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Fresh Ink Online: Secret Six, Lobo, Stumptown

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 14:43:00 -0800

Fresh Ink Online host Blair Butler gives the rundown on this week’s latest and greatest comics, including Secret Six, Age of Reptiles, Stumptown, Cinderella, Lobo: Highway to Hell, and others. Which one will take Pick of the Week? Tune in and find out.

Plus, make sure to check out Blair’s gore-tastic and hilarious animated short series Slasher School at www.g4tv.com/slasherschool. You shall not be disappointed. We promise.

Make sure to visit us on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

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The MMO Report: Thursday, November 5th

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 13:37:00 -0800

Yes, I know, you all missed Casey terribly. Well not to worry, this week he's back to bring you the news and comedy you've come to expect from the MMO Report.

This week we're discussing the one million characters that have been created in Champions Online since the game launched, the new "Future Past" trailer for Star Trek Online, and the lawsuit between Interplay and Bethesda over the rights to make a Fallout MMO. So prepare your eyeballs for awesome, press play, and enjoy.

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Sessler's Soapbox: Adam Calls Infinity Ward Out

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:09:00 -0800

This week's Soapbox gets a little serious. First, if you want to know what Adam is talking about, search YouTube for "Call of Duty Grenade Spamming" to find the original viral video that Adam will be talking about this week.

Once you've seen it, you'll understand where The Sess is coming from in this episode of Sessler's Soapbox. Adam is not a fan of the large amount of hate speech that is thrown about on Xbox Live and the PSN during multiplayer matches, and from his perspective, that video has given those activities a somewhat passive approval from Infinity Ward. This video couldn't have come at a worse time, considering Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is coming out in less than two weeks. Do you agree with Adam on this subject? Or do you believe the developer has no responsibility towards what gamers do while playing their game? And please, keep the discussions civil.

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Exclusive Left 4 Dead 2 Walkthroughs, Scavenge/Survival Mode Explained

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 09:35:00 -0800

If you thought Abbie Heppe's Left 4 Dead 2 Realism Mode Walkthrough was stellar, you'll be stoked to know she had time to do some exclusive, direct-feed walkthroughs for both the Survival and brand new Scavenge modes as well.

First, check out the fast-paced 4 vs. 4, gas can-gathering extravaganza in the Scavenge Mode walkthrough, where you'll be tasked to run like the dickens gathering can after precious can of gasoline in the fastest time possible.

Then, Ms. Heppe gives you the lowdown on laying out your best chance at a time you can brag about in the returning Survival Mode. You'll have to hit the jump to see it, though!

Who Likes to Rock the Gulp?

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 16:05:00 -0800

The great (unconfirmed) Derek “The Blizzard” Snowden came into work today flossing a plastic guitar he bought at 7-11. The whole office was obviously impressed with the bleeding-edge tech, but when Derek took a sip out of a straw protruding from his axe, a legend was born. Please enjoy Mr. Snowden’s in-depth review of 7-11’s amazing cup/guitar hybrid. Or, gup.

THE 7-11 'ROCK THE GULP' BIG GULP GUITAR CUP REVIEW

I'll admit it. I enjoy a nice fountain drink now and then. I like guitars and things shaped like guitars.

Today, I learned that I can appreciate a soda in a guitar-shaped beverage container. That's it, really.

PROS

Holds 54 oz. of your favorite beverage
Available in red or blue
Has an adjustable strap with metal buckle
The raised plastic strings have surprisingly nice action
Good conversation starter
Comes with rad stickers and a handy ice cone

CONS

Does not hold 64 oz. of your favorite beverage
Not available in black or Fender
Guitar-stand-slash-hot-dog-warmer not included
Lefty flip is surprisingly unsatisfying
‘Rockin’ the Coffee’ can be fatal
I don’t like stickers or ice

CONCLUSION

Mmm, tasty and refreshing. However, do not attempt to plug into an electrical source. Results may vary. For those of you wondering why this is on a videogame blog, here's an HTML hyperlink to our Lego Rock Band review.

AOTS Halloween Behind The Scenes Costume Change Video

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:15:00 -0700

If you missed yesterday's Attack of the Show Halloween Special, you missed Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn changing costumes more than Cher during a concert in the mid-80's. Our behind the scenes cameras were there, capturing it all, and we got to see how crazy it was backstage while they were making those changes. Our cameras were invited everywhere, including into Kevin's post-show shower, to give you a sense of what it's like during a frenetic AOTS special.

