Will Templeton
Halo: Reach, Xbox 360 – £35.95
Halo: Reach, Xbox 360 – £35.95 delivered
Halo: Reach, Xbox 360 (Limited Edition) – £54.85 delivered
Iron Man 2 – Review
[DEAL GOES HERE]
Review by Will Templeton
I’ve been trying to write a review for the Iron Man 2 game since it launched. I’ve been writing and scrapping paragraphs for weeks, unsatisfied with every single one of them in the end, and I realised why – I was trying to see something that wasn’t there. I was wrestling with myself, trying to convince myself that it wasn’t all bad, that surely it had some redeeming qualities, and then maybe somewhere – God knows where, but somewhere – there was someone that this game was designed for and who would get some enjoyment from it.
Redemption Song
If you listen to our regular podcast, you’ll know that I’m much more of a fan of storytelling in games than Lewie. While we both derive a lot of enjoyment from how a story is utilised as one of a series of ingredients a designer can use, and both of us can appreciate the way a good story is told, he tends to prioritise that nebulous quality of ‘having fun’ as a core element of gameplay, and I tend to be able to forgive slightly poor mechanics in favour of something that’s well-written.
This leads to us getting frustrated at each other. He skips cutscenes, and I don’t. I talk to every NPC in a world, and he seeks out the next mission trigger. And when I lent him my copy of Red Dead Redemption, I urged him to watch the opening scenes that really lay down for the foundation for the world. I told him that it was a really smart exploration of American attitudes at the turn of the century. He told me that it was a bunch of talking on a train. And hit Skip.
It’s this fundamental difference that I think underlines why we disagree on a lot games, and why, ultimately, I think he’ll find the ending of Red Dead Redemption both boring and unsatisfying, whereas I thought it brilliant and interesting. Neither of us are wrong, of course – but I’m going to try my damnedest to prove that I’m right.
Fair warning – the rest of this post after the break contains spoilers for the end of Red Dead Redemption. If you haven’t seen the credits roll, then you haven’t seen some of the stuff I’ll be talking about.
Classic Sonic, XBLA – 240MSP
To celebrate the 19th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog, all the Sonic games on XBLA have been reduced to 240 MSP each.
Sonic 1
Sonic 2
Sonic 3
Sonic and Knuckles
This deal is available to both Gold and Silver members for today only.
Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge, PC – £6.99
Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck’s Revenge, PC – £6.99 on Steam
This is a pre-purchase for the release of the remastered version of Monkey Island 2 on July 7th. It may be available cheaper elsewhere (on iPhone, most likely) but if you preload on Steam you’ll get the original remastered version for free.
Thanks to Tony for the tip.
Deus Ex, PC – £1.49
Deus Ex, PC – £1.49 on Steam
The Deus Ex Collection, which includes the first game and the sequel, Invisible War, is also on sale for £2.98. This is only available until 11pm GMT tomorrow, June 23rd.
The SavyGamer Podcast, Episode 19
Lewie’s off to Glasto, so this week we’ve got a bumper E3-themed show for you – an hour and three quarters of top-tier content! Marvel at our predictions that were recorded ahead of the press conferences that magically come true when published after the fact! Be dazzled by our rapier wit and out-of-breathedness in the final segment that almost made Lewie miss his ride! Be gobsmacked by the fact that all of this makes no sense whatsoever!
Click here to begin playback or download the show directly.
Don’t forget that you can subscribe to the podcast, and get a new episode delivered to you as soon as it’s available!
Subscribe on the iTunes Store | Subscribe via RSS
Don’t forget to review us on iTunes!
Due to us being all over the place for the next week, there’s no official Game Night. But that doesn’t mean you can’t play. Add We R SavyGamers on Xbox Live and join the SavyGamer Steam group, and join up with other SavyGamers to play with this Friday!
Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! The account for the site is @SavyGamer, and you can find tweets from Lewie and Will at @LewieP and @Willeth respectively. Also, don’t forget to send us your suggestions for what you want to hear about in next week’s show with the hashtag #sgpodcast – we’ll pick the best to talk about in every show.
