Tired Thumbs

Calling All Thumbs!

2008-01-20T23:50:00.000-06:00

It has been a while since posting last. You can be assured that there will be more posting and more content in the upcoming months as I ramp up and get some new things in place and online.

Some of this stuff looks really fantastic and I can't wait to tell you more.

I know I have been out of action for a good portion of a year or more with a steady stream of content and Podcasts on this site. This new stuff coming up is going to be a blast to show you and for you to see.

So here is what is going on at the moment:

Been doing a podcast with Brian Ibbott from "Coverville" called "The Wii Show"

Starting this Saturday(26th I think) "The Average Joe Show" starts, for which I'm part of.

Playing Assassin's Creed on the 360

Brain Age, Big Brain Academy, and Trace Effect on the DS

Getting ready for Endless Ocean on the Wii. I can't wait to play this one.

So you can see and hear, a lot of stuff going on.

I said in the beginning that things are going to be added and modified and, well it's gonna be neat. I need your help on this one step of the process. I am looking for early shows that were previously here. They have been lost and not recovered. I'm hoping that someone out there has maybe been keeping these(There are people out there, trust me, I get e-mails from shows two years old, which I don't mind, mind you.).

The reason for getting the old shows back in the catalogue is so I can clean them up and make them more pleasant to the ears. Of course the first couple of shows were really rough as some of you may remember. But now it's time for me to take out the trash and clean it up a bit.

If you have any old shows and would be willing to e-mail them to me or what have you please shoot me a line at tiredthumbs [at] gmail [dot] com.

Once again, thanks for the kind e-mails!

NHL 2K8(360) - Review

2007-10-12T15:22:00.000-05:00

It's time to sharpen your skates and get your fingers ready for one of the most acurate depictions of hockey I have ever played. I'm talking about NHL 2K8, the newest edition and one of the most complete to boot. Graphically, statistically, and a VERY deep franchise, this game will keep you busy all season long, especially with all the new features.

So lets start off where we left off from last year. Last years edition was great in its own way, and this year they have improved upon it. I think we should start where all hockey does...the face off. This year they have put together a new face off system that adds realism to the game. So, in short if you do something wrong like going for the puck when your not allowed or your timing is off, they restart the face off. Now here is my complaint on this. There are no drills whatsoever and VERY little documentation for the new face off system, which makes it a tad difficult to master.

Gameplay almost remains the same, although with the addition of special moves, like in their NBA series during the slam dunk contest you can now perform a trick before taking a shot at the goal. This is a neat feature although a bit cumbersome with everything that's going on. This year the 2K Reelmaker makes it's debut on the NHL series, although if you want to use it, it's gonna ding you 400 points in the Microsoft Marketplace to purchase the software to make your own reel.

The graphics have greatly improved as well as the presentation, it feels like a hockey game, with really good replay on behalf of 2K, it makes the experience that much greater. There is a very good amount of multi-player in this edition. There are leagues, tourneys, and a lot more. Up to four people can play at once, although I wouldn't as the servers are unforgiving on lag and will kill the game. So make sure no one is cruising the net or downloading music when playing.

This years franchise mode has to be the deepest I have ever seen, from scouting, watching minor league teams, signing and trading players; this game has it. YOU are the man, you tell them when to practice or tell them not to practice. This game should have a good 20 page section in the manual on how to run a team(more on manuals in the end). The franchise mode is not going to disappoint those who like fantasy hockey or hockey in general. You can spend hours micro managing your team(sorry no blood pressure medication available). I think they did a real nice job with this mode.

My last bit concerns the game overall and is more of constructive criticism and not being mean. This is something that kind of ticks me off a bit each year and with each 2K sports title, and that is the manual. I find the game great, and a lot of deep features like the franchise mode, but VERY little or no documentation. I know a lot of people who don't bother, but when it comes in the game where you need to trade players to balance your team, wouldn't it be great to have a better understanding on how to negotiate? The drills in the game do off shoot a bit, but they don't really help you when it comes to a certain defense or offense on the ice when calling plays. Some plays are pretty straight forward but some are not. So that is a big negative for me.

Rating: 8.9(Great)
Learning Curve - About an hour.

Goozex

2007-08-20T10:30:00.001-05:00

When I have a really good experience with something I'm going to write about it. No question whatsoever. Jim told me about this site called Goozex which is a peer to peer game trading site.

Here is how it works. Lets say you have about 10 games you no longer play and you don't want to get the crappy trade in values that certain game stores give you. Well, you to Goozex, post your games in "Your Library" section. Now from there you will see what the point value of the game is; they don't use a dollar value. You will also see your turn. The turn is your place in line to trade your game.

Once it's time to trade your game, Goozex sends an e-mail to both you and the buyer indicating that a match has been made. Goozex provides address information, etc. You mail it off, then wait for your positive feedback. In the beginning of your account you need positive feedback to get your points. After a few trades you don't have to wait.

Once you have points, you need to pick up trade credits which are a buck a trade and sell in blocks of 5. Now pick your game, wait in line. Now you may say "Hey! I'm in the 50th spot, well that may not hold true because the people ahead of you may not have credits or points and they will be skipped. But this is REALLY cool, I have no complaints, this is something to check out.

By the way my first trade was for "Halo 2" for 300 points, which equates to $15 bucks! How can you not go wrong. But do research on the game you want, and make sure you're getting the deal.

Review: BioShock(360)

2007-08-16T20:48:00.000-05:00

When I first saw screen shots of this title it really intrigued me. And now I can tell you after drooling, it is my own personal nightmare, in a good way of course. Before I get into the guts(pun) of the game, let me warn you that this game is the most gruesome, bloody; hell, it makes "Gears of War" look like Alice in Wonderland. Shall we begin?

You are a passenger on an airplane over the ocean, which is specified as the Atlantic in the year 1960. Your plane out of nowhere rips apart(ala "Lost") and you find yourself swimming to this pedestal jutting out of the water. You swim to it, as, well where else is there to go, certainly the plane has made it's final stop.

Now I'm not going to try and spoil it, but it's kind of hard to explain the environment, and what to expect out of this game without some morsels to give you an idea. So now you're warned.

Let me spell some things out right now so you know what kind of game this is, then I'll feed you a little story. This is not an open-ended game, ie. you can't go everywhere. It's between a rail, and puzzle shooter. So it's "Resident Evil 4" with MAJOR modifications. There is nomulti player over XBOX Live, however the case I received did mention downloadable content, so that is something to look forward to.

The game makes you "use" your environment. After you have been exploring the city of "Rapture" you come to a point where you must re-write your DNA using a method of injecting "Plasmids". So the first one is electricity, no really, you can shoot electricity out of your hands, kind of like the Emperor in "Jedi". To give you an example of using theenvironment , say there are 3 people in a pool of water(did I mention it takes place underwater?") well shoot some electricity into the water and you fry all three of them, very cool.

This is a fantastic game, download the demo for sure, even for those skeptical. This game has a lot of potential with future downloadable content. The only thing holding it back is multi player or even co-op, but then it wouldn't be YOUR story. Another nugget is you get a new experience every time, the game is not the same experience for everyone. There are different paths and ways to kill people that work in many ways.

This is a must game, so make sure you get your copy on the 21st, this is not for the faint of heart.

And the Final Score is 9.2 out of 10.

