TCPS 23: Microsoft E3 2013 Wrap Up

Here is epidose 23! It's back the podcast is back! And we're kicking off with E3 and the Press Conference from Microsoft. Did they go a good job? Did they miss the mark? What about the Xbox One? We talk about all that and more!

  

TCPS 22: E3 Microsoft Wrap-Up

We had a few minutes to spare between the Microsoft Conference and the EA conference, so we decided to do a short podcast summarizing what was announced. We'll later go into detail about what was announced, about what it means, and what we think about it. But until then, we didn't want to leave you all hanging!

This Week In E3

If you know anything about gaming, then you know that this week is Gaming's biggest time to shine. The World Series of Gaming. It's the Electronics Entertainment Expo! And once again we're going to be covering it, this time in blog post and podcast form. We'll do what we did last year, break up the podcasts, this time the Big 3 (Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo) into one, and Ea and Ubisoft into another. Or something like that. It will of course all depend on what kind of news we get. If you've listened to our previous podcasts then you know what we're hoping for something big, but our hopes aren't big. At least they weren't, until earlier today.

Despite other announcements of games, and trailers and gameplay from others, Nintendo wanted to get a head start. How? By talking about the Wii U of course! Some people might thing that this is a bad move, that they should have saved all information for their press Conference on Tuesday. People like me. But after watching the short (only about half an hour) special broadcast, it wasn't a bad move on their part. We were treated Nintendo President Satoru Iwata talking to us about what we can expect from the Wii U, what makes it different than the Wii, improves on fromt he Wii, and why it's going to be the system to beat. The controller has been update; it's been made bigger, joysticks have replaced the thumb pads, and the form has been designed for comfort with long hours of gaming in mind. They even announced the Wii U Pro Controller, looking much like a 360 controller. The only difference between the two Wii U controllers is that the Pro is meant for, well,w hat it's named after, Pros. No screen will be in this controller. I can only imagine that you won't be able to use this controller for every game, as I can see Nintendo, and other third party designers, utilizing the screen for game purposes and you'll probably be required to use the screen.

Although there wasn't much that was announced that we didn't already now, or assume, from last years E3, there was a video that showed what the Wii U, and it's controller, would be able to do. Including what looked like it's own social network, complete with video chat. Nintendo has found a way to include the Mii's in a very interactive way, much better than before and just using your Mii to show off to your friends when they come over to your house. Not so possible when your friends live half way around the world. They're calling it the Miiverse, and it'll include interactivity between the Wii U, and the 3DS, and other systems. It also looked like there might be an mobile app coming to a smart phone near you, so that you can interact with the Nintendo community.

These are things that will all be covered again this Tuesday, I'm sure, at the Nintendo Press Conference. Let's see how Sony and Microsoft take this news. E3 kicks off tomorrow with the first big press conference from Microsoft starting at 12:30pm EST (9:30am PDT), EA at 4pm EST (1pm PDT), Ubisoft at 6pm EST (3pm PDT), and Sony at 9pm EST (6pms PST). Then Nintendo will step up on Tuesday at 12pm EST (9am PST) to show off their goods. Here's hoping for some kind of LoZ fan service. Expect tweets from us (@TCPSpodcast) and wrap up posts after each press conference summing everything up, and podcasts to go up after the big conferences are over. We won't leave you hanging.

TCPS 21: Pre-E3 Ramblings

Like usual, we're on top of things, and took the time to sit down and talk about E3. What we got from last year, what we were promised, and what we'd like, and what we Need to see this year. Enjoy. We actually got a little serious. Until the end.

TCPS 20: We're Not Dead

No, we're not dead, we're back! And we somehow manage to cover short reviews of the games that have come out since January of 2012 up until just this week! And then there's some nonsense, but then we actually have some meaningful conversations about Sony and Nintendo and some Microsoft. Yes, we talk a little bit about Mass effect 3. Listen in!

 

Time for Another Update

So, we're nearing the end of February, and things have been quiet around here, so that obviously means it's time for another update. Real life comes in at some of the most inconvenient times. Luckily though, no real important games came out, like The Darkness II, or Kingdom of Amalur Reckoning. Nothing like that. In lieu of updating with podcasts or blog posts, our YouTube page has been active with LP's, so you should check us out, (subscribe and stuff like that.) Worry not dear readers! We're coming back in March, with more video podcasts, and audio ones, too.

What's also coming out in March (hopefully)? The new Minecraft adventure map from NoxCrew! Paladin's Quest EP2, the sequel to the original Paladin's Quest. I (Megan) may or may not have some involvement with this map. You'll have to stay tuned won't you? Check them out on YT at NoxCrewPressents.

Soul Fantasy 52?

