posted by Chris on July 14, 2008 6:45 PM in Podcast
With all of our jaded jackassery, we at The Weekly Geek do actually acknowledge the positive things in the geek realm, and what better time to express the joys of gaming than E3? This week's episode has Chris, Jinny and Qais disseminating the massive amount of information released at the Microsoft pre-E3 conference, from Avatars to Netflix integration, Party Mode, dashboard updates and more. The Rock Band 2 set lists and drum kits have also been detailed, and Jinny and Chris talk about their current favorite iPhone apps and why you should download them now. But first, won't you download a podcast? I am sure you will enjoy it.
download now
continue reading "Podcast for 07.14.08 | Everything Wrong is Right Again"
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posted by Chris on May 5, 2008 3:52 PM in Games
We all feel that sense of dread when we have to call customer service to try and troubleshoot a malfunctioning product. You have to wait while a computer routes you to a disinterested associate who may or may not solve your problem and may or may not be polite to you. Some dude named Jason has figure out how to get to escalate your problem quickly to someone who is a bit more skilled than your typical call center specialist.
Check out the super simple procedure over at Jason's blog.
[link via Lifehacker]
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posted by Chris on April 7, 2008 6:03 PM in Podcast
Is being called a "gamer" a bad thing? On this week's podcast, Chris, Mack and Qais look into how gamers as a group are regarded by the general populace. Are we really all just trash talking escapist sociopaths? Or is "gamer" just another flavor of geek? We discuss various arguments on both sides, also touching on this week's news from Microsoft's answer to the Wii, to analyzing Portal's main villain, to Penny Arcade's newest indie games venture.
Download the podcast here, and subscribe to the feed! Click through for show notes, as always.
continue reading "Podcast for 4-07-08 | Relating to "Gamers""
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posted by Chris on March 31, 2008 7:22 PM in Podcast
We here at The Weekly Geek loathe gimmicks. That's why we aren't trying to draw you in by posting some wacky April Fool's Day version of the podcast. Because we love you. This week Chris, Qais, Colette and Mack scrape the bottom of the barrel of geek news this week to discuss the Portal song in Rock Band, Bawls' G33K B33R, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Microsoft's lawyers being very un-lawyery. We wrap it up with a cool, crisp and refreshing discussion about gimmicky control schemes.
Download the podcast here, and subscribe to the feed! Show notes after the jump.
By downloading this podcast, you accept the risk of brain cancer. April Fool's!
continue reading "Podcast for 03-31-08 | Gimmicks"
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posted by Ross on February 22, 2008 9:47 AM in Geek Culture
Meet Office Master and Windows Vista Sensei. They are members of "The Source Fource" a group of super heroes that represent different software applications offered by Microsoft, including such luminaries as ISV Super Gal, a young lady who's family made their money in beef and who left in disgrace after a particularly embarrassing cafeteria faux pas and the cleverly named Virtual Labs Guy, a gentleman who seems to have tried to sodomize a piece of heavy machinery at some point in his life and is now a paraplegic with a set of wheels cruelly fused to the bottom of his torso.
There are seven of these characters, making the misspelling of "force" appear merely perfunctory for, as we all know, nothing says "hip" and "cool" like puns. What's more, there are figurines of all them which can only be received by signing up for MSDN® Webcasts and Virtual Labs and attending events on these services. A few seem to have been given away and are now lost to you forever, but do not despair there are more on the way.
[Link via Super Punch]
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posted by Qais on November 7, 2007 10:50 AM in Games, Geek Culture
The inexplicable trio of Microsoft, the PTA, and Jerry Rice have teamed up to confirm the rumors of the Xbox 360 Family Timer, a device which would allow parents to set limitations on playing time for their brood on a daily or weekly basis. Gone are the days of huddling over a television set at the wee hours of the morning, volume set to levels that only a dog (and apparently all parents) could hear, playing until highly trained ears hear the all too familiar click of a parent's door and the mad scramble to shut everything down and get the hell out of dodge and back into bed ensues.
