Nation of Gamers

Although it is one of our favorite game genres, rhythm games are in steady decline. Viacom's announcement they were divesting Harmonix has been the talk of the industry, and we're eager to delve into the subject of the future of the genre.In fact, Wes seems very concerned that game sales numbers indicate the decline of all fun. But we're quick to point out the weakness of pretty much any opinion he expresses.In the process, we'll debate where we think the industry is heading, and whether the growth of first-person shoots and sports games are a threat to the market. Lest we forget... DUCKS![display_podcast] Nog Blog: Endangered Species Help John Mazz on his volunteer trip to Ghana! Episode Graphic by Joni Godoy

You'll notice something a little different about this week's episode. Instead of rambling on and on, we're trying a more focused show. You won't hear about our weeks or what games we've played. Instead, we're jumping right to the topic. Hopefully it'll make a show a little leaner and meaner. We'd love to hear what you think; feel free to let us know what you think of the change. We're not sure it's permanent as of yet, and we'll continue to play with the format until it feels right.This week we talk about cognitive dissonance, otherwise known as stuff just not making sense. Does the show make sense? I dunno, maybe there's some cognitive dissonance at play there. Who knows? I don't. Man, it's hard to write funny copy for the new show format.Instead... MORE DUCKS!That duck was short, sweet, and to the point. Kind of like this episode![display_podcast] NoG BloG: Cognitive Dissonance

Really, what more needs to be said?[display_podcast] [GAME] Super Meat Boy [GAME] Dream Chronicles [GAME] Castlevania Lords of Shadow

This week we read a bunch of emails. That was fun! You should send more! We'll read them and it will be fun!Yeah, so there's no special fun time silly post today. I'm a little under the weather. But I don't want to leave everyone in the cold, so watch this instead![display_podcast] [ARTICLE] Duke Nukem Forever was brought back to life [HAUNTED VIDEO GAME] Majora [CONTEST] Eat Smart For Life Dailyburn.com giveaway

We are back and we're playing Need for Speed World! Joining us this week is fellow gamer, Avidya.Need For Speed World is giving away 1000 SpeedBoost to all its users in April. Use this code: EGBZ-LUPC-6GXJ-BKWS[MP3 AUDIO][SITE] Need for Speed WorldLatest Update Notes[VID] Need For Speed World - Free Multiplayer Racing Game by Avidya[VID] Need for Speed World - Team Escape (All In) from Pauleh[VID] Short Attention Span Gaming #2 by Eric Fullerton[SITE] NFSUnlimited[SITE] NFSCarsNeed For Speed on Twitter

Here it is, the first episode.A new general gaming show on the Dead Workers Party Network. Hosted by Brent Copeland, Wes Wilson, Eric Fullerton and Spencer Williams.

Nation of Gamers is off with a bang as we seek to answer the question, “What is a gamer?” Everyone seems to have their own definition, and in this episode we explore the answers; both yours and ours.The NoG Blog post: What is a gamer, anyway?Discuss this topic in the forums!Episode graphic by cronobreaker

Jim: So, there’s this new thing out there called the iPad.Jen: i-what?Jim: I know, right? This is the first I’m hearing about it, too! I hear it plays games.Jen: Really? I like games. After hearing last week’s discussion on NoG, I’ve decided I’m a gamer. Are those games any good?Jim: I don’t know! Let’s listen to the new NoG and find out!Jen: Boy howdy!This week, we tackle the newly announced iPad. Will it usher in a new era of peace and prosperity by forever putting an end to the console wars?Wes is missing this week, but Brent, Eric and Spencer are joined in the studio by Hemanena, Timesquared and Waf! Apple iPadAnrufen , an iPhone MMONext week: When Can I be a Gamer, Daddy?When Can I Be a Gamer, Daddy?

Every year, millions of video games are tragically left on store shelves by parents who think games are only for adults. These sad, abandoned titles are left to rot, forgotten by the society that scorns them. If only parents knew that gaming can be for everyone… Even children! I know it’s shocking, but many kids actually enjoy playing games! Do your part to help end the desperate plight of orphaned video games; buy one for your child today!…If, that is, you feel that would be appropriate. On this week’s show, we tackle an issue near and dear to many parents’ hearts. When is it okay to let your kids start gaming?Spencer is MIA because he’s moving, but Brent, Eric, and Wes tackle the issue with perhaps a few too many jokes about goats. Read this week’s NoG Blog postChat about it on the forums[GAME] Dawn of Discovery[GAME] Plants vs Zombies (iphone/ipod touch)A VERY disturbing TF2 video…: Spy & Pyro

