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Cawkpunched Podcast Episode 2: E3 Aftermath Marathon
The Cawkpunched Podcast returns with Mike Martin and Peter Cruz in episode 2. It is an E3 extravaganza as we talk all things E3; consoles, PC, and a lot of games. Choose your listening preference and hit us up with feedback or questions for future episodes.
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Cawkpunched Episode 1: An Addicted-Gamers Podcast
Prepare to be Cawkpunched. What does that even mean? We aren’t sure, but it sounds funny to say. What are you waiting for? Give it a listen. Give us feedback. We can take it.
In episode one, Mike Martin, founder of Addicted-Gamers.com, and Games Editor at VGRevolution.com and Zak Martin discuss Zak’s addiction to League of Legends, the upcoming E3, and Xbox One hot topics.
Xbox One Taking Over Living Rooms Later 2013
Editor’s note: This article will be one of the final feature articles by me on Addicted-Gamers. I thought it would be a good send-off to a site that has meant so much to me the last two years. I have accepted a higher profile position over at VGRevolution.com. Addicted-Gamers will continue to stay live, but the updates will be of a more personal nature in the future as I focus on larger duties at VGR.
Microsoft pulled back the veil of secrecy on the new Xbox console known as the Xbox One. The executives held court in a massive tent erected on the corporate campus in Redmond, WA. They peeled back the details like layers from an onion. What was at the core was something difficult to identify and potential harder to accept.
It seems only fitting to begin with Don Mattrick, President of Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corporation, giving the world a rousing speech introducing the Xbox One. The console’s moniker is both shocking and a little underwhelming, but it makes sense from a marketing standpoint. It’s simple to remember. It sets up an easy numerical transition to future Xbox consoles. And yet, how cool would it have been to release a system dubbed the Xbox 720, or Xbox Fusion, or Xbox Infinity? Why not go back to basics and simply call it Xbox since that is what the general public will likely refer to it as anyway. It isn’t a bad name by any means. And I have to credit Microsoft with keeping the name under wraps. It came out of left field and no one saw it coming.
Star Trek Review – Beam Me The Hell Out of Here!
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Digital Extremes
Genre: Third-Person Shooter
Release Date: April 23, 2013
ESRB Rating: Teen
Let’s get the disclaimer out of the way. I’m not a Trekkie. I don’t dislike Star Trek. I’ve just never been a fan. I grew up in the TV show rerun era. I’ve seen most of the movies. They range from really good to laughably bad. J.J. Abrams pulled off a miracle in rebooting Star Trek while tying it into the original universe. It was fantastic. It was so successful that a sequel movie was a no-brainer. It also made sense to produce a video game based on the rebooted hit. I just wish the game was as successful as its movie inspiration.
The game opens with a rather nondescript title screen, which foreshadows things to come. But that Star Trek theme played and anticipation washed over me. You sucker. Movie licensed games suck, right? This one has to be different. It’s Star Trek. Production teams from the movies assisted with the creation of this game in order to create an authentic Star Trek experience. It’s fair to say the production values should have been much higher.
Crowdfund My Carnival: A Game For Children With Cystic Fibrosis
AccessAble Games has a crowdfund campaign going for My Carnival, a game for children with cystic fibrosis. The game’s purpose is to help childrens’ physical therapy through learning to control breathing techniques. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes mucus to be thick and sticky in the lungs and digestive system. It requires daily physiotherapy training.
That’s where My Carnival comes in. Aimed at children ages 3 to 6 years old, the goal is to give players a form of therapy that is more fun and engaging. The game is free, all that is required is a plain old PC microphone.
According to the developer:
“My Carnival” will be set in a fun fair with booths giving access to different minigames. In one minigame, for instance, players control a water stream to fill up coloured water balloons only with their breathing.
Their primary “tipping point” goal is to reach $29,000 while their ultimate goal is to raise $40,000. They have 22 days to go and have so far earned $1270. There are, of course, various levels of support based upon the dollar amount.
You can do a good thing and contribute to their crowdfund.
AccessAble Games focuses on making games and apps with specific players in mind, such as children with autism or cerebral palsy.
AGL Video Game Character Draft Final Rounds
The end of the AGL Video Game Character Drafts is here with the final rounds, 6 and 7. It is clear the GMs are digging deep with some nostalgia sprinkled in with some surprising picks.
Round 6
Shibuya Reapers – Vectorman – Vectorman
Metro City Brawlers – Albert Wesker – Resident Evil
Raccoon City Tyrants – Kratos – God of War
Vault 101 Tunnel Snakes – Manny Calavera – Grim Fandango
Round 5
Vault 101 Tunnel Snakes – Sonic – Sonic the Hedgehog
Raccoon City Tyrants – Corvo Attano – Dishonored
Metro City Brawlers – GLaDOS – Portal
Shibuya Reapers – Sanae Hanekoma – The World Ends With You
AGL Video Game Character Draft Rounds 4 and 5
The second to last day for the AGL Video Game Character Draft features rounds 4 and 5.
Round 4
Shibuya Reapers – Magus– Chrono Trigger
Metro City Brawlers – Sephiroth – Final Fantasy VII
Raccoon City Tyrants – Smoke – Mortal Kombat
Vault 101 Tunnel Snakes – King – Tekken
Round 5
Vault 101 Tunnel Snakes – Lara Croft – Tomb Raider
Raccoon City Tyrants – Vergil – Devil May Cry
Metro City Brawlers – Augustus Cole – Gears of War
Shibuya Reapers – Chin Gentsai – King of Fighters
AGL Video Game Character Draft Rounds 2 and 3
The AGL Video Game Character Draft rounds 2 and 3 are in the books. Here are the breakdowns:
Round 2
Shibuya Reapers – Alucard – Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Metro City Brawlers – Samus Aran – Metroid
Raccoon City Tyrants – JC Denton – Deus Ex
Vault 101 Tunnel Snakes – Gordon Freeman – Half-Life
Round 3
Vault 101 Tunnel Snakes – Shodan – System Shock
Raccoon City Tyrants – Ezio Auditore – Assassin’s Creed
Metro City Brawlers – Akuma – Street Fighter
Shibuya Reapers – Ness – Earthbound
We’ll have the final rounds for you tomorrow and grade the AGL’s teams drafts.
AGL Video Game Character Draft – Reapers Select Link
The final pick in the first round of the AGL Video Game Character Draft, going fourth overall to the Shibuya Reapers, Link from the Legend of Zelda.
Defender of Hyrule, savior of princesses, nemesis of pig-like megalomaniacs, this Hylian kid brings courage and power to his new squad. He helped popularize an entire genre of gaming. He plays a mean ocarina too. It is not known at this time if Navi will be accompanying Link to Shibuya. Here’s hoping she doesn’t.
AGL Video Game Character Draft – Brawlers Choose Mega Man
The Metro City Brawlers made a surprise choice in reaching for Mega Man for their first round pick, third overall in the AGL Video Game Character Draft.
Mega Man may seem like a stretch as a first round pick, but it’s hard to find a more adaptable character in the video game universe. The guy can turn practically anything into a weapon.
This 8-bit star just celebrated his 25th anniversary. The Brawlers think there’s plenty left in his E-Tank.
