Mostly Lastly

Things continue to happen over at MOSTcast.  Just posted our new E3 podcast, we've got some Monaco gameplay up, and I'm working on a failure-ific vid of Pat and I playing Super Mario Bros. as this is being typed.  Vidyagames!

On the subject, Last of Us is a very impressive game.  I gifted it to Carrie and have been watching her play as well as helping out when needed.  These enemies have impressive intelligence, even on Easy difficulty.  I have wanted so long to face AI foes with some notion of self-worth, and after the ridiculous encounters of the Uncharted games I really had not expected Naughty Dog to be the ones to present it -- remember the paid gunmen who weren't terribly bothered about being trapped in a burning mansion?  But the (human) enemies in Last of Us react when you have a gun, react to being shot, react to their friends dying, and freak out a bit when they have no clue where your murderous ass is hiding.  This and so much else lends the combat an extremely hectic, panicked pace and feel.  I love the combat because of this, and it's only one of many elements the game nails.

Here is a thing.

Yep, nothing like retail to keep you on your toes.  New discoveries every day.

Link: Gamestop Creates Untapped DLC Demographic

This reminds me of three or four years ago when practically every gaming website was more or less laughing at Gamestop's reliance on physical product, clamoring that digital distribution would make up the majority of dollars spent on videogames by 2015. Silly game journalists, none of you were business majors!

Anyway, we're here in the future and while DLC does not make up the majority of console videogame sales it does represent a very appealing marketplace. Many things can be said about my employer's business practices, but I am impressed by the cleverness and forward-thinking Gamestop has displayed in implementing digital sales in stores over the past two years. It sounded ridiculous on paper, but in-store digital sales are an all-around good practice for everyone involved.

It's not often I fail to see a downside to any given something.

MOSTcast Episode 1

Say hello to our first podcast! We talk 2012 gaming, Dark Souls, 3DS and Vita vs. iOS and Android devices, and our thoughts on the Pokemon X & Y announcement. Give a listen and share your thoughts! Spread the word while you're at it!

Download available on the Soundcloud link.

And now, a comic

With the new year my quest to bring this blog to something resembling "functioning" or "not abandoned" has come to full swing!  I'm determined to make this site the hub for all things me and me-related, nonexistent readership be damned.  Tell your friends, tell your coworkers, tell your wives, tell your wives' friends, and for god's sake somebody tell your dog.  With all of humanity being snapped up by the ubiquitous Facebook menace I need to snap up the hyper-intelligent animal demographic before it starts.

To begin, a comic that depends wholly on your awareness of ancient Gamestop prank call fads.