It happens to everyone. One minute you’re enjoying a hardcore game of Donkey Kong Jr., and the next you’re breezing through Mass Effect 2 on the hardest difficulty. It’s not you’re fault; games are getting easier. If you’ve got a hankering for some serious difficulty in all your favorite games, have we got a product for you! It’s called Tape (TM)! Tape (TM) is simple and inexpensive. Simply apply Tape (TM) to any part of the body that you use for gaming, and the experience automatically gets harder than galvanized steel! Tape (TM) can be applied to the eyes or used to tie your hands behind your back. How 1337 can you get? Use Tape (TM) to secure yourself to your chair, and you can finally play Bioshock 2 in Iron Bladder mode! Win while using Tape (TM) to prove once and for all how hardcore you really are!All four hosts are finally back together again as we tackle our first community suggested topic. Are games getting easier? Is that a bad thing? Where and how did Brent lose his underpants? Were they boxers or briefs? Download and listen today to find out! Read this week’s NoG Blog postChat about it on the forums[GAME] Dawn of Discovery[GAME] Plants vs Zombies (iphone/ipod touch)A VERY disturbing TF2 video…: Spy & Pyro

Dear Diary,Well, it happened again. For financial reasons, I’m forced to once again choose between my two greatest needs; either I can buy Final Fantasy XIII or I can pay rent. Why does this always happen to me? Maybe it’s because I only make $200 a week fetching snacks for George Broussard, but hey, at least I’m working in the industry. Maybe I shouldn’t spend all $200 a week on games and gaming accoutrement, but come on, how am I supposed to not buy games? That $100 super collector’s version of God of War III isn’t going to buy itself, you know! I have to buy it. WITH REAL MONEY. I guess I’ll go sell plasma again. That’s got to be worth at least the cost of a strategy guide! I’d try prostitution, but that didn’t work out so well last time. Oh, that reminds me, I TOTALLY got Trisha’s number! Now I just have to buy a phone and then I can call her!Eric is mysteriously absent this week. Perhaps he was abducted by dingos? I hear that’s happening a lot these days. At any rate, the other three “hosts” yak it up about the cost of gaming. Did you know that Spencer spent approximately 6.2 million dollars on games last year? Factory sealed Stadium Events selling for thousands!Valve report on Steam salesHow much it costs to make a modern video gameLooking at the real cost of your game

It’s a fact: Ninja Blade is the finest game to grace the Xbox 360. In fact, it’s the second best console game ever. The first best was of course The Fist of the North Star on the NES. That game was amazing, exhibiting game play of such sublime quality that it will likely never be matched. But anyway, back to Ninja Blade. Do you like ninjas? What about blades? This game has them both, and tons of quick time events to boot! It’s like playing pure awesome with a side order of phenomenal. And the story? People who say gaming hasn’t had its Citizen Kane need to shut the crap up, because this game makes Citizen Cane look like The Godfather Part II. I give Ninja Blade a 17 out of 10, and that’s only because if it went any higher it would rank better than The Fist of the North Star.Join Brent, Wes, Eric and Spencer as they explore…. Are they really just games? Do they mean something more to us? Are they good or bad? Other questions as well! My Guardian AngelDear Gamers, Stop Blaming Videogames For Your Problems…[SONG] Autotune the NoG #1 by Ash Williams[GAME] Ninja Blade[GAME] Heavy Rain[GAME] AllodsGame Salad (game creator)Vote for Spike’s Shirt Design! BROC LEE!

By opening this bag of NoGgits NoG Brand Corn Chips, you agree to the terms and conditions of the EULA. All NoGgits are protected by state of the art Digital Rights Management even though the chips are a physical product. The bag must be connected to the Internet at all times while the chips are being consumed so that you may enjoy entertaining NoGgits infomercials. In addition, a series of unique product ID codes are printed inside every bag. Before eating a chip, first input the chip’s ID code. Failure to do so is a violation of the EULA and may result in less than satisfactory flavor. Sharing NoGgits is specifically prohibited by the EULA; tell your friends to buy their own bags. Uploading NoGgits to the Internet is also strictly prohibited, in addition to impossible due to our amazing NoGgits Cloud Service, to which you must be connected at all times while enjoying NoGgits. Disconnection from the NoGgits Cloud Service will interrupt munching and may cause stomach cancer. Rumors that NoGgits have already been cracked and are available on pirate torrent trackers are completely false. Enjoy your NoGgits!The four hosts just won’t shut the crap up! Is there a perfect DRM? Does it involve prairie dogs? Find out on this week’s exciting episode of NoG! NoG Blog: The Perfect DRM?Ubisoft’s new DRMTickTechBoom’s Youtube channel[GAME] Robot Unicorn Attack[GAME] GeoDefense Swarm[GAME] Warstorm[GAME] BlurEpisode graphic by defectivebydesign.org

Look baby, you knew what you were getting into when we started this thing. I’m a plumber. That means I travel through pipes to a magical mushroom kingdom where I fight a race of evil anthropomorphic turtles. It’s long hours and low pay. Sure, I pick up coins all the time, but they’re only legal tender in the mushroom kingdom and they’re only redeemable for green mushrooms. What the hell do you expect from me? It’s hard work, but do you seem to care? No! Over there, they treat me like a hero. A hero! And I come home after a long day on the damn desert level, still shaking sand out of my frickin’ overalls, and all you can do is complain about how I’m never home, how I don’t spend enough time with you and the kids, how we can’t afford to pay the gas bill. I saved you from a gorilla! A GORILLA! The least you could do is give me a little shred of RESPECT!Speaking of respect do you think games get enough? That’s the question with which the four hosts grapple this episode, although the discussion morphs into something else part of the way through. Guest starring in this episode is a sound effects board that is not at all annoying and doesn’t get old fast at all. NoG Blog: The Respect that Games DeserveListen for details on how to win a StarCraft2 beta key. It’s a contest, and it’s really easy![SONG] Autotune the NoG #2 by Ash Williams[VIDEO] Video Games and Facing Controversy[GAME] Edmund (not-fun game about rape, consider yourself warned)[GAME] The Path (pc/mac)[GAME] God of War III (ps3)[GAME] Chalkboard Stunts (ipod/iphone)[GAME] Tower Madness (ipod/iphone)[GAME] Chop Chop Ninja (ipod/iphone)Episode graphic by Robotpencil

