PixlBit

Be thankful that I didn't delve deep into my cheesy love song collection for this episode.

Hey folks, Julian here. I hope you had a great Valentine's Day (or Single Awareness Day if you're like the Pantsless Ones). I wanted to do something special for this episode, but my original idea was love stories in video games. Yawn. Instead, I asked Patrick to come up with an off the wall and eclectic idea, in the way that Patrick does. He did not disappoint, and it's a shame that Rob wasn't able to join us because of BLIZZARD 2013!!!

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Olmec knows the reasons behind the delay of the Wii U game's release. Do you?

Before you lies a podcast of epic recordings and thoughts suspended by a lifetime gamer's knowledge and insight. When listeners hit the play button, one topic from the show will begin being discussed. This time, it's the disappointment found in Aliens: Colonial Marines. Once the listener has completed that segment of the show, expect to come face-to-face with the Legend of Rayman, himself, as well as his delay on the Wii U. By now, podcast fans should have obtained at least a piece of a pendant of life, and shall continue forth to hear virtually zero speculation about the Nintendo Direct happening tomorrow. Then, venture through the Shrine of the Sony Monkey to learn possibilities of the PlayStation 2013 event on February 20th. Once there, the listener must race back, to the Durango Xbox Rumored Gates. Or something. PB & Jason is recorded in front of a live studio audience every Wednesday, weather permitting. Click through for listening and download links!

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Publishers aren't the main reason horror franchises are quick to lose the scares.

It’s hard to talk about games like Resident Evil 6 and Dead Space 3 without having someone go off on a tangent on how the publishers “ruined” these series by trying to broaden the series fanbases – moving beloved franchises away from their horror roots and towards the more spectacle driven action genre.  There is an idiom of truth to this complaint.  Horror doesn’t generate Call of Duty sales volume.  It’s a niche genre where only the exceptional few break into the mainstream.  Action titles, counterparts of the money eating summer movie blockbusters, appeal to a much greater audience and are thus able to bring in much more cash.  So yes, it makes sense that the “big bad” publishers would be responsible for the taming of your favorite horror franchise.

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Oh poor Mallo, how gravity befalls the blocks you push and pull…

Pushmo was a wonderful surprise back when it was released in 2011; the Intelligent Systems developed puzzle/platforming game took a simple premise and made it a fantastic in-depth game with a nice custom-builder. Much to my surprise and delight, Nintendo and Intelligent Systems made a sequel! Crashmo, like its predecessor, has Mallo pushing and pulling blocks. However, the effects of gravity now play a bigger part in the game, because now the blocks crash to the ground.

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The last big game development studio owned by the House of Mouse has closed.

Disney has shuttered Junction Point Studios. While it's good news for Disney's bottom line (and for people who don't enjoy games of low quality,) it makes one wonder who is at fault in a time like this. PB & Jason 113 explores that question a little bit, but in the end, the obvious conclusion, Warren Spector, is reached. Aside from that, issue 113 follows-up last week's Wired's Chris Kohler "Nintendo Direct Vaporware" article taking Kohler's follow-up article into consideration. PB & Jason also includes more Ni no Kuni, which admittedly, is shaping up not quite be the game expected, for better and for worse.  All this and more in this week's PB & Jason! Click through for the listening and download links!

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