Enjoy the video below.

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Fresh Ink Online: Punisher, Wolverine, Batwoman

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:42:00 -0700

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In this banzai episode, Fresh Ink Online host Blair Butler blasts through reviews of Detective Comics: Batwoman, Days Missing, The Web, Fantastic Four, and more. But it’s a battle between two Dark Reign The Lists over Pick of the Week that’ll really have you on the edge of your seat. Will Wolverine or Punisher take the crown? Watch and find out.

Make sure to check out Blair's animated frightfest comedy Slasher School too, as it will properly prep you for Halloween scariness. And make you laugh. Enjoy.

Make sure to visit us on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

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Exclusive Mass Effect 2 Combat Footage - Assault Rifles, Shotguns, Explosions, Oh My!

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:01:00 -0700

BioWare is releasing Dragon Age: Origins next week for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, but they are also readying another epic RPG experience for release on January 26, 2010. I am talking, of course, about Mass Effect 2, the follow-up to the hugely popular RPG released almost two years ago.

While you (and we) wait for more Mass Effect 2 coverage... BioWare is currently focusing on Dragon Age: Origins, after all... hold yourself over with some beautiful exclusive combat footage featuring Shepard mowing down enemy Husks, Scions, and Abominations.

Also, catch a glimpse of what looks like achievement/medal tracking near the end of the video. I'm so glad Gears of War 2 started that trend!

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What was your favorite part or change? I love the new minimal design of this HUD, but it's unclear if it will represent the display of the final game.

The MMO Report: Thursday, October 29th

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:47:00 -0700

Whoa. What happened to Casey? He looks so...pretty.

That's because this week Morgan Webb is guest hosting while Casey is enjoying real fall weather on the east coast. Bring us back some leaves and hot apple cider. In the mean time, Morgan will tell you all about Champions Online's free weekend, show off the newest screenshots of Bizarro in DC Universe Online, and lament about the lack of beta invitations surrounding the newest Star Wars: The Old Republic timeline trailer. But I have a feeling your attention will be directed elsewhere this week.

Stop staring. It's rude.

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Exclusive Heavy Rain Interview: Quantic Dream's David Cage Featuring New Gameplay Footage

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:01:00 -0700

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Madison tries to get Paco to notice her at the Blue Lagoon, a dance club. To do so, she turns on the sexy and dances provocatively.

Attempting to sell a game with no shooting or jumping is going to be a tall order for David Cage, co-CEO of Quantic Dream and writer/director of the forthcoming Heavy Rain. In an industry ruled by modified rifles, plastic instruments, and -- increasingly -- zombies, a dark investigation into a serial killer and interpersonal relationships doesn't make for good back-of-the-box marketing material. But that seems to be a secondary concern to Cage, who is far more interested in how we feel as human beings while playing his game, beyond the instant gratification of eliminating foes...morals, instead of morters. We asked him about Heavy Rain's marketability, sexuality, and the proper balance of interaction and cinematics. (Questions by Patrick Klepek and Sterling McGarvey)

* * *

G4: What's the development team feeling as Heavy Rain quickly moves from an in-house baby to purchasable product?

David Cage: We don’t really have time to elaborate about how we feel at the moment. There is still a lot of work to be done and we try to deliver the best game we can. When you work on a game, you never see it as a purchasable product, you only see it as a mass of unperfect things full of bugs you need to fix.

Personally, I feel terrified. I only see the problems, nothing seems good enough to me to be released and I would love to spend the next ten years making every detail perfect. But there is a moment when you have to let your baby go, I guess. It is also the moment that will bring answers about what I believe in and my ability to deliver it. The kind of moments you expect with a mix of hope and fear.

G4: How do you market a game like Heavy Rain? As a video game? As a movie? As both?

DC: We are going to market Heavy Rain as a video game because this is what it is. It is definitely an experience that you play, not a nice cut-scene that you watch. Our goal is to convince players that it is possible to tell a story though game play and not through cut-scenes.

G4: Have you considered releasing a short demo via PSN of a scene such as the Norman Jayden junkyard fight, to convey what the game is to gamers who don’t follow enthusiast media?