“Max, are you awake?”“Eh?”“I said, MAX, ARE YOU AWAKE?”“Oh fer cryin’ out loud woman, I’m old and hard a’ hearing, but I ain’t deaf!”“Do you remember when we were twenty-five…”“I can’t even remember what I had fer breakfast this morning.”“You had cyber-oats.”“Ding dang ol’ cyber-oats. Whatsamatter with oatmeal? Kids these days too good for oatmeal?”“You remember when we were twenty-five, there was this game we used to play. What was it called?”“Eh, you gotta give me more than that, Helen.”“You know, you were a little guy, and you ran around…”“Oh yeah… what was that called again?”“There were bad guys, and you killed them.”“I remember the one. You had a sword…”“More than one, dear.”“Yeah, but there was this one… I think the game was named after it. Why do you want to know, anyway?”“Well, it’s our ninety-third wedding anniversary this Thursday, and I thought we might play it again, for old time’s sake.”“I never liked that game.”“I know, but what was it called?”This week, Brent, Wes, Eric and Spencer Explore some of little games in life. At least, that’s what they try to do, before the ravages of old age catch up with them and wipe their memories clean. What happens when gamers get old? If they forget the Konami code, do they run out of infinite lives? Listen in for a lot of GREAT game suggestions from the Nation! NoG Blog: The Little GamesCrayola Art Contest – Listen to the episode to hear who won the StarCraft Beta Key. Here are the submissions: Crescendo1897 – Frank Lang – Boomrocker – TheKing[GAME] Press X to Jason (web)[GAME] Upgrade Complete (web)[GAME] Words with Friends (iphone/ipod)[GAME] RUSE Public Beta (pc)[GAME] Blur (xbox360)[SONG] D&D by Stephen Lynch, Performed by Tell BaileyEpisode graphic by Boomrocker (drawn with REAL Crayola crayons!)

I woke in the morningTo a glorious joy,Let’s celebrate all!It’s April Fool’s, oh boy!I paced and I frettedI hummed and I hawed,Without a good prankThey’d all know me a fraud.And then with a startI knew that I had it,The finest tomfooleryThat would prove my wit!I bounded to my computerNot a second to spare!I loaded up PhotoshopAnd began to prepare.Here a transform,There a new layer,“This should be great!”I exclaimed with a prayer.At last it was finished,A gag I could not surpass.An L-block from TetrisRiding behind an ass.Why is it funny?I don’t claim to know.Just wait ’til next year…That’ll be a show.Brent’s not here this week, and that’s no joke. Seriously, stop laughing, it’s not funny! I’m not kidding around! If you keep giggling, I’m going to stop writing this post! Okay, that’s better. Even without Brent, the other three hosts soldier on to talk about April Fool’s Day and gaming with a special guest host; Nivekeryas! Now if only they could stop talking about Eric’s new iPad…

We here at NoG are excited to announce our new premiere community service, Dead Workers Premium. This exciting new service will allow you to get involved with NoG like never before! Get access to exclusive show notes and hear podcasts like you’ve never heard them before!“Now hold on,” I hear you say, “I love Eric, Brent, Spencer, and Wes, but how much is this going to cost me?” I’m glad you asked! Downloading the show will remain free, as always, and you’re free to listen to the first ten minutes on our dime. That’s right! We’re so confident about the quality of our product that we’re willing to pay for you to listen! After the first ten minutes it’s just ninety-nine cents a minute to continue! Not happy with the show? We’re sorry to see you go, but you’re free to cancel at any time.*This week, take advantage of our special introductory offer and get Episode 12 of NoG absolutely free! Wes isn’t here, so we decided to cut everyone a break. The other three hosts reminisce about micropayments and DLC. Is it good? Bad? Ugly? I sure hope it’s good, because we’ve got a distribution line to support from here on out.*You cannot actually cancel at any time. By downloading NoG, you agree to pay for shows for two years. Every time you download another show, your contract is renewed. NoG does not guarantee the availability of episodes in your language of choice. NoG may not be downloaded in Europe, the United States, Australia, or anywhere that racketeering is illegal, but we won’t tell on you as long as you keep paying us. Remember, we know where you live. NoG Blog: Microtransactions and DLC[GAME] Sleep is Death[GAME] We RuleEpisode graphic by jfphotography

