This has been one hell of a week for me. First, I heard a multitude of really badass codec conversations between Chad Concelmo and the cast of Metal Gear Solid. Then, I saw several friggin’ awesome illustrations of Gentleman Dinosaur (the above concept art comes courtesy of Ashley Davis, while AgentMOO actually added a GD character to AMMO). Finally, right before the show began, I had the pleasure of reading some hilariously clever dino-related poetry.

So, yeah. Good week to be a podcast host.

Anyway, this week’s episode (which can be found here) was another random collection of news and skullduggery. Highlights included:

Poetry aplenty

Tiff Chow: Not Lacist

Jim makes a Mirror’s Edge funny

The Guardian, Glenn beck, Cheryl Olson, and Euphoria

The MGS Podtoid Contest Winner (put your email address in the comments)!

Aaron Linde still hates everything good in the world

This week, ryanrab1 won the $25 for asking a question that made Tiff sad. She may not sound upset on the actual show, but trust me — she was bawling afterward.

 

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There’s a story behind Colin’s Bear Animation, of course, but it’s just as hilarious without context. Whether you watch the original video, or the nine minute loop, or any of the myriad homages, Colin’s Bear Animation remains the greatest thing to ever grace the Internet — short of this week’s Podtoid, that is.

See that segueway? See how smooth that was? Yeeuh.

This week, the regular Podtoid cast talked about random news stories from the past few months. Topics of discussion included:

- A sonnet and a new contest

- Differing opinions on GTA IV

- Grand Theft Childhood would depress my Ethics professor

- Edible videogame heroes

- Gentleman Dinosaur

- achievements_unlock_all

So, yeah — there’s a new contest this week, in addition to the regular $25 award for the best comment (which, this week, goes to Phoenix Gamma); hit the jump for the details on the contest, future sonnets, and stuff about Gentleman Dinosaur.

 

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If you only listen to one Podtoid episode ever, make it this one. We put slightly more work into it than usual.You’ll have to listen to the actual episode to find out what’s special about it, but let’s just say that if you were in the pre-show post requesting that Jim Sterling do more impressions of Solid Snake, your wish has been granted.

And then some.

This week, Tiff “Gargantuan Rattlesnake” Chow, Jim “Artificial Donkey” Sterling, Aaron “Energizing Salamander” Linde and myself, Genius Grasshopper, talk about our favoritest videogame series involving bipedal robots and eyepatch-wearing badasses, Metal Gear Solid.

Topics of discussion included:

-A sonnet from Brilliam

-A surveillance camera??!!??

-Tiff Chow: loves boxes, hates level 5 keycards

-Meryl??!!??

-Defending Raiden

-A Hind D??!!??

-We want more Big Boss, sort of

-Metal Gear??!!??

This week, Arrested Developer won the $25. I’m really, really, really sorry that we didn’t get time to ask more reader questions, but Podtoid records pretty late and Jim had to keep slapping himself in the face to stay awake. Anyway, Arrested, put yo’ email in the comments and we’ll drop you a line.

 

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We — being myself, Aaron Linde, Jim Sterling, and Tiff Chow – are back after a two-week hiatus (and one day early, no less), and this week we’re talking about videogame endings.

What works, where an ending is concerned? What doesn’t? Should long games have longer endings? Which games got it right, or wrong? These questions are skirted, if not totally answered. Caressed, if not fully violated.

As always, hit the official Podtoid page or check us out on iTunes — and don’t forget to tune in (probably) next week, for our special 50th episode.

Oh, and this week, BlackSunEmpire earned $25 for his question. Gimme your email in the comments, and we’ll get you the money.

[The intro/outro music is “Does (Breakbot Remix)” by ARROW !!!]

We do “spoil” a few games (be sure to listen to Jim’s discussion on the validity of the term), so I thought it’d be beneficial to list them all:

Fallout
Shadow of the Colossus
Half-Life 2
Bad Dudes
Earthbound
BioShock (but only the twist that starts with the letter “A” that’s been bandied about willy-nilly by everyone on the planet — not the other, bigger one)
Call of Duty 4
Devil May Cry 3
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Metal Gear Solid 2

 

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If you ever want to piss Jim Sterling off, but be really, really entertained at the same time, just ask him to talk about arthouse videogames. He’ll sigh audibly, take a deep breath, and make the sort of statements — well, he’ll make the sort of statements you’re likely to hear in this week’s episode of Podtoid. As always, head to the official Podtoid page to check it out.

Our discussions included:

The Podtoid drinking game: Linde plays right into the listeners’ hands

Everybody is sort of ambivalent about The Marriage: Can a legitimate attempt at artistic expression still succeed without being terribly interactive or emotional?

Everybody loves Passage, except Jim: – Jim’s remnants of a heart are hard to touch, let alone break

Everybody hates Gravitation, except me: — “Maybe I was just willing to put more effort into it than you guys” is the perfect thing to say to make your cast resent you

Same deal with Stars Over Half Moon Bay: – Take a drink.

This week, Spitfire asked the question which simultaneously revealed Linde’s hatred for his fellow castmates, but also the emotional dependence he unknowingly has on us. So he won the money. Hit the comments with your email address, Spitfire.

As we slowly approach episode 50, this is about the time I hint at the fact that episode 50 will be kind of…special. And will hopefully be more entertaining.

[The intro/outro song is the xxxchange remix of “L.E.S. Artistes” by Santogold.]

 

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