DC: Definitely. We are currently working on a demo, which is a real challenge. Finding one scene that can convey what we are trying to achieve with Heavy Rain is something really difficult. If we show an action scene, some players will think that this is what Heavy Rain is all about, and it is the same thing if we show an exploration scene. The problem is that each scene of the game offers contextual game play, which is something very difficult to explain and convey in a single demo. Demos are often a double-edge thing: if you don’t release one, players may think that you have something to hide. We also know many good games that ended up not being massive hits because the demo could not convey the quality of the game behind it.

Because Heavy Rain is a new concept and since many gamers will want to check what it is before buying it, we will be releasing a demo. We just need to find the best scene for it.

G4: How do you decide what elements of the game are player-controlled or portrayed by a cut-scene?

DC: Each time we can find a way to make a sequence interactive, we do it. Whenever, no matter how hard we try, we don’t find a way to propose something interesting to play, we use a cut-scene if it fits.

Some scenes were designed as interactive from the start and ended up being cut-scenes, others were designed as cut scenes and ended up being interactive. The biggest internal debate we had was about dialogues. We try many different new ideas for dynamic dialogues to find ways of not sticking the player in a cut-scene just to listen to what is said. That was a very interesting part of the design work, and I think there is much more to do in this area. Heavy Rain is just the first step in discovering how to tell a story through interactivity. It is definitely full of impossible challenges, but I can’t imagine anything more exciting and fascinating to do as a gamer designer.

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A father and son struggle to get over a family tragedy as they go through the motions of their daily lives.

G4: What regions of the world seem to be providing you with the strongest feedback? Are Americans responding more enthusiastically than Europeans?

DC: The biggest surprise for us was how universal is the story we have chosen. The theme of the game "how far are you prepared to go for love" is something that is immediatly understood and that raises interest, whether you are French, American or Japanese. I often heard in the past that the U.S. was a market for shooters, Japan was a market for RPGs and Europe for everything else. I don’t think this is still true. Indigo Prophecy got the best reviews in the U.S., and there is no big difference so far between the countries regarding Heavy Rain.

The biggest difficulty we face is to dissociate ourselves from other types of mature games based on gore and gratuitous violence. Pretending to be mature in this environment always raises questions about what you exactly mean. Having a game talking about the love of a father for his son also raises questions, especially because many people wonder how a story could be played. We work in an industry where interactivity is usually defined as fighting or jumping. We hope to convince with Heavy Rain that there are many other things that can be done with interactivity that can be just as exciting.

G4: How much research went into crafting an American setting when a Parisian team is behind the project? What difficulties did you face in generating a sense of authenticity?

DC: The difficulty when you want to set your story in another country and within another culture is to avoid making a postcard of this country as you imagine it seen from where you leave. We also wanted to avoid all the clichés that are usually used about the US. So before the project started, as I was writing it, we went to Philadelphia for two weeks with some people of the team and our cameras. I chose Philadelphia pretty much per chance. I liked M. Night Shyamalan’ s movies and when I checked where he was shooting, I realized he was from Philadelphia. So we booked a plane, took our bags and traveled to the East Coast of the U.S., not having a clue of what we would discover.

We spent a tough two weeks exploring the city with a movie scout taking us to the worst places, the poorest areas, and the abandoned factories, discovering another side of America that you don’t often see in Hollywood movies. We visited the houses of people, we saw kids living in the streets, streets with garbage that no one collects anymore, houses about to collapse where people were still living, schools built across the street of a petroleum installation, etc. We saw barbed wire all over the place, railways leading to nowhere, rusted bridges, and many other things.

The places we visited and the people we met within these two weeks were the real founding moment of Heavy Rain. If I could only transcribe 1% of what I saw and what I felt when I was there in the game, it would make me very happy.

G4: You’ve cited your game as a mature, adult experience. What other games have you experienced in the past few years that you feel convey mature storytelling, even if they don’t deal with themes as dark as yours?

DC: I like the work of Fumito Ueda [ed. Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian]. I often mention him as one of the key authors in our industry. He has a world of his own. He has his themes and his way of telling stories, as well as an interesting visual universe. He has a very poetic approach that I really enjoy.