Review: The BIGS

2007-07-12T17:15:00.001-05:00

by
Charlie George and Jim Ness

Do you get confused with the words RBI, ERA, or IP? Well fear not baseball onlookers, The BIGS is here to help. This is 2K Sports first foray into adrenaline/arcade baseball that, believe it or not, does not take away the excitement and realism you would expect from a baseball game.

I decided to take a look at a couple of the game modes and chalked up the good and the bad.

The 360 version is by all accounts for the "Armchair Athlete". Here is how I rated it and why. On the 360 I started things off in Rookie Mode(Probably one of the most addicting aspects of the game). Essentially "Rookie Mode" sets you up as an up and coming Minor League player who has been called up to the team of your choice. You do some training, and assign skill stars as you progress. During this mode you will be put in 3-5 inning games where conditions, such as stealing a base and winning the game is mandatory. If you fail, its back up to the plate for you. Throughout the Rookies season you play other teams where you get opportunities to "Steal" players from them and such, The end result is you go in the Worlds Series(Naturally I chose the Cubs, yeah, the Cubs in the Worlds Series, definitely fiction). This was by far my favorite mode in the game.

Other modes are Exhibition, Home Run Derby, and Home Run Pinball, which puts you in Times Square where it's pretty much a Home Run Derby. The more you smash up with the balls the higher the score.

Now with all the good there was some bad. The pitching, batting, throwing, and in-field mechanics are great. However the outfield is very glitchy in the area of player response. The ball would be hit right to them and they wouldn't do much. I though maybe it was just my copy or I was playing badly, I played a few games on XBox Live and asked if they were experiencing the same thing so I was not the only one.

Now speaking of XBox Live, it's great to see the rosters updated, and the game play for the most part is REALLY smooth, so props for that.

If you want the info on the Wii edition, then it's time to get out of the La-Z-Boy and get physical with the Wii, so to put it short; you will be moving a lot. The game is requires you "to get physical". The Wii version does make a good showing though there is a pretty steep learning curve as you are going to be getting physical as we have mentioned. The Wii version gets a 7 for innovation, however graphics do take a little beating, nonetheless, this is an improvement on Wii Sports baseball, and sure to be a good time.

So when it comes down to it in the end, this game really does a great job of bringing that baseball experience to you. So my rating is a solid 8. It would have been a 9 if it wasn't for the outfield issues. But all in all, its a great title and hope next years edition comes out next spring!

Tangerine Dream

2007-07-09T14:52:00.000-05:00

Tangerines are sweet, whats even more sweeter is an app that can provide music for you from your iTunes library based beats per minute, intensity, and other factors.

The folks at Potion Factory have put this app in beta. It's a Mac app and I am loving this, no longer do you have to dredge through thousands of songs to pick the right mix, Tangerine does it for you.

Right now they have a free 15 day trial, so check it out. I like it and anyone who likes to work out or doing any kind of physical activity with appropriate music will appreciate this.

Tired Thumbs #59 - Suprise!!

2007-05-09T15:31:00.000-05:00

I'm trying some new software with the new mic. Tell me what you think.

Show Notes

Intro - A New Kind of Show

Contact Info

tiredthumbs [at] gmail [dot] com

www.tiredthumbs.com

Free to Roam

Installing Movie Magic for the Wife

Podsafe Song: My Sword's Anger by Apostle of Hustle

Video Game Talk

Podcasts and You

Podsafe Tune: Out of Sight by Uncut

Closing Thoughts

To subscribe to the enhanced version of Tired Thumbs click here:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/etiredthumbs

Tired Thumbs #58 - The End

2007-03-19T08:33:00.000-05:00

Show Notes

This is the final episode of Tired Thumbs. It has been a great two years. Big thanks to the folks at The Tech Podcast Network who got me going. Thanks to Veronica Belmont who shared hosting duties with me for awhile.

And of course all the subscribers, you have made the show what it is.

I have other irons in the fire check them out:

The Wii Show
http://wii.thepodcastnetwork.com

The PS3 Cast
http://ps3cast.blogspot.com

Around the Controller
http://www.aroundthecontroller.com

iTunes Refresh Issue

2007-03-10T20:37:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone,

I have received your e-mails about not getting recent shows via iTunes. Well, the feed is working fine, but iTunes is not refreshing, so you are not getting the latest show right away. If you are using iTunes follow these steps:

Open iTunes

Click Advanced

Click Subscribe to Podcast

Enter this: http://feeds.feedburner.com/tiredthumbs

And you are all done.

If you have any questions please e-mail us.

Tired Thumbs #57 - Why Rapala, oh Why!

2007-03-04T23:05:00.000-06:00

Show Notes

Snow Blowing
No Internet
Crackdown Review
Rapala Tournament Review
Wii Play
Grand Theft Auto 4
Halo 3
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
God of War 2

Download "To Have a Crush" (mp3)
from "The Quiet Trial"
by Cassettes Won't Listen
Dope Lotus Records

More On This Album

New Info on Bust A Move Bash

2007-02-28T11:47:00.000-06:00

Majesco seems to be really taking advantage of the Wiimote controller with the latest installment of "Bust A Move Bash". Here are some of the features of the latest title:

*Four Game Modes, including Puzzle, Vs., Endless, and the new Shooting Mode
*Vs. Mode supports up to 8 players simultaneously(WOW)
*500 levels in Puzzle Mode
*10 different characters, including the ever lovable Bub and Bob, plus many more

If that wasn't enough, here are some of the latest screen shots! This game looks like a lot of fun. I'm hoping it will be a nice compliment to Wario Ware: Smooth Moves.

Movie to Avoid

2007-02-27T00:44:00.000-06:00

This has been out for a little over a month I think. I just finished watching "Crank" and have to say I am really disappointed. I expected maybe too much from a Jason Statham flick. I loved "The Transporter" flicks, and of course hope there is another one. I always thought he could have been a good James Bond. But back on topic. Avoid this movie. It's tries to live up to so many expectations and I felt cheated in the end.

New Cooking Mamma Cook Off Screen Shots

2007-02-26T17:34:00.000-06:00

We just got these new screen shots for the upcomming game "Cooking Mamma Cook Off" for the Wii. They keep looking better and better. Tell us what you think.

God of War Beaten

2007-02-26T13:57:00.000-06:00

Ok, I know what you are going to say. "Dude, the game is two years old, and NOW you're ddone with it?" Well yeah I'm a little behind on my gaming but hey, I'm proud of myself. The rewards are just as sweet. When you beat the game there are a bunch of unlocked videos about the making and about the game. If that wasn't enough it unlocks "God Mode" which I'm sure is no walk in the park. But if you beat the game in God Mode than you unlock even more to quote them "secret" stuff. So now I think the next game is going to be Final Fantasy XII or Marvel Ultimate Alliance. What to do, it's crazy.

Tired Thumbs #56 - Going with the fl0w

2007-02-19T14:59:00.000-06:00

Show Notes

Supreme Commander
fl0w
Q-Bert
ArroundTheController.com
Crackdown
Other Releases
Some Classic games we can't get enough of

Download ""My Sword Hand's Anger"" (mp3)
from "National Anthem of Nowhere"
by Apostle Of Hustle
Arts & Crafts

More On This Album

Technical Issues

2007-02-17T03:56:00.000-06:00

We are having technical issues with the RSS for the PS3 Cast on this feed. If you are subscribed to the cast via Tired Thumbs, please subscribe entering the following URL into your podcatcher:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/ps3cast

You can also subscribe via the iTunes music store by clicking this button:

Once again we are sorry for the technical problems. Please feel free to make those adjustments.