Christmas has come and gone, the 2011 game year is over and now we enter 2012. We're also entering one of the slowest release time of the year, but this week the video game industry dropped two games on us. Soul Calibur V and Final Fantasy XIII-2.

For Soul Calibur fans this gave new characters, and the incredibly nimble, and lady-stealing, assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze, continuing in that tradition of guest characters. Most people aren't going to buy this game for the story, (the incredibly short story mode), but they will buy it for the new Critical edge system with which to beat their opponents with. I played through the story mode in about an hour, maybe more after getting trolled by the CPU. The story mode wasn't the first thing that I messed with though, I spent the first forty-five minutes of Soul Calibur V in the new character creation mode. You can change up the original character's clothing, skin color, hair, and give them tattoos, or make your own character using the 'soul', or fighting style, of one of the original characters of the game. I made two characters, one using the soul of newcomer Viola, and another using the soul of veteran Cervantes, and she is my favorite right now, (my character, not Cervantes, for he is a grumpy, used to be dead, pirate man, not a woman.) For those who will miss Sophitia don't worry, her weapons and fighting style live on through her two children, Patroklos, and Pyrrah, the main characters of the story line. I'll let you figure out what happens on your own though, and after you finish the story, go online and beat up some people. Online only please. It's a decent game well enough, coming from someone who rarely plays fighters.

Beyond all odds, Final Fantasy XIII-2 is going to be the bigger seller though, and we all know that's because it's got the words Fantasy and Final attached, and not in that order. Now, you can't lie to me, the first time you heard them announce this game with a 2 attached tot he end your thoughts went directly to FFX-2. You can't deny it. And we all hoped that it wasn't going to be like that game, we really did, but we also hoped that everything that was complained about in 13 would have changed a little. Good news, and maybe bad news? It's better than Final Fantasy X-2 (from first glances), but not everything was changed from Final Fantasy XIII. The Auto Battle feature is still there. Granted I'm not that far into it, (you can watch my progress on our YouTube channel, or clicking here CLICK), but I'm enjoying it. I enjoy the FF games, and I've only actually beaten two of them in my gaming career. I am intrigued by the story of this particular Fantasy of the 13th variety. How many time have you been asked "If it's Final Fantasy, how can there be thirteen of them?" I always reply, "There's more than that."

These two games will have to keep us satisfied, and occupied, for at least a little bit. That is until the 22nd of February when Sony releases their PSVita, and the half dozen games that will come out a week BEFORE the actual system does. Don't worry, we'll cover the Vita more later on. Something to think about though before then, do you know what Vita means? And I mean know what it means before you google it. Ten TCPS points if you knew!

TCPS and The Internet

Specifically YouTube. You can listen and watch the podcasts on YouTube now! (Well, as soon as YouTube uploads and renders. If you've ever uploaded a video you feel the pain.) That's right, no need to download them from iTunes or Zune, or however you do it! Just wait for it to load in YouTube. Let it play int he background if it's an audio one. My point is you can get us on YouTube now, along with some more original videos that will showing up later this month, and more after the new year (when we aren't so busy working our retail setting jobs.)

Go ahead, click on the picture to take you to our youtube page. We do have some other videos there too. Let us know what you'd like to see. Click it. You know you want to.

TCPS 19: Jesse Cox in your ears!

We had the immeasurable pleasure of having Jesse Cox (voice actor and of Youtubes OMFGcata) on the podcast and this is what resulted. A talk about Games of the year, Final Fantasy, SWTOR, Dragon Age, Guild Wars 2, and some anticipations for 2012. Megan got to fangirl out, and she is a Very happy girl now.

   

Megara's Zelda Event

Megan's most anticipated game of the year is coming out on Sunday, the 20th of November; The Legend of Zelda: The Skyward Sword. So in preparation, and homage, she's going to play some Legend of Zelda Games for all you, and livestream it on Twitch TV! And record it for later. She'll be playing Ocarina of Time, a kind of speed run, Twilight Princess, and some Wind Waker! She'll be starting tonight, Friday, around 11pm EST (8pm PST, 4am GMT) and throughout the day on Saturday. Sunday she'll be playing Skyward Sword in the afternoon (American East Coast afternoon) and livestreaming it for the podcast. You'll be able to catch all of this later int he archives as podcasts and YouTube videos. (And yeah, she got the special edition with wii mote and CD. She'll be squeeing all day.)

Another TCPS Special

We are going to live stream a first impressions! Today! Yes tonight, the 14th of November, (for real this time.) We're going to live stream gameplay and FI of Ultimate Marvel VS Capcom 3! (Obtained through legal means of course,) with a live Q & A! Catch all the action Here (@ http://www.twitch.tv/tcpspodcast) tonight starting roughly around 2:30 pm EST (11:30 am PST and 7:30 pm GMT). It's gonna be great!