G4: You don't seem to be shying away from sex in Heavy Rain. How do you decide what's too far? Is there a line?

DC: My rule is very simple: as long as it tells something about the story or the characters, everything is allowed. The problem is when it is gratuitous, when you add more blood than is needed, or when your camera goes lower for a little bit too long without telling you anything. Then you know you crossed the red line. There are some sexy scenes in Heavy Rain, one in particular I really like because it is about being a part of the intimacy of a character. It is one of the sexiest things I have seen in a video game without being vulgar at any moment. I am curious to see how players will react to that.

G4: What do you think of other attempts to incorporate sex and sexuality into video games? Have any been successful?

DC: To be honest, I don’t think sex has been cleverly used in games very often so far. Most of the time, it is used as "teenager bonus" to laugh stupidly in front of the TV. Sex is a part of our lives (well most of us…). It is what two adults in love usually end up doing, it is a way to express feelings. I don’t think there is anything wrong if you deal with it in a non-gratuitous way and in a tasteful manner. This is what we try to achieve in Heavy Rain. If video games aim at becoming really a mature platform telling more subtle and complex things at some points, it will have to deal with feelings, sex, politics, in short, with human beings and not only with super heroes.

G4: Gaming culture seems to have devalued the power of the word “rape.” Do you feel that the sequence with Madison is designed to be jarring, because she’s on the cusp of sexual violence in that scenario? Is that deliberate, or circumstantial?

DC: This scene has been widely commented on, and I was a little bit surprised of how some people reacted to it. What I wanted to experiment with this scene was to see if it was possible to put the player in Madison’s shoes, and experiment how it feels to be a woman who is seen like a sexual object.

In this scene, the player plays with Madison’s charms to seduce someone and get information, but nothing turns out the way she planned. I wanted to know how players would react and see how far they would go if they placed themselves in Madison’s shoes. The results were really surprising. Most people playing the scene actually did their best to save Madison. They carried through with their actions because they actually felt like they were Madison and understood she was in danger.

We absolutely don’t deal with any sexual violence in this scene, and nothing shocking is shown or even suggested beyond this uncomfortable situation. However, some people really felt uneasy and humiliated with Madison in the context of the scene. This is something very interesting. It means that players really felt they "were" Madison, telling us that we can make people feel what the characters feel at this very moment.

In Heavy Rain, we try to make the player go through different emotions and to make them feel different things. What it feels like to be a woman in this situation is certainly not pleasant, but it is a part of feeling the emotions of the characters.

* * *

Heavy Rain will be available for the PlayStation 3 in early 2010.

Sessler's Soapbox: We Don't Need New Consoles (Yet)

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:10:00 -0700

Earlier this week the brilliant Dana Vinson posted a very interesting article listing 5 reasons why we don't need a new console generation anytime soon. Check out the original post right here.

Now that you've covered your required reading for the week, check out what Adam has to say on the subject in this week's Soapbox. Is a graphical upgrade really required? Do we need a whole new console in order to experience next-gen games? Watch Sessler's Soapbox and let us know what you think.

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Left 4 Dead 2 Interview Blowout Featuring Exclusive Gameplay Footage

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:01:00 -0700

Valve's Left 4 Dead redefined co-operative gameplay when it released last year and the sequel is set to re-re-define (is that possible?) the genre. X-Play's editorial manager and resident zombie-killing expert Abbie Heppe visited Valve Software to bring you interviews and exclusive gameplay footage of Left 4 Dead 2.

First up, Abbie speaks with Chet Faliszek, writer for Left 4 Dead 2, about the game's newly revealed "Realism Mode" and what it brings to the table. Practice your aim... headshots are very important in this mode.

For an extended look at Realism Mode, Abbie was kind enough to narrate some gameplay footage of her and the Valve team playing through "Hard Rain". There is a corn field and a lot of witches. It's a must-see video.

Click through for two more interviews on Left 4 Dead 2's Scavenge Mode, Survival Mode, and level design. All of these interviews include more juicy exclusive gameplay footage!

Next, Abbie previews the Scavenge Mode and Survival Mode with Valve programmer Kerry Davis. They talk about what the sequel will bring to Survival Mode as well as what to expect from the all-new Scavenge Mode, which tasks a team of players with collecting precious fuel while fighting off the zombie horde.