The Family Timer is designed to buttress the PTA's PACT campaign (family contracts intended to spur family discussion) and Microsoft's "Is Your Family Set?" campaign. Granted, I and many of my cohorts were the type to huddle over TVs playing games at times explicitly forbidden so a device like this may actually be a little necessary. But I can't help but feel like earning the trust and respect of your children, and relaxing a little in the process, might not benefit both parents and children rather than relying on Microsoft to take the role of fun police.
Rather than limiting the times and what their children are playing I'd like to see parents sitting down with their kids to play. I know those controllers, what with all their confusing knobs and buttons, look daunting but parents may find that actually playing with their kids may lead to a greater understanding of the little goblins than simply limiting the fun they can have and when they can have it.
via Xbox360Fanboy
Help support the site by purchasing your Xbox 360 from our store!
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posted by Chris on June 4, 2007 5:55 AM in Podcast
Surprisingly, for all the talk of Mr. Rogers, this episode of The Weekly Geek contains massive amounts of profanity! Because both White Mage and Colette were out sick this week, you get to hear Chris and The Geek yell at people for liking Shrek, yell at people for not liking Mr. Rogers, and yell at Pirates for being so awesome. Or something. We've got movie news, a couple video game overviews, and some red rings of death sadness. Check it!
continue reading "Podcast for 06-04-07 | Red Rings of Shrek"
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posted by Mike on May 20, 2007 11:24 AM in Rant
So, let's see - my new refurbished 360 lasted from April 14th to May 20th. One month and six days. I'm fairly certain their repair factory consists of two piles, broken and unbroken machines, and one extremely fast Japanese solderer in between. Two guys stand on either side of the piles shoveling machines in and out of boxes.
Time to call my buddy Leo at Microsoft's Repair Department!
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posted by Chris on April 16, 2007 9:25 AM in Geek Culture
In the realm of completely awesome things Microsoft is doing these days (except Vista cuz it sux lol), the big M is sponsoring a television pilot contest. From the press release:
Microsoft Corp. and the New York Television Festival (NYTVF) today announced the Xbox LIVE® Originals contest, granting aspiring television producers the opportunity to create a pilot that could be chosen for the first original series developed specifically for the Xbox LIVE online gaming and entertainment network. Microsoft will award the winning entrant a $100,000 budget and an opportunity for a six-episode commitment to air the television series on Xbox LIVE, the largest social network in the living room. The pilot episode of the winning series is scheduled to debut this fall at the third annual NYTVF, the industry’s first showcase for independent television, before being featured exclusively on Xbox LIVE, home to a community of more than 6 million people worldwide. This marks the first time that user-created entertainment content will be available worldwide for download exclusively on Xbox LIVE.
It's in line with what we have all been saying these companies like Nintendo and Microsoft should be doing with their online networks - open them up for independent content. While I am sure they are going to have to wade through some poop, I would love to see what people come up with and what they finally choose. Will they pick a cheesy sitcom? Tetris Machinima? A Jackass-style show with IN GAME STUNTS? Don't touch that dial, tune in to this station to find out.
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posted by Mike on March 22, 2007 9:32 AM in Rant
Generally, music is my thing- I get passionate about the artists I love, and when they disappoint me, I’m the first one to call them out. My other big hobby is gaming. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m an avid gamer, but it’s my primary way to unwind from a long work day. The three systems I own are pretty prized to me, but yesterday my most expensive console investment failed me for the second time. And just like I would with the tunes, I’m calling in my “Fool me once…” adage.
Microsoft’s Xbox360 is generally considered to be the hottest hardware on the market right now and rightly so: Its Xbox Live application is amazing, it has a touted selection of disc and arcade titles, and its outselling rivals Nintendo and Sony by a long shot. But there’s a nagging (and growing) epidemic that may threaten the 360’s reputation and bog them down from blowing away the competition. The ominously-named “Ring of Death” could be the Achilles’ heel for our friends in Redmond.
continue reading "The 360's "Ring of Death" - An Anomaly or An Epidemic?"
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posted by Chris on March 14, 2007 9:29 AM in Games
Now Windows Vista gamers can experience being called a vast array of epithets and homophobic slurs along with us Xbox gamers! Halo 2 is being released on May 8th, and with it the Windows Live service, almost completely mirroring the Xbox 360 Live service. Halo 2 for Windows Live will even feature achievements... something you don't get playing Halo 2 on the Xbox. Luckily you can use your same Gamertag and subscription for both the Silver and Gold memberships. Almost makes you want to buy Vista, doesn't it?