Until next week, keep it clean. We know who you are.
SavyGamer Game Night: Joe Danger
Tonight’s the first Game Night exclusively for PS3 players – we’re playing Joe Danger, the wacky stunt-bike-em-up just released this week on PSN. While the game doesn’t support multiplayer, it’s chock-full of leaderboards, and we’ll be using them to track our progress against each other.
So that we can see your scores, add both LewieP and Willeth on PSN with a note saying you’re a reader, and we’ll be able to collate all the scores that the community racks up during the night. We’ll be posting the leaderboard on here on Saturday, so you’ll want to get your times down as much as possible. You can also add each other to compare time, of course – just leave your PSN name in the comments for this post if you want to share scores with the rest of the SavyGamer clan.
We’ll be hanging out in the SavyGamer Steam chat room, in order to trash talk and organise a few scheduled runs on a specific stage. If you’re not part of the SavyGamer Steam group yet, why not? Go sign up!
We’ll see you out on the tracks!
The SavyGamer Podcast, Episode 18
This week, we discuss Valve and other companies’ surprises that might be in store for E3 later in the week. We also talk about Green Man Gaming’s recent sale, and all the regular features you’d expect, such as the deal of the week, your Twitter questions, and more.
There’s also talk of cream cakes and dreams. As you’d expect.
Click here to begin playback or download the show directly.
Don’t forget that you can subscribe to the podcast, and get a new episode delivered to you as soon as it’s available!
Subscribe on the iTunes Store | Subscribe via RSS
Don’t forget to review us on iTunes!
This week’s Game Night will be Joe Danger on the PS3. We’ll be talking in the Steam chat room to organise matches, so if you’re not already, make sure you’re registered with the SavyGamer Steam group.
Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! The account for the site is @SavyGamer, and you can find tweets from Lewie and Will at @LewieP and @Willeth respectively. Also, don’t forget to send us your suggestions for what you want to hear about in next week’s show with the hashtag #sgpodcast – we’ll pick the best to talk about in every show.
Until next week, keep watching the skies.
The SavyGamer Podcast, Episode 17
We’ve got a big show for you this week – there’s an interview with Sean Noonan of Ruffian Games about Crackdown 2, and we get angry at The Hut. There’s also a lot of talk about whether or not every game ever is a platformer.
Click here to begin playback or download the show directly.
Don’t forget that you can subscribe to the podcast, and get a new episode delivered to you as soon as it’s available!
Subscribe on the iTunes Store | Subscribe via RSS
This week’s Game Night will be Left 4 Dead 2’s Chainsaw Massacre on the 360 and PC. Add We R SavyGamers on Xbox Live, and join in on Friday.
If you’re on PC, play with us usingthe SavyGamer Steam group.
Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! The account for the site is @SavyGamer, and you can find tweets from Lewie and Will at @LewieP and @Willeth respectively. Also, don’t forget to send us your suggestions for what you want to hear about in next week’s show with the hashtag #sgpodcast – we’ll pick the best to talk about in every show.
We’ll be back here before you know it.
SavyGamer Game Night: L4D2 – Chainsaw Massacre
Tonight is the second L4D2 night in a series of gaming nights with SavyGamer. We’ll be playing the newly-released Mutation in Left 4 Dead 2, entitled Chainsaw Massacre, and no matter if you’ve got L4D2 on PC or 360, you can jump into a game with us.
If you’re playing on PC, simply join the Steam group for SavyGamer and jump into Lewie’s lobby, or any of the many lobbies the community will be running.
If you’re playing on 360, add the Gamertag We R SavyGamers and use the friends-of-friends feature to find other people on that list to play with. In addition, if you’re on the 360 and you’ve played every Mutation so far, you’ll unlock a Gnome Chompski avatar item to show off.
Remember that you’ll need The Passing in order to play the Mutations in L4D2, so make sure that your game has updated through Steam or that you’ve purchased the game add-on on the 360 if you want to play with us. While the event starts officially at 7:30, feel free to get a group together earlier and chop up some guts.
