Inside The Console: February 2010

Featured Discussion: Does Nintendo Care?

A week ago I got a message on Facebook the other day from my cousin Nick. He wanted to know if we could hook up our Wiis to play some online games. I don't know too many people who play online games on the Wii, so I thought it was a great idea. Since then it has been an absolute mess to try and connect our Wiis online. I had to find my console's friend code number thing, and send it to Nick over email. He had to do the same for me, and after we had both punched our Wii numbers in we wanted to get down to some game playing. Trouble is, he has several games but none are online enabled. I have a few games, but only one, Mario Kart, is online enabled. Even if he did have Mario Kart, we would have to exchange another series of friend codes, and then we would be able to play but not chat or interact in any way except if we both called each other on the phone while we played. In short, Nintendo's online strategy is a disaster from top to bottom.

This one takes us back to the good old days of the N64 again, to a game that was one of my personal favorites at the time. Though nearly impossible, in fact I never beat the game without cheat codes, launching dead bodies in the air with a grenade launcher was a great time.

So in preparation for my first featured post I did all sorts of research. Yet no matter how much I looked I couldn’t find anywhere in either the original ADA or any of its more recent iterations that covered gaming. Lots of stuff about ramps, buildings, hiring practices… But nothing about gaming.

Continuing our greatest series of all time is the second part in our three-part set of episodes on the evolution of controllers. John and I, coupled with some of our first-ever voicemails, had a great discussion on the then-current generation of controllers.

So it may not be completely related to gaming, but who doesn't love some Pixar? My lovely wife graced me with an Xbox Live subscription, and we immediately used it to watch Monsters Inc. thanks to Netflix.

It was announced this past week by Activision that they closed Red Octane, the studio responsible for the original Guitar Hero concept. Among other closings and layoffs, most of the staff at Red Octane has been let go.

John comes through with flying colors yet again in his quest to mix Mountain Dew and booze in every possible way. This week we're using the delicious Livewire variety for our Alcoholic Drink of the Week.

After last week's discussion on the iPad and how it may impact portable gaming, I felt that a talk about the future of portable gaming as a whole needed to happen. Ever since the iPhone came out coming up on three years ago, followed by the App Store one year later, the talks and rumors have gone so far as to claim that the iPhone platform is the future and that Apple is going to enter the gaming arena themselves. I think this is a little far-fetched, but let's take a look at the current state of the handheld, and imagine what the future might hold.

When Fil and I set out to do this podcast oh so many years ago we didn't really know what to expect. Honestly I think either of us would have been shocked if it took off and became huge. The more we got going though the more we thought it could be good. This episode was probably the first that really made us sit up and think.

There's still a ton of stuff in the ITC Swag Bin for us to give away, so we're going for an easier trivia this week. I know I saw an Xbox 360 towel in there (no it's not pink), and some Xbox 360 eye black stickers. We'll even make it a three-part trivia, so click through and show us what you know.

For every man, woman, child and not-that-into-football husbands who married into football crazy families and are doing their best, who were rooting for the Indianapolis Colts, this candle is for you.

So I've finally ran out of my bargain-bin energy drinks and terrible excuses for drinks for the game, and with that in mind, it's with delight that I return to our old staple, Drinks Mixer for today's Non-Alcoholic Drink of the Week...

With the introduction of the Apple iPad, the technology community has been abuzz with commentary: what is it? What is it for? Will it replace Netbooks? And while I'm not sure I have a good answer to any of these questions, or even anything useful to add to the overall iPad dialogue, I do have to wonder how it will affect the state of handheld gaming. And my answer? Significantly.

Hoth. That is all.

It must be back-in-time week here at ITC. The last time we mentioned the Intellivision was probably on our "history of consoles" episodes, and maybe on our three-part "evolution of controllers" series. Anyhow, this trivia goes way back in time to before video games had voice-acting.

Some may not believe it, and it's kind of hard to believe myself, but it is in fact true. After settling into parenthood and the routines and little free time that come along with it, I have finally put an end to my long-running, not-entirely-on-purpose...

The recent release of Capcom's retro-styled Mega Man 9 for the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 had us reliving our youthful adventures with Mega Man, Dr. Light, and all of their friends. One that we've long been fond of is Rush, the robotic dog that can change into a spring, a surfboard, or even a jet. This week we bring to you...

Featured Discussion: Does Nintendo Care?

Trivia: It's In The Fog

Featured Discussion: Gaming Covered Under the ADA?

Retro: Controllers in the Present

Trivia: Monsters Inc.

Candle: Red Octane

Drinking Game: Livewire

Featured Discussion: The Future of the Handheld

Retro: Controllers in the Past

Trivia: Drinks All Around

Candle: Soopah Bowl

Drinking Game: Cheesecake

Featured Discussion: iPadding

Retro: Star Wars

Trivia: Intellivision?

Candle: I'm Gaming Again

Drinking Game - Mega Man 9

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