Little Karen leaped at the sound of the old, rattling 1977 Cadillac Catera pulling into the driveway. Only one car sounded like that; it had to be Grandpa! Nearly squealing with excitement, she rushed to the front door and threw it open.“Grandpa!” she shouted.“Well, hello, little Karen,” Grandpa said as he hobbled away from the car. “How is my favorite granddaughter on her sixth birthday?” In his wizened claws he clutched an inexpertly wrapped present, roughly the size and shape of a video game. Karen’s eyes nearly fell out of her head. She loved video games! Unable to contain her excitement, she darted forward and snatched the package from Grandpa’s grasp and ran at full speed back into the house.By the time Grandpa stumbled wheezing into the house, Karen had torn the wrapping off of her gift. Her earlier excitement was strangely absent as she stared at the game in her hands. The color drained from her face, a look of dawning horror overtaking her. “Well,” grandpa asked after an uncomfortable moment of silence, “do you like it?”Karen stood stock still, unable to tear her eyes from the wretched thing in her hands. Suddenly she jerked as if stung and tossed the thing on floor. She wiped her hands on her blouse, desperately trying to clean away some unseen filth. Without a word, she ran to the kitchen. Grandpa was appalled into silence, unable to comprehend the depths to which he’d offended his precious granddaughter.She returned with a can of lighter fluid and sprayed the game down liberally. Grandpa moved to stop her, but something in her eyes held him at bay. Her eyes spoke of great betrayal, of great pain, of the end of her short childhood. Tossing the now empty container to the side, Karen stared at her Grandfather with contempt as she lit a match. “This is the only way the house will ever be clean again, Grandpa,” she said as it dropped to the floor, touching off a horrific conflagration.The firemen managed to get everyone out of the house, but Grandpa felt little relief. He sat on a gurney, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders, staring at the house going down in flames, a great sense of guilt and despair settling upon him. A fireman walked up and without delay asked, “What happened here?”The fire reflected in Grandpa’s sad eyes. “I gave her Pokeman: Heart Gold.” He shook his head. “That girl hates Pokeman.”Wow, I went a really long way for that joke, didn’t I? Anyway, join Eric, Spencer, and Brent as they explore their bottom five games, pulling in plenty of the Nation’s least favorite games to discuss as well! By the way, wasn’t there another guy on this show? What happened to him, anyway? NoG Blog: Bottom 5[VIDEO] Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing Review[VIDEO] How to beat E.T.[SONG] Autotune the NoG #3 by Ash Williams

There I was, cornered in a Bulgarian hostel by a fish with one eye. I had a pen in one hand and the state of Kansas in the other. Now I know what you’re thinking; it’s not even close to tomato season. I didn’t let that stop me! I gunned the engine in my rowboat and flew to Sheeptown, dodging wild UN weapons inspectors as I went.It wasn’t until my eyeballs exploded that I realized I was out of hair gel. Frothing with impotent rage, I turned my frustrations into the drive to finally win at Wimbledon. Lacking in celebratory crystal meth, I was forced to watch Season 4, Episode 7 of The Wire instead. Proposition Joe is awesome.Finally I collapsed, blood leaking from my punctured kitten. “Well,” I shouted into the unfathomable void, “at least now I can finally paint over that dreadful mural.” I woke with a start, realizing it had all been a horrifying coutroom drama starring the University of Notre Dame men’s basketball team.I think I may have gotten a little off track here. Just like this week’s show! What exactly happened, anyhow? At any rate, join Wes, Spencer, Brent, and Eric as they explore… something. I’m not really sure what’s going on. [SONG] Only by TheManWithTheGoldenBuns*COMPETITION* Design a Portal level! (forum reg required)

Halfway through this episode Brent’s cellphone mysteriously rings, and he gets up and leaves the studio to take the call. This is the first time in three years of podcasting that this has happened. Imagine the scene, if you will; Wes and Spencer are happily chatting as Brent sits uncomfortably, his eyes shifting back and forth nervously. Eric is strangely absent, apparently at “work.” The show’s topic is… I don’t know. Retro gaming? Something like that.Suddenly, Brent’s iPhone rings. He snatches it up and quickly leaves the studio with barely a word. Wes and Spencer are left, mouths agape, unable to comprehend the terrible circumstances that have befallen them.Struggling to keep things going, Wes weakly suggests, “Battletoads was a pretty good game.”“No,” Spencer answers, “no it wasn’t.”You can hear all that on this show. What you can’t hear is the conversation that was so important that Brent had to leave the studio. After all, he left the studio, so the microphones couldn’t pick him up. However, you can read a transcript of that strange conversation. Brent did not know that his call was being routed through an experimental Google Voice transcription engine. The result was donated by an anonymous source to this reporter. Only Brent’s side of the conversation was transcribed, leaving us to wonder at the identity of the caller and the dark words he imparted.BRENT: You’re late, I told you not to call during the show. *pause* No, I- *pause* I know, but it’s hard to keep my cover in tact if- *pause* Right. Well, if you’re done with that, can we get on with it? *pause* It was- it was a rhetorical question. *pause* Look, I don’t like this anymore than you do, but if we’re going to make it out of this alive we have to work together. *pause* All right, that’s what I like to hear! Now all we have to do is- *pause* What do you mean? What’s wrong? *long pause* Damn it! I should’ve known better that to trust you, even with something so ridiculously easy. All you had to do was go to the pet store- *pause* What do you mean, which pet store? Does it matter? The one that has feeder guppies, you idiot! *pause* No, the guppies are the key. This’ll never work without guppies. *pause* What are we gonna do with four hundred brine shrimp? Go back, get the damn guppies, and meet me at the drop point after World of WoW. *pause* Yeah, it just might work after all, and then we can finally get Jimmy the Legs off our case. *pause* Yeah, me too. I’ll see you later… Mr. President. *pause* No, I know you’re not the pres- *pause* Look, I was just kidding. *pause* Okay, you know what? Click. *click*And that’s all the information we have. In order to help us to unravel this terrifying mystery, we are offering a $5000 reward for information leading to the arrest of “Jimmy the Legs,” along with a $10,000 for information pertaining to the identity of the other party to this call.Oh yeah, and there’s a show this week. Or was it last week? I am totally confused. I think it’s about space rats. Enjoy!