Thanks,

Charlie and Jim

PS3 Cast #4 - Lets go to Europe!

2007-02-16T00:16:00.000-06:00

Show Notes

New Web Address
PS3Cast@gmail.com
We go all out on the PS3 launch in Europe
List of Launch Titles

Download "Out Of Sight" (mp3)
from "Modern Currencies"
by Uncut
Paper Bag Records

Buy at iTunes Music Store

More On This Album

Warhammer Press Conference

2007-02-15T17:55:00.000-06:00

We were invited to a call in media press conference to discuss "Warhammer Online Empire", which is a brand new MMO coming out this year, we had the opportunity to talk with the folks from EA Mythic. This is going to be a great game, this could be the "World of Warcraft" killer.

Old School

2007-02-14T22:22:00.000-06:00

So we talk a lot about games on the show and articles that we post. But I feel that movies, and music also play a part in small way. Movies and music give game developers the ideas that we see when we play the latest Grand Theft Auto or Halo. These two things, music and movies influence the way we play and interpret games.

So anyway I DVR'd "Old School" during the Super Bowl, well because I was watching my Chicago Bears getting nailed by the Colts(Next state over). As I was a part of the way through watching the movie the news station cut in with coverage and the only way to switch to the movie was going to their digital channel which is cable only and not sattelite.

But man this is a funny movie, it's a must rent if you want to laugh your ass off. But of course not for the kids.

Happy Valentines Day!!!

2007-02-14T22:19:00.000-06:00

So I'm about 40 minutes to midnight as of this posting on the East coast. But it's 8:20 on the West coast. So there is time to say to everyone "Happy Valentine's Day". Make sure your significant other gets the gift of games!

PLEASE DIGG: Virginia High School Student Missing

2007-02-14T18:43:00.000-06:00

PLEASE CONTACT ME ON AIM (djh816) IF YOU HAVE INFO

The search is on for 17-year-old Eric Gordon Murphy. The 6-foot-4, 220 pound Murray High School student was last seen at his Lakeside Apartment complex Tuesday morning.

http://www.digg.com/offbeat_news/PLEASE_DIGG_Virginia_High_School_Student_Missing

Wii Play

2007-02-13T19:49:00.001-06:00

So Wii Play is out in the U.S. How are you enjoying it. I was stupid and didn't pre-orer it, so I must wait until it comes in stock at my local gaming haven. Let me know how you are liking/disliking it.

A Perfect Reason to Stay Inside

2007-02-13T16:03:00.000-06:00

This is the ultimate reason to stay inside, keep your hands warm around your favorite controller!

New Cooking Mama Screen Shots

2007-02-13T10:40:00.000-06:00

This is the latest screen shots for "Cooking Mama Cook Off". If you are a fan of the DS version than looking at the screen shots for the Wii version should have you salivating for a second helping of gaming fun. The graphics look smooth and the implementation of the WiiMote looks REALLY promising. Let's get cooking!.

Tired Thumbs #55 - Lone Podcaster

2007-02-13T00:33:00.000-06:00

Show Notes

Jim will be on the show at the end
Contact Us
TiredThumbs.com Should be up
Send an e-kiss through the Love Hub
FiringSquad.com Contest
Western Developers Leading the Industry
Careers in Gaming
Online Interactive Book Taking the Consoles by Storm
Oblivion on the PS3
NVIDIA and Transgaming Joining Forces
Televised Tournament Gaming in the U.K.
Game Developers Conference '07
Last Weeks Releases
Upcoming Releases
Reviews Pushed Back A Week
Interview with Mike and Leo who took part in the NHL 2K7 Tourney in Dallas

Podsafe Tune

Download "3 A.M." (mp3)
from "Big Black Hole And The Little Baby Star"
by Sean Hayes
Sean Hayes

Buy at iTunes Music Store

More On This Album

What Gives?

2007-02-09T17:30:00.000-06:00

Ok, I am a HUGE "Legend of Zelda" fan, and after looking through the proposed virtual console release titles on Wikipedia, I have to say I'm a tad upset. Today Europe received a "Zelda: The Adventures of Link". Which was the sequel to the original one. This was the title that strayed totally away from the previous titles interface, and thus made it unique.

Well Europe got it today and here in the U.S. it's not even slated to come out. Ok, you're asking what do we have that they don't. Well they don't have "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past", but it is slated to come out Q1 2007.

So what gives Nintendo, show us some love. Keep the VC titles coming and don't be afraid to tell us whats coming out like on Friday or something to that measure.

PS3 Cast #3 - Motorstorm is nice!

2007-02-09T15:28:00.000-06:00

Show Notes

Motorstorm March 6th
Oblivion: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Metal Gear Movie on the Way
Activision Increasing thier Estimated Revenue
Genji for 23 bucks!

Podsafe Music

Download "Who?" (mp3)
from "Tepid Peppermint Wonderland: A Retrospective"
by The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Rubric Records

Buy at iTunes Music Store

More On This Album

Calling All Gamers

2007-02-08T12:31:00.000-06:00

Tired Thumbs is once again expanding in a big way. Right now we can't tell you what is going on as it's going to be a surprise and we want everything running like a smooth oiled machine.

So...we're looking for writers who love writing about video games, or people who would like to write about video games but never really thought about really doing it. This is your chance. We want enthusiastic people who love gaming as much as we do to write, and even talk, yeah, that's right you could be on the Tired Thumbs podcast. But lets start with writing first.

While the requirements are low at this time, here is what we would prefer, though it's not necessary. We are willing to train:

Have some blogging experience.
A deep passion for gaming and all that it is.
A positive attitude.

If you can't make the latter of the requirements please do not apply. We want happy people, and not people who are going to make people miserable. Once again, if you have never written before, we will work with you.

Currently we are not paying anything at the moment. We are working on something that is bigger than this site, so there is going to be some MAJOR announcements. But we need to have all of our ducks in a row. We're not going to rush a thing through just to have it going.

But we will let you know more as the we get things lined up. Send your writing samples, ideas, why you want to write to: tiredthumbs@gmail.com

This is exciting!

NHL 2K7 Interview

2007-02-08T12:27:00.000-06:00

On this Monday's show, we will be interviewing Mike and Leo who were finalists in the NHL 2K7 Tournament that was held at the NHL All-Star Game in Dallas. Looks like its going to be a good time. Stay aggregated, fun stuff on the way.

The Blue Glow

2007-02-06T21:36:00.000-06:00

Well, about five minutes ago the wife said that our Wii just started glowing blue while in stand by mode. Those with Wii's and have an Internet connection know when you have it in stand bye mode and it just starts glowing blue that Nintendo has given us an update. Unfortunately I don't know what the update it, but I'm going to guess that the update will include the following channels:

Movie Channel(Get local listings)

Trailers Channel(Movie Trailers)

Stock Channel(Stock Market)

I know there are more, but I will wait until "House" is over to check it out, and I will post it. Man it feels like Christmas!

Onto My Next Conquest

2007-02-06T16:58:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I finished "Resistance", so now I have been playing with "God of War and I have to say...WOW.

This might be a bit of a spoiler, but I can't help but mention it. After you kill the Hydra on the ship in the opening level there is a cut scene at the end of it that shows naked woman. Lets further that there is a sex mini-game where you receive red orbs by correctly hitting the buttons in sequence.

