The HotSpot

Infinity Blade II is no Angry Birds. Yeah, I said it. Shaun McInnis, Kevin VanOrd, Giancarlo Varanini, and Tom Magrino take a seat with Chair Entertainment's Donald Mustard, who politely informs us that comparing a game like Infinity Blade II to Angry Birds is kind of dumb. That seems fair. We also talk about the importance of creating a game that suits its platform, and Chair's plans to make use of the PlayStation Vita's ability to run Unreal Engine 3 (Hint: they currently aren't). Shadow Complex 2 questions are asked, promptly evaded.

The HotSpot - Infinity Blade II - 11/30/11 by gamespot

Note: The video doesn't kick in until about the 9-minute mark. Apparently, if you want the video to record, you need to hit the record button pretty much when you're ready to start, and no later than that.

Hear me out on this: Including a bat shaped like a dildo--indeed, uttering the phrase dildo bat--is a progressive step for the game industry. Seriously, that's an argument that's made, as Carolyn Petit, Kevin VanOrd, Tom Mc Shea, and Tom Magrino tackle played-out tropes in the context of Saints Row: The Third. Also, Need for Speed: The Run does not leave us breathless, panting, begging for more. I mean, after that run? We're not even winded!

The HotSpot - Saints Row, Need for Speed - 11/23/11 by gamespot

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First of all, oh my god spoilers! Whew, OK, now that we have that out of the way, Tom Mc Shea, Peter Brown, and Tom Magrino dig into Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, a game that we will emphatically call pretty good. We also take a few live calls, some of which are on topic!

The HotSpot - Zelda Skyward Sword - 11/21/11 by gamespot

Oh, would you like some video too? That's easy! EASY!

In a cruel twist of irony, Kevin VanOrd, Tom Mc Shea, Shaun McInnis, and Tom Magrino are booted out of CNET's studios early (eff you, Google and your new music whatsitsname!) during a discussion on excessive run-time length in games. The context? The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, and yeah maybe a bit of Rayman Origins, too. Also, what's this? The 3DS is topping the Nintendo DS in first-year sales? Nintendo, you so crazy!

iTunes, oh how we have missed you! Our iTunes feed is totally 100 percent operational, so long as all you care about is audio. This is a step in the right direction, people. Audio above, video below!

The HotSpot enters its adolescent years in its journey to video competency, and what better way to celebrate that milestone than with the game on loads of adolescent boys' wish lists, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Chris Watters, Kevin VanOrd, Tom Mc Shea, and Tom Magrino delve into how fun, and amoral!, it is to wreck wanton paths of destruction in Activision's latest, before launching into the particulars of the leaked Mass Effect 3 beta.

The HotSpot - 11/9/11 - Post-Modern Warfare 3 by gamespot

iTunes/Zune/etc.: It's not here yet; I don't know what to say. RSS here, audio above, video below.

Todd Howard swings by the…wait, you don't know who Todd Howard is? Oh. How about: The guy who you have to thank for The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (not to mention Fallout 3) talks to The HotSpot about his latest project, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Tom Mc Shea, Kurtis Seid, and Tom Magrino were there and were totally entertained. We also parse the first Grand Theft Auto V trailer and bemoan the state of Nintendo's financial affairs. And hey, want to win a free copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3? Tune in to find out how!

Editor's note: This blurb is an SEO fiend's wet dream. Did you see how many times I name-checked Kurtis Seid??

[UPDATE] iTunes/Zune/youknowwhatImean update: We are one week away from a fully functioning iTunes feed for both audio and video. Who's excited?! Until then, RSS here! Audio above, video--sweet, sweet video--has finally arrived. Sorry for the delay everyone.

Sure, Battlefield 3 may be the hot new hotness this week, but you can go absolutely anywhere on the Internet to hear dudes in a room wax poetic about that thing. The HotSpot crew is talking Uncharted 3! Tom Mc Shea, Kevin VanOrd, Brendan Sinclair, and Tom Magrino discuss why Uncharted 3's propensity toward taking control away from the player is A-OK with us. Also, Grand Theft Auto V is officially a thing that's happening, and we issue our hopes and dreams for what it will be. (Hint: L-A, No-Way. Chant with me people!)


The HotSpot - 10/26/11 - Charting out Uncharted 3 by gamespot

Want to listen to and/or watch the HotSpot on iTunes? So do we! But it's not here yet. Until then, you can find the HotSpot's RSS feed here. Alternatively, audio above, video below!