Finally, Abbie talks with Left 4 Dead 2's Level Designer Dario Casali to talk about the evolution of level design in the zombie shooter sequel. You'll find out how the sequel's levels will differ from what you may be used to from the original game.

Stay tuned for more great gameplay footage and more on Valve's Left 4 Dead 2!

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Interview Blowout!

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:01:00 -0700

Unless you've been living under a rock or are currently participating in a PC version boycott, Infinity Ward's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 should be furiously blipping on your assault rifle-mounted hype sensor.

Adam Sessler, lucky devil that he is, recently traveled to Infinity Ward's studios to talk with the brains behind the game. Up first, he talks with Joel Emslie, lead character artist, about the co-operative Spec-Ops mode and we've got an exclusive reveal on one of the game's missions. Hint: it involves an AC-130 gunship, laser targeting, and epic badassness.

If you want to see the raw gameplay footage of that awesome Spec-Ops mission, all you need to do is click this internet hyperlink to watch the Exclusive Modern Warfare 2 Spec-Ops AC-130 Mission Gameplay.

Be sure to click through for an interview with Todd Alderman, lead multiplayer designer, and two exclusive trailer walkthroughs where Todd gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into the AC-130 and Flag Runner trailers.

Multiplayer in the original Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare took Xbox Live and PSN by storm with its addictive gameplay, experience and unlock system, and Prestige Mode. Adam spoke with Todd Alderman, lead multiplayer designer, to talk customizable kill streaks, advanced streaming technology, and more!

Adam regrouped with Todd Alderman to rig up some exclusive walkthroughs for the two multiplayer trailers that Infinity Ward has released. Get the inside scoop into what's going on through all the chaos and find out why Infinity Ward chose to show what they did.

Keep it locked to G4tv.com for all the latest on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as we get closer and closer to the release of the game.

Exclusive Video: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's "Overwatch" Spec-Ops Mission

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:01:00 -0700

While Adam Sessler was conducting interviews at Infinity Ward for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 he, in his own Spec-Ops mission, got details on one of the game's co-op scenarios, named "Overwatch".

In it, one player is on foot, making their way through hordes of enemy soldiers. The other, high above in an AC-130 gunship rains down fiery death upon the enemies the lone solider paints with his laser-sight.

I predict many a fight over who gets to operate the AC-130... Here now, two minutes of gameplay footage from that mission.

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Assassin's Creed II Interview Blowout

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Morgan Webb recently traveled to Italy to get her hands-on with Assassin's Creed II and interview the makers of Ubisoft's new game.

First, Morgan talks with Patrice Desilets, the game's creative director, about the character of Ezio, the challenges in recreating real world cities like Florence and Venice, and how the team wants different players to experience Assassin's Creed II in their own way. Patrice also drops hints about some of the secrets that Ubisoft has included in the game.

If you haven't been following the development of Assassin's Creed II thus far, Morgan sums the sequel up nicely in her preview:

"While the first game took place during the time of the Crusades, this time it’s the Renaissance, and while there’s still no penicillin, life has certainly improved. Ezio is the son of a rich nobleman, and most of his attention is wasted on the exploits of young men with too much money and too little responsibility: booze, boobs and brawls. Everything changes one day when his family is double crossed, and he dons the assassin’s hood to get his revenge. While Altair from the first Assassin's Creed always seemed a bit of a cipher, Ezio feels like a living breathing human you relate to immediately. He doesn’t start out as an assassin, he becomes one because of the hand that life has dealt him, and you are happy to follow him on this 30-year journey."

Click through for two more video interviews with Benoit Lambert, the game's director, and Casey May, the game's writer.

Next, Morgan speaks with Benoit Lambert, the game's director, about the new combat engine, enemy types, cities, and even about how the game's story, though it takes license in inserting Ezio into events, follows historical fact.

Finally, Morgan spoke with Corey May, the writer of Assassin's Creed II. Corey is careful to avoid spoilers, but drops some details about the plot and progression of the game. The Animus of the first game is back and players will once again journey into the life of an ancestor, Ezio in this case, through Desmond Miles. Desmond might also get to do more than just walk around in ACII, but Corey is being extremely tight-lipped about those details.

Stay tuned as we rollout more interviews with Morgan Webb and the development team of Assassin's Creed II shortly.

