http://www.gameinformer.com/b/podcasts/atom.aspxCommunity Server2011-11-17T19:00:00Z/b/podcasts/archive/2012/02/09/game-informer-show-99-kingdoms-of-amalur-dice-report.aspx2012-02-10T00:46:00Z2012-02-10T00:46:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/ep99/gi_show_610-99.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>This week&#39;s podcast got a little hairy due to technical difficulties and me being out for part of the day with a family matter, but we got it done. First up, Phil Kollar and Adam Biessener save the day with a long, wide-ranging discussion about 38 Studio&#39;s much-discussed open-world RPG Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Does this new franchise have what it takes to compete with the likes of Skyrim? As it turns out, the answer to that question is a bit more complicated than &quot;Yes&quot; or &quot;No.&quot; After that, I return to my post as host to talk to Andy Reiner, who&#39;s at the annual DICE Convention in Las Vegas. He checks in via phone to tell us about the year&#39;s most exclusive event in gaming.</p> <p><b>NOTE: </b>I know this is a shorter podcast and only one segment. It was, as they say, an &quot;interesting&quot; day. We had some technical problems that scuttled a couple of call-in interviews we had scheduled, and I was called out of the office until around six on some family business...so HUGE THANKS to Phil Kollar and Adam Biessener for stepping up and saving the podcast this week. Sorry it&#39;s late/short/missing bumper music/etc.</p> <p>For more on Kingdoms of Amalur, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/kingdoms_of_amalur_reckoning/b/xbox360/archive/2012/02/07/reckoning-review-revolt-against-fate-remain-bound-by-convention.aspx">Phil&#39;s review</a>.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1689284" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2012/02/02/xcomspecialeditionpodcast.aspx2012-02-03T02:02:00Z2012-02-03T02:02:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/xcom/special%20edition_610-xcom.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>Lead designer Jake Solomon and producer Garth DeAngelis from Firaxis join Adam Biessener and Ben Reeves to answer the GI community&#39;s questions about their upcoming strategy game.<br /><br />Your questions about everything from the smaller squad size in Firaxis&#39; remake to the shape of the difficulty curve and the importance of flat-top haircuts are addressed straight from the horse&#39;s mouth in the podcast below. Enjoy!</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1674511" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2012/02/02/game-informer-show-98-final-fantasy-xiii-2-soulcalibur-v.aspx2012-02-03T01:00:00Z2012-02-03T01:00:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/ep98/gi_show_610-98.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>The GI show is back, with discussion on two of the year&#39;s first big releases. First up is Final Fantasy XIII-2, the controversial followup to the already controversial Final Fantasy XIII. Host Matt Helgeson is joined by lifelong FF fantatics Phil Kollar, Joe Juba, and Andy Reiner. Joe and Phil have played the game extensively, while Reiner, feeling as though Final Fantasy has lost its allure, hasn&#39;t played it at all. This mix leads to some interesting discussion about the game&#39;s strengths and considerable weaknesses, as well as speculation about what Square Enix should do to right the ship. In the second segment, Matt is joined by Dan Ryckert and -- for the first time -- GI video editor Jason Oestreicher. Both are huge Soulcalibur fans and have a lot to say about the excellent new sequel in the series.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p> <h3 class="user-name"><br /></h3><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1674185" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2012/01/26/game-informer-show-97-reader-mailbag-ii-the-answering.aspx2012-01-27T01:00:00Z2012-01-27T01:00:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/ep97/gi%20show_610%20mailbag-97.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>Due to the high volume of questions we received for our Reader Mailbag segment last week, we decided to do another Q&amp;A podcast this week. To get a wider variety of opinions, host Matt Helgeson rounded up a different batch of GI editors: Bryan Vore, Jeff Marchiafava, and best pals Joe Juba and Dan Ryckert (who actually don&#39;t bicker too much). Our listeners ask a lot thought-provoking question, which led to some interesting discussion.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1656847" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2012/01/19/game-informer-show-96-reader-mailbag-pt-1.aspx2012-01-20T01:00:00Z2012-01-20T01:00:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/ep96/gi%20show_610%20mailbag-96.