A TCPS Special!

We are going to live stream a first impressions! Tonight! Yes tonight, the 12th of November. We're going to live stream gameplay and FI of Ultimate Marvel VS Capcom 3! (Obtained through legal means of course.) Catch all the action Here (@ http://www.twitch.tv/tcpspodcast) tonight starting roughly around 11:30 pm EST (8:30 pm PST and 4:30 am GMT). It's gonna be great!

TCPS 18: Retrogame Challenge! Part 1

So Megan was sick, and Antonio said "Let's play this game!" And Megan was like: *coughhackdie* "Okay!" *voicecrack* And they did. This is part one of that not so smart move.

Extra Life for the kids!

Starting tomorrow, October 15th at 9am EST (6am PST, 2pm GMT) Megan and Tony will be playing video games for 24 hours! Why? To raise money for the Children's Miracle Network. They'll be streaming almost all of it, and taking turns when they aren't playing together. All donations are IRS tax deductible (at least in the US), and you get to see two people who love to play games make it through 24 hours, if they can! What could be more fun than watching them start to crash? Makes things more interesting.

If you want to donate they have a team page on the Extra Life site. Here it is: To Continue Press Start. Now what kind of games can you expect to see them play? Okamiden, The World Ends With You, Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Legend of Zelda (various ones), Retro Game Challenge, Chrono Trigger, the Jak and Daxter series, Ninja Gaiden series, Catherine, Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Many many more! Megan and Tony will go head to head in Super Smash Bros Brawl.

You can check out the Official TCPS Ustream here: TCPS/Megara Stream
Megan will be streaming here also.
Check out Antonio's stream here: TCPS/Antonio Stream

What could be more fun than playing games for 24 hours? Very few things, my friends.

TCPS 17: Randomness of Random

Recorded back in May, this podcast makes its way into the light of the internet. This is all random, literally. You'll See. Maybe too random.

 

TCPS 16: Deus Ex: Podcast Revolution

We are in fact alive, and we're back to making no sense. Antonio gives his first impression of playing Deus Ex while Megan gives her first impression of watching Deus Ex.

TCPS 15: E3 Special - Nintendo

We watched the press conferences, we took notes, and now we talk about it. We cover Nintendo and what they announced, how the brought their game, and how excited we are about it!

TCPS 14: E3 Special - EA & Ubisoft

We watched the press conferences, we took notes, and now we talk about it. We cover both EA and Ubisoft in this special podcast, talking about what they announced, and how we feel about it.

Apologies and Nostalgia

*Dusts off controller*

*Presses start*

Hello. My Name is Strife. Remember me?

No. Didn't think so.

The truth is that I've been busy. Hella busy. Real life has actually stopped me from doing my duties as a TCPS co-host and blogger and for that, I am indeed sorry. Honestly, I thought about stepping down as TCPS co-host because it seems like I couldn't really keep up with the times. Then I sat myself down and decided that I really REALLY wanted to do this. I really wanted to give you guys (all 3 of you) a moment of insanity that is only Megan and Antonio. So, I'm here. And I vow with all of my heart pieces to keep updating this blog until I can't any longer. Updates may be far and inbetween, but I'll get it done.

With that being said, I'm going to tell you why the Nintendo 3DS is the best nostalgia tool ever.

When the Nintendo3DS was announced, I had no idea of what the hell Nintendo was thinking. It sounded cool, but I brushed it off as another DS. Man, was I proven wrong. It turned out to be one of my favorite handhelds, hands down. Not only was it powerful, it touted amazing 3D graphics AND a fantastic lineup of games. While the launch titles weren't as great, the system itself still touted amazing games to play even if you didn't buy a 3D game. The system is that awesome.

We here at TCPS operate on steam-powered Nostalgia. Our video blogs are pretty much old school games being played and compared to new school. Nintendo sees our nostalgia and gives it to us on a 16-bit platter. We got a 3D ocarina of time. We got Excitebike. We're getting Starfox. We're getting Shinobi. And It doesn't stop there. Nintendo also gave us new things like Street Fighter, Dead or Alive, Resident Evil and Splinter Cell. A good bit of us are clamoring that new games are nothing like they used to be. Getting a 3DS is the answer to that. And if you're one of the people saying "Oh Noez, I hate re-releases of old games" but can't wait for the inevitable Final Fantasy 7 remake, then I'm thinking that you should re-analyze your gaming viewpoint. Also, laugh tremendously if it gets a re-release on 3ds.

Continue?

TCPS 13: E3 Special - Sony

We watched the press conferences, we took notes, and now we talk about it. We cover Sony in this special podcast, talking about what they announced, and how we feel about it.