This reminds me of a little game called "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" and the "Hot Coffee" mod that allowed players to do what you do in "God of War". Rockstar got so much flack for it, why hasn't Activision gotten the same treatment, it just doesn't make sense. If you're going to wave your finger at someone for doing something wrong and not the other, than that's plane profiling. What do you think?

So Jim sent me a copy of "The World Series of Poker" for the Wii, and it wouldn't be so bad if the difficulty levels were not so apparent during game play. The only way to REALLY enjoy the game is on the Hard difficulty setting. I recommend you take a look at it if you have a chance.

Time to Unplug

2007-02-05T00:28:00.000-06:00

Well my dear Chicago Bears really tried, and screwed up in doing so. But enough of sports.

It seems that I have been constantly attached to my craptop(my laptop with a broken heat sink)for the last week. I have been constantly checking my e-mail(s), browsing sites for information, reading other blogs, and press releases that relate to gaming.

Before I give further details on my unplugging, here is my personal gaming recap of the day. I already posted that I beat "Resistance", so I need to pick another title in my library to start. I did play a great deal of the original "Legend of Zelda" yesterday as well as "Super Mario Brothers". Man I still can't believe that those games are over 20 years old. According to my Wii Yesterday(Saturday), I played a total of 1 hour and 43 minutes under the daily accomplishments. Today(Sunday) there was not much gaming going on, only 35 minutes. This was of course due to the Super Bowl.

So I think today, Monday I am going to completely unplug. Well sort of unplug. I watch my daughters as my wife works the graveyard shift at the hospital and sleeps during the day.

Here is what I am not going to do:

Check my e-mail.

Turn my computer on(Yeah it's Monday as of this posting, but this is the end of my day).

Do anything Internet related(Except talking to Jim, some cool things on the horizon....shh).

Here is what I AM going to do:

Do my medical coding studies so I can get this course done with in 4 months.

I WILL play video games, when I have done enough studying.

Pick up my latest Stephen King book, "Lisey's Story"(It's a slow start kind of book).

Take a nap when the kids do, because hey, I'm unplugged.

Well it's almost 1 am in Chicago, so it's bedy bye time. Night Night!

Tired Thumbs #54 - Lets Play!

2007-02-04T00:19:00.000-06:00

Show Notes

Sonic.....uh.....yeah?
Why didn't Sony make more 1080p Games?
Golfing Twosome
Asta La Vista Baby
1080p
Ultimate Baseball Online
Penny Arcade Expo
Microsoft's Losses
Rumble on the PS3
PS3 Price Drop?

PS3 Cast #2 - Da' Bears

2007-02-02T21:03:00.000-06:00

Finally a New Game
Saints Row Making a PS3 Appearance
Sony has a big mouth
Force Feedback for the PS3
Sony Losing Money and Pimping the PSP
PS3 Price Drop?
New PSP Firmware
New Cell Processor
Blu-Ray Releases

Resistance Has Been Beat!!

2007-01-30T12:38:00.000-06:00

I am proud to say that Resistance: Fall of Man has been beaten. The end game is fabulous as well as the pay off. I'm not going to ruin it for you, so if you want to know more, shoot us an e-mail.

Tired Thumbs #53 - It's an MMO Kind of Week

2007-01-29T01:28:00.000-06:00

Show Notes

Square-Enix Enter Into Licensing Agreement with Epic Games
Blizzard Sells Over 1 Million Copies of Burning Crusade
New City of Heroes Expansion Coming
French and German Version of Final Fantasy XI Coming
Pre-Orders Being Taken for "The Lord of the Rings Online" February 1st
NHL 2K7 Tournament to be held at the 55th NHL All-Star Game
Can Zelda Really Be 20 Years Old?

PS3 Cast - Can't We All Get Along?

2007-01-27T21:39:00.001-06:00

This is our first show with many things to talk about. Please send us your feedback to ps3cast@gmail.com.

Some good, somme bad. We try to make you feel good about spending alot of money.

World of Warcraft Expansion Big Hit

2007-01-23T10:59:00.000-06:00

Blizzard Entertainment® today announced that World of Warcraft®: The Burning Crusade™ has broken the day-one sales record to become the fastest-selling PC game ever in North America and Europe, with a worldwide total of nearly 2.4 million copies sold in the first 24 hours of availability. The Burning Crusade, the first expansion set for World of Warcraft, was simultaneously released in North America, Europe, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia on 16 January, and on 17 January in Australia and New Zealand.

Blizzard had supplied more than 4 million game boxes to retailers worldwide, and more than 5,000 stores throughout the world had their doors open at midnight to welcome thousands of expectant players.

Day-one sales totals on both continents were similar, with an estimated total of nearly 1.2 million copies sold on the first day in North America and an estimated total of more than 1.1 million copies sold in Europe within the first 24 hours of launch.* By the end of the first day of availability on both continents, a total of more than 1.7 million players had already logged in and upgraded World of Warcraft to play The Burning Crusade.

“The Burning Crusade has already exceeded even our most ambitious expectations,” said Mike Morhaime, president and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’re pleased that so many players are eager to see all of the new content that the expansion has to offer, and we look forward to seeing everyone online as additional players continue to upgrade in the days ahead.”

Retailers are continuing to report sustained demand, so if players have not yet purchased their copy of The Burning Crusade, they are advised to call ahead to make sure their store has copies on hand. Additional shipments of the expansion have been routed to retailers to help maintain stock levels.

“The excitement and sense of anticipation generated by the huge crowd at The Burning Crusade launch event far exceeded our expectations,” said Tim Ellis, Head of Games for HMV, UK. “And in terms of units shifted, this was HMV’s biggest launch event ever, and that includes Audio and DVD events.”

Prior to the launch of The Burning Crusade, World of Warcraft was played by more than 8 million players around the world -- with more than 2 million on North American realms and more than 1.5 million on European realms -- making it the most successful subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game in PC-gaming history.

Dragon Ball Z Lineup Explained

2007-01-22T19:49:00.000-06:00

Atari today announced the development of two new Dragon Ball Z® titles for 2007 release, Dragon Ball Z® Shin Budokai: Another Road for the PSP (TM) (PlayStation®Portable) system and Dragon Ball Z® Harukanaru Densetsu for Nintendo DS(TM).

Dragon Ball Z Shin Budokai: Another Road is the sequel to Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai, one of the best selling PSP® system games launched in 2006. The game takes the intense Wi-Fi multiplayer battles and thrilling combative gameplay made popular in last year's hit and adds an improved fighting system with over 50 new fighting skills and ultimate attacks and the power to play heroes and villains from the DBZ, Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball worlds. In addition to these all-new features, Shin Budokai: Another Road will send players into a completely new story arc following the future world of Trunks on his adventures against rival Majin Buu. Developed by NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. / Dimps, Dragon Ball Z Shin Budokai: Another Road is slated to release in March 2007 for the PSP® system.

Dragon Ball Z Harukanaru Densetsu is an all new DBZ® experience unlike any other for the Nintendo DS. Harukanaru Densetsu combines strategic card based gameplay and role playing to deliver a game that is easy to understand but hard to master. Players' progression is determined through their use of the cards to evolve characters, strengthen moves and create new moves. Developed by NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc., Dragon Ball Z Harukanaru Densetsu will be available on Nintendo DS in Spring 2007.