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>At long last, our popular Reader Mailbag podcast returns. We haven&#39;t done one in a while, and we had so many questions submitted that we&#39;re going to do another one next week to get to as many as we can. This week, host Matt Helgeson is joined by Kyle Hilliard, Tim Turi, Ben Reeves, and Andy Reiner to answer all your questions, from the silly to the serious.</p> <p>We&#39;re doing this again next week, so if you have a question you can submit one in the comments section of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/01/17/reader-mailbag-returns-submit-your-questions-for-gi-here.aspx">this story</a>.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1639405" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2012/01/12/game-informer-show-95-richard-garriott-on-his-space-mission-ces-report.aspx2012-01-13T01:00:00Z2012-01-13T01:00:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/ep95/gi_show_610-95.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>This week, we decided to do something a little different on the Game Informer Show. In the first segment, host Matt Helgeson is joined by famed Ultima creator Richard Garriott, who is generally considered the father of the modern MMO, who tells us about his trip to the International Space Station. His journey into space is documented in a new film entitled <a target="_blank" href="http://firstrunfeatures.com/manonamission/"><i>Man on a Mission</i></a>, which hits theaters and pay-per-view tomorrow. He&#39;s one of only seven private citizens to go into space, and he spent $30 million of his own money to do it. It&#39;s quite a tale. We also get a little glimpse into what&#39;s next for Garriott as a game designer -- and it&#39;s not what you expect. In the second segment, GI&#39;s Matt Bertz calls in from Las Vegas, where he&#39;s covering the annual Consumer Electronics Show. He&#39;s got the dope on all the latest HDTVs, gaming peripherals, tablets, and laptops -- and some new development with Kinect.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1620183" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2012/01/05/game-informer-show-94-games-of-2012-ps-vita-hands-on-impressions.aspx2012-01-06T01:00:00Z2012-01-06T01:00:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/ep95/gi_show_610-94.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>With 2011 in the books as one of the greatest years in the history of video games, the Game Informer crew starts looking forward to 2012. In segment one, host Matt Helgeson, Matthew Kato, Adam Biessener, Jeff Cork, and Phil Kollar break down some of the game&#39;s we&#39;re looking forward to -- from future blockbusters like BioShock Infinite and Halo 4 to more under-the-radar gems like Asura&#39;s Wrath and Hitman: Absolution. By the end, we&#39;ve decided that 2012 has a high upside, but the potential for some big disappointments as well. In the second segment, Matt is joined by Kyle Hilliard and Andy Reiner, who wax enthusiastic about the PlayStation Vita. All three have spent some serious time with the unit, and have a lot of opinions about its technology, functionality, and software.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1603772" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2012/01/04/respec-radio-ep-27-the-old-republic-so-far.aspx2012-01-05T02:05:00Z2012-01-05T02:05:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/media/audio/wow/ep27/Respec-Radio27-610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>We&#39;re back from break, and would you believe we wasted most of our holiday time off playing the freshly-launched Star Wars: The Old Republic? Of course we did.</p> <p>Adam Biessener, Andy McNamara, and Andrew Reiner join me on this episode of Respec Radio to discuss the first few week&#39;s of BioWare&#39;s massive new game. We go over the combat highs, the buggy lows, what we think of the class storylines so far, and even our progress on romancing our companions -- or, well, mine at least.</p> <p>Listen to the episode below, and then go back and catch previous episodes of Respec Radio on <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/p/respec_radio.aspx">our hub page</a>. You can also guarantee that you don&#39;t miss an episode by subscribing to the show on iTiunes or via <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/mainfeed.aspx?Tags=wowshow">our RSS feed</a>.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1602079" width="1" height="1">GIPhilhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIPhil/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2011/12/20/game-informer-show-94-star-wars-the-old-republic-holiday-break-games.aspx2011-12-21T00:28:00Z2011-12-21T00:28:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/starwarsspecial/special%20edition_610-swtor.