He was the first podcaster to write a song about Heavy Rain. And what a song it was! But for Eric Fullerton, writing and singing songs about video games was never the problem. It was the media attention that took it’s toll. Some of the greatest dangers came from within, such as the devastating love triangle that nearly tore the Dead Workers apart. But the weird times were just beginning. Eric Fullerton had to survive both podcasting breakups and equipment failures, but he somehow came out of the hard times bigger than ever. But then Eric found out that bigger isn’t always better. Now the legendary video game parody song singer/songwriter Eric Fullerton: Behind the Music.Okay, that might be false advertising. It’s just a show. We were all kinds of pressed for time because it was the night of the Lost finale, and also Spencer had some sort of weird cult thing he had to get to. Fortunately Eric saved the day with a heartwarming song! So there’s this game that takes place in a vagina…[MUSIC VIDEO] Press X to Jason[SONG/MP3] Press X to Jason

OH MY GOSH DID YOU HEAR THAT E3 WAS LAST WEEK THERE WERE SO MANY NEW THINGS ANNOUNCED AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OLD THINGS REANNOUNCED I HAVE NO IDEA HOW WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THEM ON THE SHOW I KNOW RIGHT THERE’S JUST TOO MUCH LIKE DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT THING THAT NINTENDO DID YEAH THAT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME OR THAT NEW GAME FROM CRYTEK YEAH THAT LOOKS SUPER SWEET WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART I LOVED IT ALL OH MY GOD THIS SHOW IS GONNA BE LIKE SIX HOURS LONG I’M GONNA NEED MORE RED BULL HOLY CRAP DID YOU SEE THE KONAMI PRESSER YEAH THAT GUY’S HEAD TOTALLY FELL OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THINGS AND ONE OF THE DOOR PRIZES WAS A LIFE-SIZED STATUE OF GAIA FROM GOD OF WAR III THAT WAS TOTALLY EPIC BUT WHERE WOULD YOU PUT IT I DON’T KNOW AND THE NEXT ROCK BAND GAME COMES WITH TOAD THE WET SPROCKET LIKE THE WHOLE BAND IS IN THE BOX WHY DOESN’T THEIR FRONT MAN WEAR SHOES I DON’T KNOW MAYBE HE HAS SOME WEIRD TOE FUNGUS METROID OTHER M LOOKS AWESOME OKAY SCREW RED BULL I’M GONNA NEED COCAINEPHEW! I’m tired just typing all that. The show this week has WAY too much stuff to talk about, so of course the four hosts choked halfway through and started talking about Wes’ third nipple instead. Also, this episode featured Spencer recording instead of the usual deal, so blame him when the quality sucks.E3! [VIDEO] Ninety-Nine Nights @ E3 (awkward!)[VIDEO] Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game[VIDEO] Mortal Kombat @ E3[VIDEO] Kid Icarus @ E3[VIDEO] Twisted Metal @ E3 (teaser)[SONG] I Love NoG by Crescendo1897

This week we’re talking about Alien Breed, or is it Alien Swarm? It’s something with the word Alien in it. Oh and something about a golden wrench. [GAME] Alien Swarm[UPDATE] TF2 Engineer Update[GAME] Tom’s Crown Affair[GAME] Battle of the Immortals[VIDEO] Spencer Williams plays Altitude on the Mac as Eric Fullerton makes fun of him.[SONG] It’s Just a Game (but damn, it’s war) by Eric FullertonEpisode graphic by Matt Ward