"Newcomers and faithful fans of DBZ will be thrilled with these two new handheld games," said Emily Anadu, Product Manager, Atari, Inc. "Shin Budokai: Another Road lets players take the DBZ universe over a Wi-Fi network with an exciting new story that is sure to grab long-time fans while Harukanaru Densetsu tackles a new form of RPG with card-playing - an interesting innovation for the DBZ series that we believe will attract gamers who enjoy strategy based gameplay."

Anadu continued, "Both games represent the innovation and evolution that characterize the DBZ experience and maintain the Dragon Ball Z reputation as one of the best anime and cartoon-based series of all time."

New Video for Savage 2: A Tortured Soul

2007-01-22T19:31:00.000-06:00

Developer S2 Games today released an enticing movie trailer for Savage 2: A Tortured Soul, the highly anticipated sequel to the independent developer’s first PC title, Savage: The Battle for Newerth.

Now available for viewing, the new three-and-a-half minute trailer is loaded from beginning to end with never-before-seen action, including clips featuring the awesome, massive Behemoth from the Beast Horde, the destructive power of the Steambuchet, the melee battle interface, as well as perspectives from both the Commander and Soldier gameplay viewpoint. All of this will leave gamers hankering for more!

“We’re extremely excited with where we are at right now with the development of Savage 2,” said Marc DeForest, co-founder and lead designer, S2 Games. “As we near the launch of the beta phase we will continue to update our loyal fans and the community on new features as they are implemented.”

Due for release later this year, Savage 2: A Tortured Soul is poised to set new standards and trends in online multiplayer gaming.

To download the trailer:
(Large, High-Quality file) or
(Smaller, Lower-Quality file).

Virtua Fighter 5 Goes Gold

2007-01-22T19:24:00.000-06:00

SEGA announced today that Virtua Fighter 5 for the Sony PS3 has officially gone gold and will release in North America on February 20, 2007. The highly anticipated arcade fighting game brings action-packed adrenaline-pumping action as players battle against each other in stunning high quality 3D environments.

Virtua Fighter 5 brings the 3D fighting game genre to the next level making it the perfect arcade conversion with an all new Quest Mode, character customization options, two new characters, commentary feature and stunning high quality fighting environments. The Quest Mode allows players to compete in various arcades to win prize money to buy items and fully customize each character. Two new characters, Eileen and El Blaze, round out the roster to 17 dynamic and different characters. Eileen uses “Kou-Ken”, a Monkey Kung Fu style while El Blaze is a Mexican wrestling champion that uses the Lucha Lubre technique. Players will also be able to turn on the commentary feature allowing players to hear a play-by-play sports commentary audio while fighting their opponents.

Developed by the renowned AM R&D Development No.2 team based in Japan, Virtua Fighter 5 will be rated T for Teen by the ESRB and will have an MSRP of $59.95. Also, SEGA has partnered with Gamestop to offer $5.00 off the MSRP if you pre-order for a limited time. To take advantage of this offer, please visit

Capcom Ships 2 Million

2007-01-22T19:05:00.000-06:00

Capcom® today announced that both Lost Planet™: Extreme Condition and Dead Rising™ for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft have each shipped more than one million units worldwide. These numbers make Capcom the most successful Japanese software publisher producing games for the Xbox 360. Lost Planet has shipped one million units worldwide following its December 21 release in Japan and subsequent January 12 release in North America and Europe, while Dead Rising has done the same since its release on August 8, 2006. Dead Rising, rated M for Mature by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), and Lost Planet, rated T for Teen, can be found on retail shelves around the world.

"The fact that we’ve reached the important one million milestone with our first two 360 titles makes our success that much more phenomenal," said Mark Beaumont, executive vice president, officer, Capcom Entertainment and Capcom Europe. "It speaks volumes for the quality of games Capcom produces, as well as the potential for Japanese publishers and new intellectual properties on the system."

Dead Rising is an action horror game that follows the harrowing tale of Frank West, an overly zealous freelance photojournalist in pursuit of the story of a lifetime in a small suburban town which has been completely overrun by zombies. He seeks refuge in the local shopping mall, but soon learns it is far from the safe haven he had thought. Dead Rising takes place over 72 hours, during which Frank must unravel the mystery behind the catastrophe and survive the dangerous swarm of enemies that lie in wait. The unprecedented level of freedom provides players with a vast array of gameplay possibilities to do anything and everything they’ve wanted to do in a mall. Hundreds of unique objects can be used as weapons to fend off the hordes of zombies - everything from golf clubs and baseball bats to cash registers and stuffed animals. With the population of the town of Willamette being more than 50,000 people, this means that potentially over 50 billion zombies have been unleashed on Xbox 360 systems around the globe.

Combining a gripping single player campaign and intense multiplayer modes with support for up to 16 players via Xbox Live® online game service, Lost Planet is an epic gaming masterpiece. Taking full advantage of the Xbox 360 system’s unprecedented power, Lost Planet contains an unrivalled level of detail as advanced light sourcing is used to ensure a realistic presentation that enhances every explosion, smoke and particle effect. Enormous world maps unfold as players battle hostile creatures in blistering weather conditions across vast snow fields and deserted cities either on foot or in armed, robotic Vital Suits.

Tired Thumbs #52

2007-01-22T14:44:00.000-06:00

This is Jim's inaugaral show. Here are some of the show highlights.

Sony Bashing and Loving. Seemes to be a love/hate relationship right now.
Wee for a Wii?
Sony's Online Network
PS3 Titles pushed back
Crackdown coming up
Gears of War sells 3 million copies
New Train Simulator
Sony sells 5 million games worldwide
Final Fantasy XIII deemo out this year

And of course a bunch more!

Download "Pagant sant pere canta" (mp3)
from "Eclectcinismo"
by La Celula Durmiente
BCore Disc

Buy at iTunes Music Store

iMac, iPod, iStation?

2007-01-20T18:41:00.000-06:00

We all know that the gaming industry is big business. We also know it's sink or swim on success or failure. The following is purely speculation of course but this would be a very interesting theory.

It seems that Sony has not been having a good holiday season with an install base of just under 50% of consoles shipped to the U.S. Yes, they have sold them to stores, but the stores still have them on the shelves. Not only that but we have not seen any new, and recent titles out. New titles now have either been pushed back or scrapped.

Now with those numbers in your head, Sony is preparing for their European launch in March. Sony has to literally be hedging their bets on the new system that people do not seem to want. They're hoping that titles like "Resistance", which is their strongest seller at the moment, "Motorstorm", and "Lair" will lure the gamer in. But for how long will someone wait. If Sony keeps pushing titles back, we'll still be playing "Resistance" well into April or May until we see something new.

So the rumor mill begins. What if things do not go as planned? Sony may be looking at cutting the fat, as in their Playstation division. Once again this is STRICTLY theory. Where there is a lady, there are suitors waiting for courtship. Here are some possible suitors to be, and they both make operating systems. Now before you go screaming to Redmond, don't overlook Cupertino.

Instead of saying yeah it's Microsoft, lets take a peek at Apple. Their computers are starting to grow in market place share. The iPod has dominance in the portable music market. The iTunes store has thus far sold over 1.5 Billion songs, movies, TV shows, and music videos. And late last year Apple had been hiring gaming programmers, which of course created games for their 5th generation iPod which displays video. They have retail stores all over the world, multiple stores in major cities. They also have created a relationship with Electronic Arts, a major player in the gaming industry.

So....they have the technology, the programmers, partnerships, and market share. They could easily take this off of Sony's hands should this theory comes to fruition. Now lets head north to Redmond.