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>The Game Informer Podcast comes early this week, with a special edition focused on BioWare&#39;s epic MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic. This game is off to a blockbuster start, but does it have the legs to contend with Blizzard&#39;s World of Warcraft? We assembled a group of GI editors that run the gamut of Star Wars and MMO experience to examine this game&#39;s considerable strengths and ponder some of the questions about its ongoing development. Host Matt Helgeson is joined by Adam Biessener, Matt Miller, Andy McNamara, and Andy Reiner, who sing the praises of The Old Republic&#39;s solo-friendly, story-heavy MMO action. For Star Wars fans, this is the most significant video game release in the franchise in years. For MMO fans, it&#39;s a refreshing break from the norm. Whatever your tastes, it&#39;s a game that&#39;s well worth talking about.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1563050" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2011/12/15/game-informer-show-83-spike-vga-awards-amp-trailers-reaction.aspx2011-12-16T01:00:00Z2011-12-16T01:00:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/ep93/gi_show_610-93.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>Love &#39;em or hate &#39;em, the Spike TV Video Game Awards have become a major event in the video game year. In this podcast, we break down this year&#39;s show, from the winners to the world-exclusive trailers that were unveiled during the broadcast. Host Matt Helgeson is joined by Kyle Hilliard, Jeff Cork, Dan Ryckert, and Tim Turi. While the quality of the show is questioned by some of the editors, the impact of many of the announcements and trailers shown cannot be questioned. From Naughty Dog&#39;s gripping The Last of Us to Konami&#39;s retooled Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, there was a lot to talk about -- so much, that this podcast is just one long segment. We talk a lot.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1553366" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2011/12/08/game-informer-show-92-miyamoto-shooter-fatigue-xbox-live-update.aspx2011-12-09T01:00:00Z2011-12-09T01:00:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/ep92/gi_show_610_92.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>This week, we decided to switch up our usual game-centered format for something different. To that end, we have a long show devoted to three discussion topics. First up, host Matt Helgeson is joined by Phil Kollar and Matthew Kato to discuss the recent reports that Nintendo icon Shigeru Miyamoto is planning to retire from his current post overseeing the company&#39;s internal game development -- a report Nintendo has since denied. We discuss the possibility that Miyamoto is considering a change in role, and what that would mean for Nintendo. In the second segment, Adam Biessener, Matt Bertz, and Tim Turi join in on a discussion about our growing fatigue with the first-person shooter genre. It&#39;s the dominant genre in gaming today, but many of the GI staff have been finding themselves more drawn towards other types of games lately, due to the often formulaic nature of many shooters. Finally, we wrap things up with Matt Miller and Bryan Vore&#39;s quick impressions of the new Xbox Live Dashboard update and the recent 3DS firmware update.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1530729" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2011/12/01/game-informer-show-91-minecraft-mario-kart-7-online-passes.aspx2011-12-02T01:00:00Z2011-12-02T01:00:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/ep91/gi%20show_610_91.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>In a free ranging Game Informer Show, we tackle Minecraft, Mario Kart 7, and the debate over online passes. In the first segment, resident Minecraft nuts Adam Biessener, Jeff Marchiafava, and Ben Hanson stop by the studio to ponder what has made this game a unique phenomenon in the world of gaming. Part LEGO, part action/RPG, and all amazing, Minecraft -- which just made it out of a long beta and got an <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/minecraft/b/pc/archive/2011/11/22/review.aspx">official review</a> from GI -- is something worth talking about. Next up is a less innovative but high quality game: Mario Kart 7. Adam Biessener and Dan Ryckert are lifelong fans of the series, and both think this is one of the strongest entries in the storied kart racing franchise. Finally, Adam and Jeff return, joined by Tim Turi, to talk about the debate surrounding online passes and additional fees to access content in used games. We have a lot of opinions -- come and get &#39;em. Hosted, as always, by Matt Helgeson.