Frank: Did you notice that the Dead Workers Party has been putting Nation of Gamers out regularly again?Fran: Yeah, that’s great. I guess they finally solved the existential crises that plagued their production schedule.Frank: And how! The newest episode is sort of about Transformers: War for Cybertron, but it’s really about review scores.Fran: I dunno, that doesn’t sound very interesting…Frank: Oh, and they also try to not talk about Starcraft II, and they mostly fail.Fran: Starcraft II? Lame.Frank: What? Are you not into Starcraft?Fran: I don’t really like video games.Frank: Then why are we having this conversation on a video game themed podcast’s show notes?Fran: They promised me punch and pie.Frank: They lied.Fran: Those bastards! I will not rest until they have given me punch and pie, or perished!Frank: Woah. You’re intense. [ARTICLE] Lay Down Your Guns[GAME] Transformers: War for Cybertron[GAME] Castlevania: Harmony of Despair[GAME] Monday Night Combat[GAME] Worms Reloaded[SONG] Her Love for Cooking Mama by Eric Fullerton

So after the last show, I was totally expecting to be the one saying bad things about Starcraft II. I was positive everyone was going to be like, “Oh, there goes Spencer again, talking bad about great games. Get a new shtick, pal!” Imagine my surprise when it wasn’t me, but another host who had the most bad things to say about Starcraft II! I’m not going to tell you who, you’ll have to listen to find out. But I’ll give you a clue: It may or may not be the person pictured above.Oh wait, I’m supposed to type a bunch of random crap here that makes no sense and is only vaguely connected to the subject matter of the show in any rational way. Okay, here goes: Badminton cat escapes from zoo while being ridden by a banjo playing ex-prime minister of Mars! [GAME] Cow Clicker[ARTICLE] Did Microsoft kill Xbox Live+Windows Live cross-platform play because console gamers were too bad?[ARTICLE] Against Immersion[SITE] SC2 Replayed

Man, I am so hung over. I have no idea what day it is. What is this, Tuesday? I guess I should write the post for this week’s NoG… Wait, it’s Thursday? Well, suck. I guess I shouldn’t have crawled into that bottle of Maker’s Mark on Sunday after we recorded.Anyway, what did we talk about this week? Oh right, Monday Night Combat! That game is pretty sweet. If only it would come out on the PC, it would be even sweeter. Let’s see, what else… Should games be more like movies? Or less like movies? Something like that. Man, my head is killing me. Maybe I should have another drink… OH CRAP I’m out of booze. I guess now I have no choice but to contemplate the terrible choices I’ve made during my life.Oh yeah, we had a pretty good email that got us talking this week. That was pretty cool. YAY! I just found a bottle of 151 secreted away in an old boot! Where did that boot come from, anyway? Hmm… I have some vague recollection of mugging a hobo. Probably best that I don’t remember it.For the next couple of weeks we’ll be playing the new free Everquest II Extended thingie, so feel free to join us and let us know what you think. I gotta wrap this up, because this 151 needs a new home… IN MY BELLY. Do I have any mixers? Hmm, out of soda. I wonder if 151 and chicken stock is any good… Only one way to find out! [GAME] Kingdoms of Camelot[GAME] Monday Night Combat[GAME] Split/Second[ARTICLE] Warren Spector: Games should not be movies [GAME] Everquest II Extended

She’s a real beauty, ain’t she? Yep. This epsiode is a classic. Sure, she’s been downloaded a few thousand times, but she’s got plenty left in her. We stand behind all our podcasts here, and this one’s no different. Comes with a standard 30-day warranty, of course omitting any problems you might have with the treble levels. Those go out over time, and we can’t be held responsible for them.Let’s not focus on the bad, though. Just picture it; you’re walking down the street, ear buds in, listening to this classic podcast. The ladies love a man listening to a great episode, you know… Not saying you need any help in that department, just that they’ll notice you for sure.Yeah, you could go across the street and get yourself a new episode, but those guys over there don’t really care about the customer. They want to get you into the most recent podcasts; more profit margin there, you know? But I’m hear to get you into the show that’s right for you, and I’m betting that this episode will treat you right for a lot of years, and at an exceptionally reasonable price.Need some time to think it over? That’s fine. Here’s my card, give me a call anytime. Don’t wait too long, though. There’s someone else looking pretty hard at this episode, and I’d hate for you to miss out on it.This week on NoG, we take a look at used games. Are they good? Bad? Immoral? Does anyone care? Also, Brent only plays stupid web games. [GAME] Shank[GAME] Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game[GAME] Worms Reloaded[SHOW] The Tester[ARTICLE] The $435 Super Mario Bros. Sweater[ARTICLE] Penny Arcade talks about used games

This week we read a bunch of emails. That was fun! You should send more! We’ll read them and it will be fun!Yeah, so there’s no special fun time silly post today. I’m a little under the weather. But I don’t want to leave everyone in the cold, so watch this instead![ARTICLE] Duke Nukem Forever was brought back to life[HAUNTED VIDEO GAME] Majora[CONTEST] Eat Smart For Life Dailyburn.com giveaway