OK, the 360 is the dominant player alongside the Wii right now, with titles such as "Gears of War" which has sold more than 3 million copies, an online community infrastructure that REALLY works good, and a fan base all over the world, plus they were the first next gen system to come out. In my personal opinion I don't think Microsoft would take on another gaming system unless they were going to discontinue it or do something really big with it. I would happen to guess that if they took the Playstation there might be an anti-trust because holding two major brands would conflict no?

So there are the rumors, speculations, breakdowns, and predictions. Personally I hope this is not true and just that, a rumor. If things did go south I would hope Apple would take the reigns.

I Welcome Our New Co-Host

2007-01-19T11:42:00.000-06:00

I am REALLY excited to announce that Jim Ness is signing on as co-host to the Tired Thumbs podcast. Jim is an experienced gamer and blogger and will be adding a HUGE amount of info and interesting things. His premeir will be this Sunday. Once again welcome Jim.

What Wee Will Do for a Wii

2007-01-19T11:40:00.000-06:00

Lets file this under the stupidity category. We all want a Nintendo Wii, there is no denying it, despite it's lackluster graphics. However it is a lot of fun to play, and you can be anywhere from eight to eighty.

We all have a morning radio show in our home town that is what we call "Zoo Radio". Really high octane fun that is aimed at the 18 to 34 audience. According to the Associated Press a radio station in California pulled a contest that was stupid and deadly.

The contest was called "Hold your Wee for a Wii". Yeah you read that right. Well things didn't go so great. As a result of disregarding warnings from listeners and staff that the contest is dangerous, the D.J.'s of the show went along anyway.

With all the warnings a contestant lost her life. 28 year old Jennifer Strange was one of 18 contestants who were vying for a Wii. The gist of the contest was to see how much water the contestant could drink without going to the toilet. Strange dies due to water intoxication, which means she consumed to much water. Witnesses claim that she might have consumed as much as 7.6 liters of water,

Five hours later she was found dead in her Sacramento home. The Sacramento County coroner stated she had died of water intoxication.

"Drinking large quantities of water rapidly can throw off the bodies balance of electrolytes, causing brain swelling and leading to seizures, coma or even death."

Drinking large quantities of water rapidly can throw off the bodies balance of electrolytes, causing brain swelling and leading to seizures, coma or even death."
She was hoping to get the Wii for her two sons and daughter.

The station has obviously terminated the ten staff members responsible for the contest. One of the D.J's had the arrogance to say. "Well she signed the consent form". C'mon man, take a little responsibility for your actions.

It is really sad to see something like this happen. And the station responsible is COMPLETELY at fault in this bloggers eyes. On-Air personalities are not the only people who should be held responsible. The program director for one should be included as well as the promotions department who probably concocted this up. I am also going to pass a little blame on the victim. She and the the other contestants should think before doing something that could be a possible health risk. This has turned into a rant, but I wanted to get this off my chest. No game system is worth putting your life at risk.

Tired Thumbs #51

2007-01-14T01:18:00.000-06:00

Andrew Yoon from PSPFanboy.com joins us.

Additional Blu-Ray Content
Gran Turismo HD v 1.1
8 Gb Memory Stick for 300 Bucks
Microsoft buying Capcom?
E For All
World of Warcraft 8 million served

Tired Thumbs #50

2006-12-20T22:29:00.000-06:00

Notes

4 Days till Christmas
Special Christmas Show on Monday December 25th
Send Us Your Christmas Wish Lists for Tomorrows Show
Halo 3 Documentary Now Available on XBOX Live Marketplace

The Above is for those of you that don't have an account on XBOX Live
Call of Duty 3 Patch Released
Command and Conquer 3 Screen Shots Released Click Here
Nintendo Lawsuit Update
PS3 Envy
Free Wii Virtual Console Games
Scarface Makes it to the 360
Line Rider Coming to the DS and the Wii
Wii Weather Theory

Send Us Those Wish Lists

Podsafe Music Tonight

Download "Christmas In Malibu" (mp3)
from "Christmas in Malibu"
by The Rad Dudes
Radude Records

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at RealNetworks / Rhapsody
Stream from RealNetworks / Rhapsody

Tired Thumbs #49

2006-12-19T22:27:00.000-06:00

Show Notes

More Wii's and PS3's Available
Wii's Web Browser
Tunneling for 360's
The $700 T-Shirt
Podsafe Music:

Download "Jingle Bells (Dan The Automator Remix)" (mp3)
from "Christmas Remixed - Holiday Classics Re-Grooved"
by Various Artists
Rock River Music

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Napster
Buy at RealNetworks / Rhapsody
Stream from RealNetworks / Rhapsody

Quake Con 2007
More Content for Gears of War
Zune Gaming
New DVD Releases

E-mail us tiredthumbs@gmail.com

Donate if you can.

Tired Thumbs #48

2006-12-18T23:11:00.000-06:00

MP3

Gaming News for Tuesday, December 19th, 2006

Show Notes

Nintendo Wii Class Action
http://www.classcounsel.com
Grand Theft Auto IV Heading to the Wii?
Control your PS3 with a Wii Controller using Linux
Halo 3 Documentary Coming to Marketplace This Week
PS3 Not Available for Christmas in Australia
Metal Gear Silent 4 Will Not Be Coming to the XBOX
Wii Selling for More on E-bay
flOw Coming to the Playstation Store in January
Happy 5th Day of Hanukkah

Send us your promos, comments, etc to tiredthumbs@gmail.com

Tip #1 - World of Warcraft

2006-12-17T23:13:00.000-06:00

MP3

Today's tip deals with World of Warcraft. It's more of a tool than a tip. What it is, it's a map of Azeroth that uses Google Maps API. Check it out!

Links

http://mapwow.com

Review: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas

2006-12-17T21:54:00.000-06:00

by Dustin Harman

Rainbow Six: Vegas is the latest in the Tom Clancy shooter series for the XBOX 360 and PC. It's single player consists of many well designed levels, most of which are in Las Vegas, NV. They follow the same style as the previous Clancy games, requiring stealth and skill to get through them. The learning curve on the game is very good and within no time, you will master the controls. It's similar to the default presets on most PC and XBOX 360 FPS's.

Though the single player is nice, the multiplayer is where this game really shines. The levels are chunks from the levels you encounter in the single player mode and with an 8v8 game, you'll fall in love with the action-packed, stealthy, skillful gameplay.

The graphics in this game are the only part that I wish were better. I haven't played the PC version of the game yet and can't comment on those but on the XBOX 360 version, the graphics are definitely not that of a next-gen game. They don't look bad at all from a distance and anyone getting the game for the actual gameplay won't mind them at all. If you walk up close, however, you can clearly see pixilation. The 360 and PC can definitely handle higher definition bitmaps than that. Other than the graphics (which still don't look bad), this game is amazing. Definitely a must-have for all followers (new and old) of the Rainbow Six series. Overall, I give the game a 9/10 only losing a point because of the graphics.

Ok! So I Nuked My Site!

2006-12-17T01:34:00.000-06:00

Ok! So heres the deal. About a day or two ago I accidentally nuked my Word Press site, and now we have moved temporarily to blogger again.

If you are seeing this then it means you are ok, because I have re-pinged the feed to point to here for the time being.

Starting Monday December 18th, the show will be on. Expect a show every day with a brand new trick.

If you don't have a news aggrigator, you might want to get one. Here are two popular applications: Feed Demon and NewsGator.

