Episodes

VGH #40: Big Bombs

Feb 9, 2012
8 Comments

VGH #40: Big Bombs

Epic fail! Despite the best intentions, not every video game release is a hit. On this week’s show, we’re talking about some of our favorite gaming flops. We also chime in on the Syndicate co-op demo, Soulcalibur V, Osmos HD, and the Art of Video Games.



Episode Timeline

Intro: 0:00
Viewer Mail: 2:10
Hangover: 9:20
Gaming Flops: 35:58
Last Call: 63:35
Outro: 71:00

iTunes

Please, for the love of Steve, follow the links above and post your reviews of the show on iTunes and the Zune Marketplace, or subscribe to our Youtube channel at youtube.com/vghangover! It’d be super nice of you to recommend us to your fellow game-loving friends, as well.

This Week’s Music:
Caught Red Handed and Yummy from the Mighty Switch Force soundtrack. Composed by Jake Kaufman.

Links:

Community cast as Street Fighter characters
Jammit
Mattel Football 2
Osmos
The Art of Video Games: From Pac-Man to Mass Effect
- Read about it
- Pre-order it
- See the exhibit on tour
Weekend Confirmed #96 with David Jaffe

  • http://vghangover.com/ Matt Kernan

    Just a point of clarification: though iOS versions of all four games in the ‘Humble Bundle for Android’ do exist, buying the bundle does not grant you access to any of them. I personally own all of them on iOS already and 3 of the 4 on PC/Mac too. Basically, I bought the bundle just to get Edge for Mac/PC and to support the devs/charities, of course.  Well, and because I am hoping they add more stuff to the bundle later…

  • http://vghangover.com/ Matt Kernan

    That new Kinect game is actually called ‘Double Fine Happy Action Theater’. Well, it’s really more of an interactive toy than a game, per se. As far as I can tell, there aren’t really any goals or milestones or anything… you just goof around and have fun.

    Having said that, I think the key thing to point out is that my kids, ages 5 and 10, love it. Emma even called me at work the other day because she was trying to fire it up after school and couldn’t figure out how to get the TV switched to the right input for the 360. But for me personally… I only bought it because A) I have a borrowed Kinect in my possession, B) I have kids, and C) I like to support Double Fine’s games. With the exception of the Sesame Street game, I’ve bought all the recent ones at launch because I like their work. If any of those three descriptors don’t apply to you, I’d say that you can safely skip it. You certainly shouldn’t run out and buy a Kinect just for it.

  • http://vghangover.com/ Matt Kernan

    Damnit…. I should have weasled my way onto this episode. I’ve bought/played Psychonauts, Brutal Legend, Costume Quest, Stacking, Iron Brigade (Trenched), Happy Action Theater, many of Schafer’s old school Lucasarts stuff, and the demo for Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster.

  • http://vghangover.com/ Matt Kernan

    p.s. – Brutal Legend was published by EA, after Activision dropped it.

    • http://twitter.com/randy_wrecked Randy Dickinson

      Thanks for fact-checking this episode, Matt. If only there were some way we could look up accurate information WHILE recording the show.

  • Chrism

    Hey guys, thanks for mentioning the book! Just to clarify, it covers the 80 games that made it into the exhibition, not the 240 that were put up to vote. If you want to talk about the exhibition, I’m happy to do so!

    Hit me at chrism@pastpixls.com

    Thanks!

    Chris Melissinos
    Curator, The Art of Video Games

    • Anonymous

      Hey Chris!

      We might just hit you up to talk about the book, thanks for dropping by! It is absolutely fantastic to see video game art finally get some official “cred” in the mainstream with this exhibit!

  • http://www.twitter.com/strandedbrit StrandedBrit

    Thanks for the Zack Zero code guys. I’ve only on the 2nd world/level but it’s pretty much what you guys have said in the review. Having fun with it.

    I also agree with Paul, with fighting games it definitely helps when you have a buddy. I initially was just stupidly crap at SFII back in the arcade days but a friend showed me the ropes and we both ended up benefiting by expanding our moves and proficiency.

    Big Bomb :- Wipeout Fusion. Frame rate issues (how dare they), track design issues, handeling issues. They basically tried to take it to a new level and it turned into a mess. In essence the PS2 era was deprived a good wipeout game.