Are you looking forward to Assassin's Creed II?

Five Reasons We Don't Want New Consoles (Yet)

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:06:00 -0700

Technology is constantly evolving. Even though the people that we know personally disappoint us on an almost daily basis, humanity as a whole has an almost infinite capacity for innovation. We sent a man to the moon. The personal computer has become a staple in the modern home. We can give our Rock Band avatars man boobs. The sky’s the limit.

But our patience, wallets and sanity have a limit too. Just because we can constantly develop new and so-called better technology doesn’t mean we should. The current generation of HD consoles is just old enough to be ubiquitous and yet, much of their potential remains untapped and that’s why we’re humbly presenting Five Reasons We Don’t Want New Consoles (Yet).

Number 5: Final Fantasy XIII Isn’t Even Out Yet

We haven't even met yet, but I love you already.

We’re still feverishly anticipating games designed for current generation HD consoles that haven’t hit store shelves yet. We don’t need the excitement of a new console to get our blood boiling. The hardware in homes now is powerful enough to deliver a rich, cinematic gameplay experience and we’re starting to see games deliver with more, like the long awaited Final Fantasy XIII, on the way.

Before we jump ahead to new consoles, we need to make sure the gameplay is there first. Processor horsepower and great graphics can only enhance a game, they can’t make it, and a game becomes a classic not because of pretty window dressing, but because it’s a fun and rewarding experience. If the emphasis is placed too heavily on technological innovation and not married with the basics of good game design, gamers are in trouble.

It’s important that developers focus on what’s important: strong story structure, gameplay mechanics and bug-free titles that stimulate our competitive and curious nature.

Number 4: Transferring Our Digital Purchases Haunts Our Future

I want to be able to keep my All-American Rejects DLC forever. DON'T JUDGE ME!

DRM…ugg. Those three little letters have become the thorn in the proverbial paw of every gamer. So much emphasis has been placed on microtransactions and downloadable content in this console generation that we end up having so much more invested in our game collections than simply hardware and discs. What everyone tends to forget is that those real American dollars are represented by bytes of data stored either on our current machines or on servers kept by companies whose only goal is to turn a profit. So why would it behoove them to make it simple for users to transfer their purchases?

Now, I hesitate to infer that console makers would purposely make it difficult for customers to keep track of their purchases from system to system. That would be a customer service nightmare; however, we’ve already experienced a bit of trouble with the Xbox 360. It’s hard for owners to recover data when their hard drives fry, why should we think Microsoft would make it easy to transfer it to a new console? If they’re smart, they will, but I don’t think we can count on that.

Granted, navigating the mostly uncharted waters of digital rights management is new for everyone, but companies need to figure it out quickly and before new consoles hit store shelves to avoid angering the masses, and to show us that they respect the fact that we invest in them and their content.

Number 3: Being a Serious Gamer is Expensive

You see a plastic guitar, we see dollar signs...and arthritis

While we’re on the topic of money, new stuff is great and all, but hot damn is gaming an expensive hobby. This is fueled in small part by our proclivity to want the latest and greatest of what the industry has to offer and, boy, do console makers feed our addiction. Even though consoles are now coming down in price, for a long time during this cycle, buying an HD console represented a giant investment for the typical person. This doesn’t include all the peripherals, above-mentioned DLC and accessories we’ve been not-so-forced to buy. Music games, sports games and the Nintendo Wii…I am looking at you.

The idea of repurchasing all that stuff for a new console is daunting and you know that’s exactly what companies expect. If you think this is an incorrect assumption, think back to the piles of extras you’ve hocked at GameStop or read Patrick Klepek’s in-depth look at why Xbox is set to ban third-party memory units. (Microsoft says the move is to curb cheating, but more realistically, it’s probably because they want you to buy their expensive, proprietary models.)

However, let’s face it, we probably will reinvest lots and lots of dollars into accessories for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720, but right now, we’re just not prepared to take the leap.

Number 2: We’re Just Starting To Enjoy What Our Consoles Are Capable Of

This movie is better than the last Indiana Jones!

