* Poker Smash just came out on Xbox Live Arcade, and we think that it's a smash. * We take a look at two EA-related stories that were revealed this week. The first one is that EA's CEO John Riccitiello admits to "blowing it" with regards to three beloved studios EA gobbled up years ago - Bullfrog, Origin, and Westwood. * Then we learn why you need a hard drive to play Burnout Paradise online on the Xbox 360. * Our mid-show music break is PEN-15's Wikimedia, which you can get the uncensored version from myspace.com/halfninjahalfmachine. * We asked a question about the good side of violent games being a release for those that need it, but instead the callers discuss games being too easy these days.

* Rez HD is out, find out why we call it an experience. * Also out this past week - The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters on DVD...Find out what we thought of the special features! (For your perusal, here is Twin Galaxies official response to the film.) * We read an email continuing the discussion about photorealism in games from last week. * Steam has announced Steamworks, a free platform for PC developers...We look into what it is and, more importantly, what it isn't. * Valve is also unbundling The Orange Box for retail consumers, so now if you already have Half-Life 2 and Episode One, you won't have to rebuy them. * Also, a victory for PC gamers everywhere is that Crysis just sold one million copies - but is that a legit number? * Then we take a call about if the PC truly is the "unified platform" we are talking about. * We round out the show with a personal tale about performing in the 2000 Superbowl Halftime Show: Disney's Millenium Celebration, Tapestry of Nations, the show that IGN dubbed as the 6th worst halftime show in Superbowl history.

* We attended Video Games Live in Orlando - hear our thoughts about the show and the presidential campaigner that screamed at a completely inappropriate time. * Burnout Paradise is now out - is it really all that and a bag of chips that we thought at E3? * Fox News has gotten into the Mass Effect controversy, but one of the "experts" has now apologized for her uninformed remarks. * The Parents Television Council has labeled those who support video games as "against families" and will expose any congressman who takes money from the video game industry - but taking money from the film, music, television, tobacco, and conservative watchdog industries is A-OK. * Then we talk about our topic for the evening: what happens psychologically if games ever get truly photorealistic, so much so that you can't tell the difference between live action and the game? We take several calls on this - and each caller had a completely different take on the answer, ranging from business decisions to make a game truly photorealistic to the mainstream media reaction that would occur. * Next week we will be live on SATURDAY NIGHT due to the Superbowl.

Due to a very forgetful podcaster (me) - you get TWO recorded episodes in one MP3! (I hadn't realize that I forgot to edit the Jan 13th show until two hours before the Jan 20th show. It was a crazy week.) So, on the first show from January 13th: * We're going to be at Video Games Live in Orlando on January 24th (Yeah, short notice) at Hard Rock Live, so if you're there, come say hi! * We look over a lot of the CES happenings and wonder why people were upset that the keynote speeches had to do with Consumer Electronics at the Consumer Electronics Show. * We also take a look at Gizmodo shutting off TV's as a prank and what this may mean for bloggers and podcasters getting into trade shows in the future. * We give our impressions on Sam & Max Episode 202: Moai Better Blues, and it's going to be surprising. * The Nintendo 64 classic Goldeneye was coming to Xbox Live Arcade...But what happened? * Mass Effect is the new whipping boy of the gaming industry because of a one minute cutscene, and the conservative watchdog groups are protecting families by claiming it's extremely graphic. * Then we take phone calls about fighting games, namely Street Fighter IV, Soul Calibur IV (now with more Yoda and Darth Vader) and Super Smash Bros. On the January 20th show (starts 53 minutes in): * We give our impressions of the extremely short Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law for the Wii (but also available on the PS2 and PSP) and tell you if it really is just a funnier Phoenix Wright. * Bionic Commando is not only getting a next-gen version, the original 2D classic is getting remade as Bionic Commando Rearmed (NOT "reamed".) * The Xbox Live problems are continuing, and Microsoft has been advised to no longer comment or give updates due to the Texas lawsuit, but they did announce that Undertow would be available as the free game for ALL Xbox Live Gold and Silver members this week. * Dan Hsu announced that Electronic Gaming Monthly have been blacklisted by portions of Midway and Sony, as well as all of Ubisoft, for giving their opinion on their products. What will this mean to you, the reader? * We mention briefly about the indie game I Wanna Be The Guy and why it hates you and why it's brilliant. * Then we take calls about how we look at games and internet fanboy arguments, and about Microsoft's free game apology.

* In our first show back in 2008, there isn't much to talk about since the Consumer Electronics Show hadn't started when we were on the air. * However, ALL Xbox Live users will be receiving a free arcade game due to the recent downtime. * But, it's not enough for three Texas gamers who have filed a class action lawsuit against Microsoft - but will it stand up in court due to the existing service agreement? * The Burnout Paradise demo is getting some new server code (NOT a patch) to allow for 8 players online, along with new Freeburn challenges. * Sony announced that the PSP Slim will be getting Skype - so now you can call in from a PSP! * Then we take calls about Burnout Paradise, World of Warcraft account support troubles, and whether ethernet or wifi is best for gaming.