So here is a re-cap for those of you playing at home. There will be daily shows starting Monday, December 18th, and I will be posting game stories to the site here.

We will again try to get a new Word Press site going, but for now we are back on blogger which is at http://tiredthumbs.blogspot.com, so there you have it. If you want to send a story in, then e-mail me one at tiredthumbs [at] gmail dot com.

I look forward to being back and operating. If you see this then I have re-directed you.

Internet Explorer 7

2006-11-08T18:17:00.000-06:00

I just updated the wifes PC with IE 7 and it looks nice. I use Firefox on the Mac because it's my computer and like it, but it looks like IE put some nice features in here, including RSS.

Tired Thumbs Widget

2006-11-07T09:44:00.000-06:00

We have a Spring widget out. It is right below this text. It's not Mac OS X compatible as far as I know. If you know anything about widgets for the Macc, please let me know!

Get this widget!

Tired Thumbs LIVE!!!

2006-10-29T16:26:00.000-06:00

Catch Tired Thumbs live tonight at 7:30 EST at TalkShoe.com. We'll be having live discussions with you thee listeners and anyone else that wantts to talk. Our primary discussion will be the Next-Gen launches coming up in November.

Already a member of Talk Shoe? Here is the link to the chat room.

If you're not a member, than sign up. It's fast, wuick and easy. Our session ID is 4024. I hope to see you tonight!

Charlie

XBOX Portable??

2006-10-29T16:21:00.000-06:00

I caught this image on the net. Could it be an XBOX portable? Who knows, but it looks freaking sweet, here's the pic!

A Sneak Peek at "Spore"

2006-10-28T11:09:00.000-05:00

Check out this awesome video of the upcoming Will Wright Game "Spore"

Spore Video

Tired Thumbs Leaves Tech Podcasts

2006-10-12T17:53:00.000-05:00

Effective immediately the Tired Thumbs Podcast is no longer associated with "The Tech Podcasting Network". We are trying to take the show in a new direction and feel this is the best course to take.

Many thanks to all those who have helped out in the past!

Charlie

Countdown to Madden

2006-08-21T12:14:00.000-05:00

We are almost there. Madden '07 looks to be a gorgeous update to this fantastic franchise. Looks great on the XBOX 360 as well. Get it, play it, love it!!!

A New Show is on the way!

2006-03-10T19:52:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone, I just wanted to let you know a new show is on the way and it's gonna be a blast, we are going to be reviewing "From Russia with Love", and thats just the tip of the iceberg. Thanks for staying subscribed.

Tired Thumbs #47

2006-02-12T22:24:00.000-06:00

Fun Fun Fun, without a tooth!

MP3

Grand Theft Auto Star Passes Away

2006-01-26T01:37:00.000-06:00

Chris Penn who played Officer Pulaski in "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" was found dead in Santa Monica at the age of 40.

He is also known for his acting work in films such as "Reservor Dogs", True Romance", and Short Cuts.

read more | digg story

Grand Theft Auto Star Passes Away

2006-01-26T01:31:00.000-06:00

Here is what was reported at Gamespot.com

San Andreas actor found dead
Body of Reservoir Dogs star Chris Penn, who voiced Eddie Pulaski in the latest GTA, is discovered in Santa Monica.

His character in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas may have met a semicomic end in the Las Venturas desert, but there was nothing funny about the real-life passing of actor Chris Penn. Penn, 40, was found dead in an apartment in the seaside Los Angeles suburb of Santa Monica early this morning. Police told the Reuters news service that they did not suspect foul play.

Penn, the younger brother of Oscar winner Sean Penn, was a veteran character actor. His roles in such films as Resevoir Dogs, True Romance, Rush Hour, and Starsky & Hutch made him a familiar face to moviegoers. Gamers knew him from GTA: San Andreas as the voice of corrupt Los Santos Police Officer Eddie Pulaski, the accomplice of game villain Officer Frank Tenpenny, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson.

Penn's death is the second San Andreas-related tragedy this week. Over the weekend, a massive fire damaged some offices of Take-Two Interactive, owner of Grand Theft Auto publisher Rockstar Games.
Print this Story
By Tor Thorsen
Posted Jan 25, 2006 8:43 am PT

"Star Wars: Empire at War" demo hacked two days after release

2006-01-21T00:52:00.000-06:00

Link includes an Empire campaign and mod making tools (allowing you to unlock tons of content included in the demo but not
used). Turns out the entire game is described mostly by xml files, making it extremly easy to change the demo campaign,
units, planets, and almost everything else in the game.

Ahhh......technology!

read more | digg story

Video Game Maps

2006-01-21T00:49:00.000-06:00

This is very cool, check it out!

Who knows how long this guy spent mapping oldschool classics. He's done entire game maps of such classics as Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past, Super Mario World, Doom II, etc.

read more | digg story

Tired Thumbs - Episode #46

2006-01-20T22:45:00.000-06:00

We experimhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifent with the new version of Garageband. We cover the news in the gaming world. Your feedback is appreciated!

MP3

Tired Thumbs - Episode #45

2006-01-10T00:35:00.000-06:00

Todd Cochran from Geek News Central joins us as we discuss the happenings at the recent Consumer Electronics Show. Todd gives a unique and interesting perspective and overview of what happened.

MP3

Tired Thumbs - Episode #44

2005-12-31T22:23:00.000-06:00

A short but lively show, a listener question and more. Have a safe and happy new years.

Charlie and Veronica

MP3

Get Skyped with Power Gramo

2005-12-31T21:08:00.000-06:00

This has to be the coolest FREE program I have seen. It records your Skype conversations for free and it sounds spectacular. Check it out here.

So, so epic.

2005-12-31T17:22:00.000-06:00

If you look past the use of 3 Doors Down as the music, this has got to be one of the most epic music videos I have ever seen in my life.

It's a tearjerker.

Tired Thumbs - Episode #43

2005-12-23T16:25:00.000-06:00

Well I'm back and thanks to Andrew for covering for me, this show is heavy on XBOX news plus some other goodies, hope you and enjoy and have a Happy Holiday!!!

MP3

Show #42: Return of a classic

2005-12-18T14:54:00.000-06:00

MP3

Guest hosting again, Andrew MacNeill of the FoxShow!

I hope the music isn't too loud on this one everyone!

And hey!

Take the gaming poll!

What's up with Star Wars Galaxies? See here, here and here

Revolution Review

No one wants the xBox? We need 360,000 of them? But we don't need HD-DVD

What you need for gaming

And the return of an awesome classic

oh yeah , and some stuff I forgot to mention.

New Comment Line

2005-12-10T20:08:00.000-06:00

We have a new comment line phone number. It has changed to:

206-339-3949

We encourage all of you to participate, whether it's a comment; good or bad, a gamming tip or trick, or a game review that you want to tell the world about. We hope to hear from you all.

Charlie

Tired Thumbs #41

2005-12-10T13:17:00.000-06:00

MP3

Guest hosting again, Andrew MacNeill of the FoxShow!

I hope the music isn't too loud on this one everyone!

And hey!

Take the gaming poll!

Here's the Top 10 Gripes, sorry, I mean , WHINES, about the xBox 360 from cnet.

Nintendo's Stand on the Revolution

and here's where you can get those Acclaim games for a cool $5000.

Now, where is that Mouse 1.0 game?

Server Issues

2005-12-10T12:53:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone,

We are currently having server problems, and will have the shows up as soon as possible please bear with us.