SavyGamer Game Night: Red Dead Redemption
It’s that time again: SavyGamer Game Night! We’re playing Red Dead Redemption in Free Roam and in multiplayer matches. Simply add the Gamertag We R SavyGamers and use the friends-of-friends feature to find other people on that list to play with. We’ll be joining together in a posse and riding out Old West style.
While there’s isn’t any functionality for clans or metatags on the PS3, feel free to post your PSN usernames in the comments for this post and join up to play. Make sure you let us know how your night went afterwards, too! We start at 7:30 and we’ll be assaulting strongholds, hunting wild animals and picking flowers. You know, like real men do.
If you’re on the PC, join the Steam group for SavyGamer and play what you want! Join the chat and see what games are going.
We’ll see you out on the plains, cowboy.
The SavyGamer Podcast, Episode 16
In this week’s show, we meet up! In person! And record our podcast in the sunshine in the garden, with fantastic amounts of background noise!
We discuss Google’s move into digital distribution, run down our thoughts on what we’ve been playing – and both of us have been getting some time in with new releases, for a change! We touch on Sonic 4 being delayed, and finally get around to talking properly about Project Ten Dollar. Ish.
Click here to begin playback or download the show directly.
Don’t forget that you can subscribe to the podcast, and get a new episode delivered to you as soon as it’s available!
Subscribe on the iTunes Store | Subscribe via RSS
This week’s Game Night will be Red Dead Redemption on the 360 and PS3. Add We R SavyGamers on Xbox Live, and join in on Friday – unfortunately if you’re on the PS3, there’s no such clan-like functionality, but feel free to leave your PSN IDs in the comments for this post and play together that way.
If you’re on PC, play whatever you want with the SavyGamer Steam group – sorry we don’t have a PC-centric one this week, but hey – you’d just be playing more TF2 anyway.
Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! The account for the site is @SavyGamer, and you can find tweets from Lewie and Will at @LewieP and @Willeth respectively. Also, don’t forget to send us your suggestions for what you want to hear about in next week’s show with the hashtag #sgpodcast – we’ll pick the best to talk about in every show.
See you next week, folks, and enjoy the weather while you can.
The SavyGamer Podcast, Episode 15
More technical issues. It’s getting better, though. If we weren’t so cheap, maybe we’d be getting better audio equipment for the show. But as it is, we pass the savings onto you! Yeah, that doesn’t quite work.
This week, we discuss the moral issues behind Rockstar allegedly distributing a fan-made crack as part of Max Payne on Steam, stamp out mandates for a new Rock Band and a better Pokémon game, mull over the logisitcs behind a closed economy and generally examine the gaming industry with a glass that’s half full. Of orange juice, because otherwise, we’re up all night.
Click here to begin playback or download the show directly.
Don’t forget that you can subscribe to the podcast, and get a new episode delivered to you as soon as it’s available!
Subscribe on the iTunes Store | Subscribe via RSS
This week, we’re hosting a night of Team Fortress 2 as part of the SavyGamer Game Night! We’re playing on Steam for PC, and for Mac if Valve end up releasing it already. Don’t forget to add yourself to the SavyGamer Steam group to make it all go swimmingly!
For those of us who play the lesser version of TF2, we also have an Xbox Live tag – add We R SavyGamers on Xbox Live, and join in on Friday. Don’t forget that there’s an achievement for playing a game with a bunch of friends – make sure to free up your friends list in advance!
Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! The account for the site is @SavyGamer, and you can find tweets from Lewie and Will at @LewieP and @Willeth respectively. Also, don’t forget to send us your suggestions for what you want to hear about in next week’s show with the hashtag #sgpodcast – we’ll pick the best to talk about in every show.
We’ll be here on Monday. I’m looking forward to seeing you, too.
The SavyGamer Podcast, Episode 14
You know how I’ve been complaining about my computer being a piece of trash ever since we started the show? Guess what happens when you combine that with a rough Internet connection and a show that needs some heavy editing. Yep – it’s a show that’s far later than is strictly necessary. The news may be stale, but the opinions are fresh – that’s the excuse, at any rate. You know what? I blame Cameron’s Britain.