</p> <p>Related Article: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/11/29/the-terrifying-future-of-online-pass-codes.aspx">The Terrifying Future of Online Pass Codes</a></p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1506723" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2011/11/25/r6pspedition.aspx2011-11-25T17:00:00Z2011-11-25T17:00:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/rainbow6special/special%20edition_610_rb6.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>To followup our cover story for Rainbow 6 Patriots, we&#39;re pleased to present this Special Edition of the Game Informer Show. Host Matt Helgeson and cover story author Matt Bertz are joined by Patriots creative director David Sears, lead game designer Phil Therien, and multiplayer lead game designer Simon Larouche. We asked Game Informer readers to submit their question about Rainbow 6 Patriots and selected the most interesting queries to be answered by the men behind the game. Listen in, and you&#39;ll come away with an interesting perspective on the game that hopes to take the tactical shooter to a daring, more cinematic direction.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p> <p>Want to learn more about the latest Tom Clancy game? Click on our hub link below to explore our other exclusive content.</p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/p/rainbow6.aspx"><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/ubisoft/rainbowsix/patriots/cover/rainbow-6-patriots_610_ad.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></a></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1463074" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2011/11/24/game-informer-show-90-skyward-sword-mario-3d-land-rayman.aspx2011-11-25T01:00:00Z2011-11-25T01:00:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/ep90/gi%20show_610_90.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>This week we catch up on the year&#39;s two big Nintendo releases, plus talk Rayman. In the first segment, host Matt Helgeson is joined by Phil Kollar, Bryan Vore, and GI Show rarity editor-in-chief Andy McNamara, who comes down from his mountain stronghold to talk about one of the year&#39;s greatest games. The segment gets a bit heated, as Andy vents his spleen about some of the game&#39;s flaws, while Phil and Bryan take a more positive approach. However, all agree that this is one of the best Zelda games ever made. In segment two, Bryan returns, along with Tim Turi and Kyle Hilliard to talk about Super Mario 3D Land, the game that could make or break the 3DS this holiday season. If the 3DS doesn&#39;t take off, it won&#39;t be the fault of 3D Land, which is yet another masterpiece in the Mario series. Finally, reviewer Jeff Cork, Matt Miller, and super video guy Ben Hanson come by to talk about another stellar platformer, Rayman Origins. All in all, one of the most quality-packed shows we&#39;ve done this year.</p> <p>This episode features music by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.unknownprophets.com/">Unknown Prophets</a>, from their new album World Premier 2. Big Jess of Unknown Prophets is the producer/composer of our usual GI Show theme and bumper music. Please <a target="_blank" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/world-premier-2/id478532944">support his music</a>.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1476155" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx/b/podcasts/archive/2011/11/17/game-informer-show-89-assassin-39-s-revelations-saints-row-the-third-halo-anniversary.aspx2011-11-18T01:00:00Z2011-11-18T01:00:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/thegishow/ep89/gi%20show_610_89.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p> <p>It&#39;s yet another week filled with blockbusters. We kick things off with Assassin&#39;s Creed: Revelations, the last chapter in the saga of Ezio. Host Matt Helgeson welcomes reviewers Matt Miller and Joe Juba to the show, as well as Phil Kollar. The four discuss this latest epic Assassins adventure, which has some of the most breathtaking gameplay you&#39;ll experience this year -- as well as a handful of serious flaws. Next up is THQ and Volition&#39;s ludicrous Saints Row: The Third. If Saints Row 2 positioned this franchise as a nuttier alternative to GTA, the new game pretty much leaves any semblance of reality behind in favor of crazed, adolescent comedy and jaw-dropping set pieces. Reviewer Dan Ryckert and Ben Reeves stop by the studio for a frequently silly conversation about the game. Finally, Matt Miller and Kyle Hilliard are on-hand to talk Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, the new HD remake of the original Halo that&#39;s been timed with the tenth anniversary of the series.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1459307" width="1" height="1">GIMatthttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMatt/default.aspx