Also loaded into the hopper is Shadowrun and Uno, both featuring cross-platform play. A year or so ago I talked to a friend who works for Microsoft and discussed the rift between the Xbox division and the Games for Windows division. At that time they seemed almost in competition with each other. This Windows/Xbox Live integration is an excellent step in bringing the two together, and maybe even wooing a few people back to PC gaming, and PC casual gamers (with games like Uno) to the soon-to-be-affordable Xbox 360.
Full press release after the thing.
continue reading "Halo 2 coming May 8th to Windows"
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posted by Chris on August 11, 2006 8:59 AM in Podcast
In 2004 (or was it 2005?) The Geek and Frodo interviewed Porkfry from Penny Arcade fame. Along with being a full-time badass, Porkfry is a game tester, and gives the rundown on how to get into the game industry, and what sort of horrors await you once you get there. Kids throwing rocks at each other was also a topic of discussion.
Download it here!
-Frodo
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posted by Chris on March 19, 2006 7:53 PM in Podcast
We're back from break and geekier than ever! This week, Frodo, The Geek, White Mage and Nevery discuss new movies good and bad (and intentionally bad), new Microsoft hardware blunders, Sony being idiots again, Rare marketing to children who like bright colors, Super Princess Peach and this week's new game releases. CHECK IT THE HECK OUT.
--Frodo (
frodo@weeklygeekshow.com)
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posted by Chris on February 9, 2006 9:46 AM in Geek Culture
A press release from Microsoft today confirms the release of Halo 2 to Windows Vista. From the release:
Master Chief Dual-Wields His Way to Windows Vista
“Halo 2,†the award-winning sequel to the instant classic “Halo: Combat Evolved†to make its PC debut on the Windows Vista platform
â€Halo 2,†the game that redefined first-person combat and multiplayer action for millions of gamers worldwide, is set to explode onto PCs exclusively for Windows Vista. â€Halo 2†for Windows Vista will be developed by a dedicated Microsoft Game Studios team in partnership with Bungie Studios.
Only for Windows Vista, "Halo 2" will offer gamers both the single-player campaign and multiplayer experience of the original, as well as the additional maps offered in the “Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack.†Gamers will also have the exciting opportunity to build, create and customize their own multiplayer levels.
“Halo: Combat Evolved†and its sequel, “Halo 2,†have achieved phenomenal success on the Xbox video game platform as gamers around the world follow the saga of Master Chief in his battle against the Covenant forces. In 2003, the original “Halo†roared onto Windows PCs. In “Halo 2†for Windows Vista, the action picks up where the first game ended. Master Chief, with the help of a small group of marines, has destroyed the religious artifact and artificial world known as “Halo,†and is making his way back to Earth. There, he and the last surviving Earth forces will mount a titanic struggle against the marauding Covenant enemy. To date, the Halo franchise has sold more than 14.5 million games worldwide with over 600 million hours of multiplayer action logged across Microsoft’s Xbox Live online gaming service.
Soooooooo.... when Vista is released later this year (and from what we are hearing it's going to be REALLY late, as in December 2006), they are going to be spearheading a sales campaign for a two year old game? AWESOME MICROSOFT GOOD JOB.
Too bad it will sell a billion copies. Fools, all of you. FOOOOOOLS!!!!! *shakes fist into the air*
--Frodo (frodo@weeklygeekshow.com)
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posted by Chris on November 5, 2005 5:39 PM in Podcast
This week, The Geek and Frodo discuss game journalists being vultures, Donkey Kong King of Swing, awesome Super Mario World remixes and pie. Okay there really isn't any pie.
Download it here or add http://www.weeklygeekshow.com/weeklygeek.rss to your favorite podcasting software!
Here are some show notes:
- Excellent Super Mario World remix. You must download this. Do it. Now.
- Sony's new software allows WoW hacks?
- Microsoft plans Xbox 360 shortage.
Special thanks to our friends at Nintendo and Charles Vestal for the music.
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