In this show, we wade through gaming news to talk about the million-dollar pitcher, Gears of War 3, and the fantastic (and still available!) Humble Indie Bundle, as well as answering your questions from Twitter. What do we think about genres dying, and why is gaming TV crap? You’ll find out if you listen to our words, recorded for posterity and your pleasure and belatedly spilled onto your audio player of choice. Make sure you consume it quickly – there’ll be another episode along in just a couple of days!
Click here to begin playback or download the show directly.
Don’t forget that you can subscribe to the podcast, and get a new episode delivered to you as soon as it’s available!
Subscribe on the iTunes Store | Subscribe via RSS
Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! The account for the site is @SavyGamer, and you can find tweets from Lewie and Will at @LewieP and @Willeth respectively. Also, don’t forget to send us your suggestions for what you want to hear about in next week’s show with the hashtag #sgpodcast – we’ll pick the best to talk about in every show.
See you in a few days, folks, and maybe do something nice with your hair next time. You’re supposed to be a professional.
Edge, iPhone/iPod Touch – 59p
Edge, iPhone/iPod Touch – 59p
A promotional price to celebrate the return of Edge to the App Store after Tim Langdell had his dirty fingers all over it. A very slick puzzler.
SavyGamer Game Night: Halo Reach Beta
It’s the second SavyGamer Game Night! We’re playing the Halo: Reach beta, and today, Invasion launches; large-scale escalating vehicular Spartan vs. Elite combat. In order to get in on the action, you’ll need to load up your ODST campaign disc and select Play the Beta from the main menu, and download the 1.2GB beta if you haven’t already.
Add the Gamertag We R SavyGamers and use the friends-of-friends feature to find other people on that list to play with. We’ll be on for most of the night, and while we’ll be playing Invasion because it’s the new hotness, we’re also down for some Arena, Grab Bag or Free For All, depending on the size of the party. If we’re already in a game, feel free to join in progress nonetheless – you’ll be put into a queue and will automatically join the party once we’re done.
While Halo: Reach isn’t available on the PC or PS3, if you want to play we’re not going to stop you. Remember that the Steam group for SavyGamer still exists, and every single person on there is a certified rad dude.
The event starts officially at 7:30, but if you can be there earlier, the more the merrier. See you in the trenches, Spartan.
The SavyGamer Podcast, Episode 13
It’s a special Monday this week, what with it being three years since SavyGamer was born and everything. To celebrate, we’ve got a code for the Halo: Reach beta and Zavvi have kindly donated two copies of Red Dead Redemption, one for each console – make sure you listen to be in with a chance!
We also talk about the Boy Scouts introducing a videogames belt loop, CoD:BlOps and Bungie’s partnership with Activision, and impressions of the Reach beta so far. There’s also a Halo-based argument. It’s a very Halo-related show this week, to be honest. But there’s other awesome things, too!
Click here to begin playback or download the show directly.
Subscribe to the podcast, and get a new episode delivered to you every Monday!
Subscribe on the iTunes Store | Subscribe via RSS
Last week’s SavyGamer Game Night was a huge success! This week, we’ll be playing the Halo: Reach beta, accessible through your copy of Halo 3: ODST. If you want to play, add the Gamertag We R SavyGamers on Xbox Live, and join in the fun this Friday. We’ll be playing every mode we can.
If you don’t have access to the Reach beta, you can still play with the SavyGamer community on Steam! Just join the SavyGamer Steam group and look for games. There’s no prescribed game for the Game Night on PC this week, so go nuts!
Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! The account for the site is @SavyGamer, and you can find tweets from Lewie and Will at @LewieP and @Willeth respectively. Also, don’t forget to send us your suggestions for what you want to hear about in next week’s show with the hashtag #sgpodcast – we’ll pick the best to talk about in every show.
Until next week, guys. Stay cool.
SavyGamer Game Night: L4D2 – Bleed Out
Tonight is the first in a new series of gaming nights with SavyGamer. We’ll be playing the newly-released Mutation in Left 4 Dead 2, entitled Bleed Out, and no matter if you’ve got L4D2 on PC or 360, you can jump into a game with us.