Has everyone seen that awesome PS3 commercial where the hot girlfriend thinks Uncharted 2 is really a movie? First off, props to Sony for finally figuring out how to market their console after three years filled with fail. Secondly, there’s a lot of truthiness there. Not in terms of the portrayal of females necessarily (ROFL girls are stupid!!1!!1!), but Uncharted 2 is one of an elite group of games that really pushes the envelope and shows us what the hardware we already own is capable of.

Even though most developers are not tapping the potential of the consoles for whatever reason (lack of resources, cost efficiency, being bitches, etc), these are the types of robust gaming experiences we can expect in the near future. We’ve got to play through these first, before we need anything else.

Number 1: We Don’t Trust Console Makers To Deliver

“Have you tried turning it on and off again?” Have YOU tried having intercourse with your mother? Pfft.

The beginning of this console cycle has been an emotional rollercoaster filled with ups and downs. Ups because we were introduced to high definition gaming at home and downs because almost none of it worked. Consoles were pushed to market with flaws in every facet--hardware failure, worthless upgrades, price-point missteps, features that should have been included at launch coming years into cycle--forcing us to regret purchases and spend hours on the phone with unhelpful customer service reps.

We’d like to think that companies would learn from their mistakes, but before asking us to make an investment--again--you’ve got to make sure that the current generation delivers everything we’d expect it to. We’re pretty smart and, ultimately, we understand that the hardware has limitations and will eventually need to be updated, but at some point, everything’s got to work before we’ll trust you with anything new.

Talking about the next generation of consoles right now is most certainly putting the cart before the horse. Our current consoles have just yet reached the point of being functionally stable, beyond simply working, there are some things we’d like to see before we move on. Now that you actually have (supposed) 1:1 controls, how about more games that support Wii MotionPlus, Nintendo? (I won’t even mention the topic of HD, something that should have been considered before the Wii’s arrival.) How about not releasing a system update every week, or at least making it worth the downtime, Sony?

And Microsoft, I’m not even going to look at you. You know what you did.

Dana Vinson is the X-Play Interactive Producer. Follow her occasional tweets on Twitter.

Fresh Ink Online: Resurrection, Underground, FVZA

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:54:00 -0700

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On this week’s Fresh Ink Online, host Blair Butler barrels through a slew of comics, including The Brave and the Bold, Dark Reign: The Invincible Iron Man, and Resurrection. Plus she investigates newer floppies such as FVZA, Underground and The Eternal Conflicts of the Cosmic Warrior. Yes, it’s the newbies versus the vets, so tune in or get left in the dust!

Make sure to tune into Blair’s new animated short Slasher School on Attack of the Show all next week, starting on Monday. You will not be disappointed… and you might even get a little bloody! Yikes!

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The MMO Report: Thursday, October 22nd

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:35:00 -0700

Ah, The MMO Report. Always there for you on a Thursday to brighten up your week before you're able to embrace the weekend. This week Casey's dropping knowledge on you about the planet of Balmorra in Star Wars: The Old Republic, how Cryptic is setting up the universe for Star Trek Online, and shows you the newest trailer for the Lord of the Rings Online expansion, Siege of Mirkwood. So enjoy your moment of clarity before you begin your Friday.

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Sessler's Soapbox: Grinding is Good

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:26:00 -0700

Borderlands came out this week, and as you can probably tell from the reviews, the RPG element to this FPS is a big reason why people are enjoying the game so much. While playing the game, Adam recognized how much he was enjoying the simple yet masterfully crafted gameplay, leading him to the conclusion that grinding can be very satisfying if done right. Such is the subject of this week's Soapbox. Do you like grinding away with your character in a game for a satisfying final outcome? Or are you more of the type that looks for instant gratification from a video game? Watch this week's Sessler's Soapbox and let us know what you think in the comments section.

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Brutal Legend Eddie Riggs Statue Sweepstakes!

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:41:00 -0700

How better to celebrate the majesty of rock than with some actual rock?

It's our Brutal Legend Sweepstakes, and we're giving away 10 Limited Edition Brutal Legend Eddie Riggs statues for you axe-wielding aficionados of the game.

Ten random entries will receive these lovely mementos, each valued at $149.00, starting today, October 21st, at 3:00PM PT and ending next Tuesday, October 27th, at 11:59PM PT.

You don't have to be a registered user at G4tv.com to play, so just enter the contest, and good luck.

For contest rules and information, please click here.