Charlie

Thanks to Andrew MacNeail

2005-12-02T14:14:00.000-06:00

Many thanks to Andrew for covering this week, I had to have surgery done Monday, then was released Tuesday to end up back in the hospital here in Joliet where it looks like a bunch of things have come up. Thanks Again Andrew.

Tired Thumbs - Episode #40

2005-12-02T10:26:00.000-06:00

MP3

With guest host, Andrew MacNeill of the FoxShow!

Take the gaming poll!

Sony Will Present PS3 At CES 2006

2005-11-26T20:26:00.000-06:00

Sony has decided to acquire the central stand at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) that will take place in January next year in Las Vegas. Ok...that would seem rather normal...except for the fact that the stand will have 12,000 sq. feet (aprox 3660 square meters). That's a lot. Time to take away the X360 thunder.

This is the time my friends for those who have been eagerly awaiting some sign of the PS3 in our future. I just hope they keep they name as PS3 and not give it another name.

read more | digg story

Nintendo DS Price Cuts at Target

2005-11-23T15:59:00.000-06:00

For $99 dollars this December you'll be able to pick up a Nintendo DS at your local Target store. A remarkable price for a remarkable system! Don't be a loser and ask your mommy for a PSP this Christmas.

read more | digg story

Sony CEO Reveals Playstation 3 Price

2005-11-23T15:53:00.002-06:00

The CEO of Sony , Sir Howard Stringer, has revealed the Playstation 3 price range. According to the article the CEO claims Playstation 3 will be in the same price range as the Xbox360, $300-$400.

read more | digg story

Xbox 360s Crashing Like Mad?

2005-11-23T15:53:00.001-06:00

There appear to be increasing reports of Xbox 360s crashing even with games running on default settings. Could this be an early sign of serious defects or a problem between the gamepad and chair?

read more | digg story

Man robs EB store at gunpoint! WTF!

2005-11-23T15:53:00.000-06:00

A Stafford, Virginia, Electronics Boutique store was the scene of an armed robbery this morning. According to sources, the perpetrator made off with two Xbox 360 systems, forcing the store manager to hand them over at gunpoint.

read more | digg story

Heroes pull woman from Xbox blaze

2005-11-23T15:52:00.001-06:00

An Anglesey woman was pulled unconscious from her house by two strangers after succumbing to smoke generated by a faulty Xbox.

read more | digg story

BF2 1.12 Update Available

2005-11-23T15:52:00.000-06:00

The latest Battlefield2 update is available from EA. (1.12) Please post links to mirrors or torrents in the comments.

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Tired Thumbs - Episode #39

2005-11-18T22:06:00.000-06:00

We cover the movies and the last remaining XBOX 360's

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The Storm is Rising

2005-11-12T00:41:00.000-06:00

PS3 and Blueray, XBOX 360 trying to make friends with everyone, ahh the Karma. While this post is not a podcast but more of a rant I just want to say that we are going to see a MAJOR battle not only on the console front, but on the Media front, ie; Blueray, HD-DVD. And DVD.

The first battle of course is going to be the console battle which Microsoft will launch it's first attack after gobble day later this month, with the PS3 stumbling in early next year, and Nintendo doing something FANTASTIC to clean up. The XBOX 360 of course will take the first strike as it is going to be the first next gen console to hit the streets with it's beautiful graphics and what not. The PS3 may pave a new way with it's proprietary Blueray format, which would mean in my opinion that backward compatibility will be gone and they will shoot themselves in the foot.

And Nintendo......ahhhhh Nintendo. For a system that will likely see the light of day sometime this summer it has it's ducks in a row. Essentially it will have a Game Cube built in, as well as the ability to download games from the NES, Super Nintendo, and the Nintedo 64. And when I say a Game Cube built in, I mean it will be backward compatible not only to Gamecube, but compatible to the 1980's("Dr. Mario Anyone????").

So here are my predictions as to the winners: In first place the XBOX 360, Second the Nintendo Revolution, and trailing in third due to a foot wound due to being shot there due to Blueray is the PS3.

If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, if I'm right then I did my homework and get a gold star.

What are your predictions??

For those using iTunes

2005-10-29T11:41:00.000-05:00

Please re-subscribe to the cast, as there was a server meltdown and things are all good now.

Thanks,

Charlie

Tired Thumbs - Episode #38

2005-10-26T14:45:00.000-05:00

A quickied, using a new server, if the file is not downloading, please let me know.

Thanks!

MP3

Black and White 2

2005-10-07T11:25:00.000-05:00

According to the Lionhead website, Black and White 2 has been fully released today!

It's another big day for Lionhead Studios and especially the Black and White Team! Black and White 2 is out, released and on the shelves in every store!

Today there's a big launch event at the Virgin Megastore in London; Peter Molyneux and Ron Millar - and also other people from BWStudio - will give presentations of Black and White 2, answer questions from fans and give signatures. At the event you can buy a signed copy of the game and even play it before you buy. There'll be loads of prizes to win as well; from posters and gadgets to brand new ATI video cards.

Waiting for the Mac version...

Tired Thumbs - Episode #37

2005-09-26T22:31:00.000-05:00

Some cool news, and a chance to win a cool game!

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My Triumphant Return

2005-09-22T18:01:00.000-05:00

All moved in! The Internet is working! I'll be back for the next podcast :) I can't wait to hear Charlie's review of Nintendogs, especially since I'm probably going to buy it with my next paycheck. I've been waiting so long I can't STAND it!

Lets take a little poll: Should I spend my money on:
1. Nintendogs (and a DS to play it on)
2. World of Warcraft
3. Final Fantasy XI

I will actually purchase whichever one wins. How about that? YOU CAN MAKE ME SPEND MY OWN MONEY!! How sick is that? I deserve a present, no?

Tired Thumbs - Episode #36

2005-09-21T20:20:00.000-05:00

We cover the latest on MGS4 and Final Fantasy XI and much more.

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Episode #36 in the Works!!

2005-09-18T00:48:00.000-05:00

We are currently putting together the next show which should be Sunday Evening/Monday Morning. There is so much stuff flying out of Tokyo with TGS(Tokyo Gaming Show) going on it's hard to keep up. But we will have a blockbuster for you in a day or two. Keep the e-mails, voicemails, and comments comming. Let us know how we are doing.

Thanks

Scenes from new GTA

2005-09-15T11:12:00.000-05:00

CNET has a little video up with scenes from the new GTA: Liberty City Stories. Looks pretty sweet!

Tired Thumbs - Episode #35

2005-09-13T19:23:00.000-05:00

This week we cover Doom 3 on the Mac. Check out the shownotes for more details.

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Tired Thumbs - Episode #34

2005-09-13T06:53:00.000-05:00

We hash it out in our Tired Thumbs Gamephile with Rob from Podcast 411.

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Tired Thumbs - Episode #33

2005-09-12T14:39:00.000-05:00

Another awesome show. We hope you enjoy, and be sure to check out the forums for more great content.

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Nintendo art

2005-09-12T13:41:00.000-05:00

I was out at some gallery openings this weekend, and I came across this great Nintendo-influenced art! I didn't get the artists name, but if you live in the San Francisco area, visit the Labyrinth exhibit at the Red Ink studios on 6th and Market. Lots and lots of great stuff!

Tired Thumbs on Podcast 411

2005-09-12T13:35:00.000-05:00

We were fortunate enough to be interviewed Saturday on Podcast 411. I would like to thank Rob for the opportunity. Click the link below for the interview.