You may not know this, but the Dead Workers Party is totally still in beta.That’s the reason why we frequently crash, and we occasionally act up. Let’s face it; we’re certainly not feature complete.Eric’s memory utilization is awful. Wes has some wicked terrible logic loops. Spencer makes this really weird screeching sound output that we can’t figure out how to fix, even though he insists that’s the normal sound he makes while talking. And Brent… well, Brent killed seven people last week. That certainly wasn’t in the design docs.To show our appreciation for sticking with us through these troubled times, we’re pleased to announce that all beta testers will receive 10% off when they purchase the release version. Unless of course the beta version of Brent kills all of them. We’re not liable for that, by the way. READ THE EULA, PEOPLE!This week we talked about beta testing. Oh, and did you hear what happened at GOG? What a bunch of crap! Oh yeah, and we talked about Minecraft in the first of what promises to be THOUSANDS of hours of talking about Minecraft. [GAME] Minecraft[GAME] Recettear: An Item Shop’s Tale[ARTICLE] What’s Happening With Good Old Games?[VIDEO] Office tour of PopCap Games[VIDEO] TF2Ware (Team Fortress 2 Wario Ware Mod)Episode graphic by BETA NSA MSC RTM from BETA ROK 75

Row 247It has been days since I’ve seen the sun. I stopped trying to count the hours; it’s impossible to track with no clock, this deep beneath the earth’s surface. I had thought to count the number of times I needed to sleep, but I find I’m filled with some unholy energy that lets me work unceasingly.Instead, I dig, and I count rows. Two hundred forty-seven rows I’ve dug so far, tearing corridors four meters high from the living rock. I don’t know why I must dig; some nameless horror compels me onward. If I stop, something terrible will happen. If I cease digging, some mother will awake to find her children slaughtered, or some hunter will return to his village to find it a blackened husk. Beasts pursue me; fell beasts. Perhaps as long as I dig and they chase me, others will be spared.Row 562My hands are bleeding from the digging, but I feel somewhat safer. Beside the horrific beasts, there are riches to be found; vast mineral troves that I’ve bent to my will. It is ingenuity that sets man apart from the lesser creatures of the world, and it is that ingenuity that has allowed me to enlist nature herself to my cause. Iron becomes tools, diamond becomes weapons. So armed and armored, I feel somewhat safer, though nothing can stop the crawling fear in my gut.Row 598Success! For the first time, I dare to hope that I might survive this waking nightmare! I broke into some natural cave, warned to it’s occupants by the hideous moaning they elicited. I slew them all, returning them to the hell whence they came. They walked like men, but smelled of death. Perhaps I have seen my fate should I fail. I am spurred on. I’ll dig forever if I must to leave this cursed land.Row ???I fell into a deep natural ravine, and I’ve completely lost my bearings. My neatly ordered rows are nowhere to be found, and I fear I may be truly lost. What’s more, I’ve run out of torches; I currently write by the light of a nearby pool of magma. The heat is atrocious, but it’s better than the dark. Wait, I hear a hissing-WOAH! That was intense. This week we talk about Minecraft, and Civilization V, and game controllers, and other things as well. Community member in good standing TheOrangeDoor has a pretty cool project going, so definitely check that out. Maybe next week we’ll talk about something other than Minecraft, but probably not. [GAME] Minecraft[GAME] Civilization 5[ARTICLE] LEGOlden Wrench (donate to this awesomeness!)[ARTICLE] Burnt By APB? EA May Just Help You Out[ARTICLE] The First KINECT TV Ads Revealed[ARTICLE] PayPal Freezes $750K in MineCraft Dev’s AccountEpisode art by LynchMob10-09

Look, I don’t have time for this. I’ve got eight stacks of glass that need to be delivered to base camp 3 pronto. They’ve already been delayed, and the customer is gonna be ticked off as is.I know we’re supposed to be recording a podcast, but I’ve got more important things to do. You see that glass tower in the distance? You think that thing is going to build itself? I’m burning daylight here; torches won’t attach to glass.Okay fine, we’ll record, but I’m not talking about anything other than Minecraft. And we have to make it quick; there’s building to be done.This week we talk about Minecraft. Sure, there are a few other games mentioned, but really this is another Minecraft episode. If you don’t play Minecraft, you may want to skip this episode and START PLAYING MINECRAFT instead. Seriously, I think this obsession is going to last a while. [GAME] Hydrophobia[GAME] Civilization 5[GAME] Final Fantasy XIV[GAME] Minecraft[ARTICLE] Rock Band 3 Keyboard Bundles Not Available for PlayStation 3[ARTICLE] The Wii Tablet[ARTICLE] Thousands of SC2 accounts banned[ARTICLE] Beyond Good and Evil HD

You kids these days and your video game characters. You think they’re so great! Well, I was a kid in the 40′s, and our video game characters were worth a hundred of yours!I say characters, but really we only had one. Yankee Joe! It was 1944; the height of World War II. I hear kids today whining about how they’re sick of WWII games, but back then it was all we had. Yankee Joe fought the Nazis to save the world.Yankee Joe didn’t waste time with words or humanitarian aid. He killed Nazis. Over and over again. There was no reward; killing Nazis was reward enough. There was no score; only the sweet taste of dead Nazis. Yankee Joe only did one thing, but he did it well; he killed Nazis.Now we didn’t have any fancy Nintendo or Sony Playstation. After all, we were at war with the Tojos. Instead, we drew dots on the radio and pretended it was the moving pictures and that we had video games that hadn’t been invented yet.I don’t think this post is really working, so I’m gonna cut it off here. This week we talked about video game characters! What makes them good? What makes them bad? Who really cares? Listen in and fun will be had by all! [GAME] Enslaved[GAME] Qrank[ARTICLE] NoG Blog: Poor Character[ARTICLE] 15 Most annoying video game characters[ARTICLE] 50 Great Video Game Characters (empireonline.com)[ARTICLE] 50 Great Video Game Characters (screwattack.com)Fellow Huntsvillian doing a 24 hour gaming marathon for the Children’s Hospital of Alabama on Oct 16th, and he’s accepting pledges. He’ll be ustreaming his marathon.Check out our new Minecraft podcast!