If you’re playing on PC, simply join the Steam group for SavyGamer and jump into Lewie’s lobby, or any of the many lobbies the community will be running.
If you’re playing on 360, add the Gamertag We R SavyGamers and use the friends-of-friends feature to find other people on that list to play with.
Remember that you’ll need The Passing in order to play the Mutations in L4D2, so make sure that your game has updated through Steam or that you’ve purchased the game add-on on the 360 if you want to play with us. While the event starts officially at 7:30, feel free to get a group together earlier and make with the zombie killin’!
The SavyGamer Podcast, Episode 12
Another Monday, another show.
This week, we talk about the implications of Ubisoft removing printed manuals from their games, interview the developers behind Breath of Death VII for XBLIG, and a challenge is set. Plus, more things!
Click here to begin playback or download the show directly.
Subscribe to the podcast, and get a new episode delivered to you every Monday!
Subscribe on the iTunes Store | Subscribe via RSS
This week, we’re restarting the weekly SavyGamer Game Night with Left 4 Dead 2’s The Passing on Xbox 360 and PC. If you want to play, join the SavyGamer Steam group, or add the Gamertag We R SavyGamers on Xbox Live, and join in the fun this Friday with the new Mutation, Bleed Out.
Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! The account for the site is @SavyGamer, and you can find tweets from Lewie and Will at @LewieP and @Willeth respectively. Also, don’t forget to send us your suggestions for what you want to hear about in next week’s show with the hashtag #sgpodcast – we’ll pick the best to talk about next time, and every time.
See you here next week!
Links:
Halo: Reach [Legendary Edition], Xbox 360 – £89.85 delivered
Seriously, go and watch Consolevania/VideoGaiden, it’s all bloody brilliant
Breath of Death VII
Zeboyd Games
The SavyGamer Podcast, Episode 11
We’re back, baby! Start your week right with Lewie and Will making sounds in your ears.
In this episode we talk about our impressions of Skate 3, Just Cause 2 and PlayStation Move, Lewie discusses his hatred of Ubisoft and we answer your questions from Twitter on-air, including why games can be art. Because you’ve not heard that one before. Since we’re a bit rusty and we’re just starting up after a long hiatus, please bear with us on the shaky audio quality on this episode – next week’s will be crystal, we promise.
Click here to begin playback or download the show directly.
Subscribe to the podcast, and get a new episode delivered to you every Monday!
Subscribe on the iTunes Store | Subscribe via RSS
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! The account for the site, with all your juicy bargains available while on the go, is @SavyGamer, and you can find tweets from Lewie and Will at @LewieP and @Willeth respectively. Also, don’t forget to send us your suggestions for what you want to hear about in next week’s show with the hashtag #sgpodcast – we’ll pick the best to talk about next time.
Have a great week, everybody!
Fable 2, Xbox 360 – £9.85
Fable 2, Xbox 360 – £9.85 delivered
Xbox Live Arcade "Inventory Blowout" Sale
For one week only, the following titles have been discounted:
South Park: Let’s Go Tower Defense Play! – 400MSP (was 800MSP)
Super Street Fighter II HD Remix – 560MSP (was 1200MSP)
Defense Grid: The Awakening – 400MSP (was 800MSP)
Rocket Riot – 400MSP (was 800MSP)
Mad Tracks – 400MSP (was 800MSP)
Track and Field – 240MSP (was 400MSP)
Lumines Live – 400MSP (was 800MSP)
Age of Booty – 400MSP (was 800MSP)
Schizoid – 400MSP (was 800MSP)
Wallace and Gromit: Fright of the Bumblebees, Ep 1 – 400MSP (was 800MSP)
These deals are available to both Gold and Silver members until April 7th.
Interview: Twisted Pixel's Mike Wilford
At PAX East 2010, Twisted Pixel were showing off their upcoming game, Comic Jumper. The CEO, Mike Wilford, took some time out to chat with us about the game and their previous work.
Twisted Pixel on Comic Jumper and more
See the game in action here.
Saints Row, Xbox 360 – £5.99
Saints Row, Xbox 360 – £5.99 delivered