ensues.

Banjo Kazooie/Viva Pinata: Showed a couple trailers. Still looks nice. Viva Pinata allows you to scan cards to bring in new Pinatas via the Xbox Vision camera.

Guitar Hero World Tour: REM track pack exclusive to the 360. Eagles is exclusive to Guitar Hero. Metallica is releasing some of their new songs on GHWT and GH3.

Lips: Microsoft’s answer to Playstation’s Singstar. Looks like mostly pop/hip hop. Duffy performed live, and didn’t seem to be able to follow her own song in the game. Mics pulsate with light, and are motion sensitive for bonus points when you dance. Also, you can hook up your MP3 players to sing along to "any song in your collection".

Rock Band 2: In addition to the previously announced backwards compatible DLC for RB2, the songs from the original game’s disc will ALSO be backwards compatible. So you can copy the game’s songs to your hard drive, and play them from there. Also, the official track list is out now. And apparently there will be a 20-song pack available for download for free at the game release. Supposedly songs that wouldn’t fit on the game. 104 or so songs total. Also, AC/DC is exclusive to Rock Band.

Last Remnant: Dated for November 20th, worldwide.

Final Fantasy XIII: Coming to Xbox 360 (In America only, perhaps) on the game’s release date. This is in addition to the PS3, not instead of.

Sorry if I missed anything. A /LOT/ happened today.

Read More for live updates.

Xbox 360 Dashboard Re-launch this Fall

Microsoft announced today at their E3 conference that they will be COMPLETELY re-launching the Xbox 360 dashboard this fall. The dashboard appears to be the love child between the three current generation dashboards. Going for a more simplistic style akin to the PS3 XMB setup, mixing in an Avatar system similar to Nintendo’s Miis, and adding the typical Microsoft flare to everything. DLC clothes, a Party system that allows players to share pictures, movies, and join into games together. I’m still not sold on the new look, but this announcement has extreme beef to it. Stay tuned for some images.

*EDIT* Keep Reading for new images!

Posted in Video Game News
By Saberj

Netflix Coming to an Xbox 360 Near You

Microsoft announced that it has entered into a new agreement with Netflix. Available at some point in the future, subscribers to Netflix’s service will for no additional cost be able to stream their movies online with their Xbox 360. In addition, the 360’s new party system will allow you to get a group of friends together and share your movies and television shows with. Just imagine, getting together online, and watching a show or movie. Huge news, IMO.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Sacrifice Announced for DS

Of all the news I expected to hear surrounding E3, this wasn’t even near the list. There will be a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer videogame gracing dual screens everywhere "soon". I’ll definitely be looking forward to this. But I do have to say, even for a DS game, these graphics look like garbage. Hopefully that improves before release.

Posted in Video Game News
By Saberj

A Small Change in Plans

I’m not too sure how I over-looked this. However, I somehow got it in my head that E3 was taking place this coming weekend. As a result, the next call-in show was scheduled for this coming Monday in order to take advantage of that. However, as it turns out, E3 has a bizarre schedule this year, with the festivities beginning on Monday, and lasting through Thursday.

A majority of the week’s events will happen on Monday and Tuesday, as the biggest surprises of the convention generally happen amongst the formal stage presentations (And even then, the majority of the news will likely come from the console makers’ shows).

As such, in order to allow for a majority of the news from the show to take place before we record (You know, so we can actually discuss it), we are going to have to hold off on the E3 Discussion episode. We apoligize to anyone that would’ve been available on the original day, but will now miss the show. However, it’s just about the only way of doing it properly.

The E3 Discussion episode of GeekiNput will take place on Wednesday, July 16th at 8pm EST/5pm PST. The remaining GeekiNput shows will not be effected by this change of schedule, and will continue to record on Mondays.

We hope everyone understands and can still make it.

Rock Band 2 Shipping this September

Rock Band 2 has just been made official. Releasing in September on the Xbox 360, with the other consoles recieving the game "later this year". In addition, IGN has an excellent interview up with harmonix over at their site. Check it out. Some of my favorite bits from the article:

The most important question. Will Rock Band 1 DLC be playable in Rock Band 2?

Dan Teasdale: Yes. We’ve been developing Rock Band as a music platform from the start. All of the songs that you’ve purchased so far (and will be able to purchase in the future) are instantly playable and fully supported in Rock Band 2. We’ve even added some cool new features that let you play your DLC in different ways, which I think people will be very excited to get their hands on.

…

"Rock Band 2’s instruments will not disappoint. Like I mentioned before, our philosophy here is to innovate, then perfect. Along those lines, we’ve been able to take all of the feedback we’ve received to make quieter, more realistic, and more reliable instruments."

…

"Rock Band 2 has the strongest playlist we’ve ever assembled, and I think fans will be blown away not just at the spread, but also at the caliber of acts we’ve attracted."

…

"We’ve taken almost everything people have asked for in Rock Band and added it to Rock Band 2, as well as including some "first time ever" features."

More details will be released at E3 this year. Join us July 15th for GeekiNput’s live discussion of all the E3 events, including Rock Band 2!