I know you’re all expecting some jokey post about games addiction, but we here at Nation of Gamers take it very seriously. For example, take the plight of our very own Wes Wilson.You may notice that he’s missing from this week’s show. He’ll probably be gone for the next couple of weeks as well; it sort of depends on when the doctors release him. You see, Wes has been diagnosed with acute games addiction. He has been understandably reluctant to talk about his problem. In fact, the rest of us in the DWP had no idea there was a problem at all. In fact, we had no idea he even played the game he has become addicted to.The game in question is Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force. Not even Elite Force 2… just Elite Force. Here’s a picture of Elite Force, just so you know what I’m talking about.Weird, right? I don’t even think Wes likes Star Trek that much. And let’s face it; even Star Trek fans hate Voyager. Well, except for Seven of Nine. But I’m getting off track.When asked about his addiction, all Wes can do is shout “I’M CUCKOO FOR STAR TREK VOYAGER: ELITE FORCE!” over and over and over again. It’s really annoying, and that’s the main reason we didn’t want him on the show this week. I know the show is pretty bad already, but that would make it so much worse.Anyway, please keep Wes in your thoughts and prayers over the next couple of weeks. Also, the post image is totally not a bad ‘shop, but is an actual picture of Wes taken in the sanitarium.This week we talk almost exclusively about games addiction. Spencer and Brent really got into it over this. Seriously, Eric threatened to spray them both down with the hose so they’d stop fighting. Enjoy! [ARTICLE] NoG BloG: Gaming Addiction[ARTICLE] Valve confirms DOTA 2

Really, what more needs to be said? podPressShowHidePlayer('1', 'http://deadworkerspartynetwork.com/uploads/nog/nog_ep029.mp3', 290, 24, 'false', 'http://deadworkers.com/network/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/vpreview_center.png', 'Standard Podcast', 'Dead Workers Party'); [GAME] Super Meat Boy[GAME] Dream Chronicles[GAME] Castlevania Lords of Shadow

This week, we here on NoG talk about everything for which we are thankful. Well, everything we’re thankful about in games. That’s why there’s a picture of a headcrab. Actually, I think headcrabs kind of look like turkeys. Turkeys are related to Thanksgiving, therefore this image is not completely and totally random.Man, now I’m hungry. Roasted headcrab and bullsquid dressing, all drenched in gravy made from that stuff barnacles puke after you kill them. Ooh, and mashed potatoes. Yum.[MP3 AUDIO] Nog Blog: Happy Thanksgaming[IMG] The fabled Robotic Duck Gunner by Nastyman_N[IMG] Duck-shot by Keenan

You’ll notice something a little different about this week’s episode. Instead of rambling on and on, we’re trying a more focused show. You won’t hear about our weeks or what games we’ve played. Instead, we’re jumping right to the topic. Hopefully it’ll make a show a little leaner and meaner. We’d love to hear what you think; feel free to let us know what you think of the change. We’re not sure it’s permanent as of yet, and we’ll continue to play with the format until it feels right.This week we talk about cognitive dissonance, otherwise known as stuff just not making sense. Does the show make sense? I dunno, maybe there’s some cognitive dissonance at play there. Who knows? I don’t. Man, it’s hard to write funny copy for the new show format.Instead… MORE DUCKS!That duck was short, sweet, and to the point. Kind of like this episode! podPressShowHidePlayer('1', 'http://deadworkerspartynetwork.com/uploads/nog/nog_ep030.mp3', 290, 24, 'false', 'http://deadworkers.com/network/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/vpreview_center.png', 'Standard Podcast', 'Dead Workers Party'); NoG BloG: Cognitive Dissonance

Although it is one of our favorite game genres, rhythm games are in steady decline. Viacom’s announcement they were divesting Harmonix has been the talk of the industry, and we’re eager to delve into the subject of the future of the genre.In fact, Wes seems very concerned that game sales numbers indicate the decline of all fun. But we’re quick to point out the weakness of pretty much any opinion he expresses.In the process, we’ll debate where we think the industry is heading, and whether the growth of first-person shoots and sports games are a threat to the market.Lest we forget… DUCKS!podPressShowHidePlayer('1', 'http://deadworkerspartynetwork.com/uploads/nog/nog_ep031.mp3', 290, 24, 'false', 'http://deadworkers.com/network/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/vpreview_center.png', 'Standard Podcast', 'Dead Workers Party'); Nog Blog: Endangered SpeciesHelp John Mazz on his volunteer trip to Ghana!Episode Graphic by Joni Godoy