Substance TV – Video game reviews with substance

I have to admit I’ve been excited about being on this weeks Pinekast because we’re chewin’ the fat over the game of the month: Metal Gear Solid. Metal Gear is a series that has been around as long as I can remember, and Metal Gear Solid was quite a turning point for the franchise. It turned it from a decent series here in the States to a system selling juggernaut. It was quite an interesting discussion as there were a few who never played the game, so they had a fresh perspective on everything. While Tenno just didn’t really care to play the game, but that’s just Tenno and we love him regardless.

It’s time to put on your infinite ammo bandanna and listen to Pinekast number 22.

BTW: For fans of Substance TV, some details about episode 10 and the big changes are revealed along with some other details you won’t hear about anywhere else.

P.S. Although most of what is said in this podcast is the truth, I must warn you of a lie. There are those people, who will go unnamed, who think Metal Gear Solid 2 is a bad game. Do not believe these people. They eat baby seals and use hummingbirds to inject themselves with drugs. They speak of hate and lies. Metal Gear Solid 2 is an amazing game full of love and truth and only the most evil and treacherous person would say otherwise. That is all.

Pinekast 22: Metal Gear Solid

I know this is a website dedicated to video games, but this news is something I couldn’t ignore. One of the greatest icons of my time, Michael Jackson, has passed away at the age of 50 from an apparent cardiac arrest. I came home to hear the news and couldn’t believe it. I am honestly saddened. Though his later life was filled with trials and tribulations, his music has endured. That to me is the mark he made on our society. His music was so amazing and timeless, it even surpassed the controversies. And in a small way, the landscape of video games was affected by Michael Jackson. He was one of the only music artists to have his own video game at the time. Add to that the speculation that he had a hand in the Sonic 3 soundtrack.

His family is in my prayers. Even as I sit here and type this, I still can’t believe it. Today is truly the day the music died.

After much delay, the third dose of Pixel Pill is ready for your consumption. In this episode we talk about our fond memories of arcades. This isn’t so much about one particular game, although we do talk about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles beat em up quite a bit, it’s more of what we remember best. From the social aspect, to vultures, kinds of arcades, food, the decline of arcades, and everything in between, we pretty much yap about it all. Enjoy and make sure to take on a full stomach.

BTW: Since things have been delayed, the fourth episode will be out within the next week in order to catch up a bit.

P.S. If you enjoyed the show, subscribe to us on iTunes. Even better you could rate the show and leave comments. Why? Well, because we’re egotistical self loving sick guys.

Pixel Pill: dose 3: arcades

Well them there varmints over at the Pineconeattack corral have put together a mighty fine podcast about cowboys in video games. It’s a showdown between the boys to see who’s the quickest draw, and after the dust settles, only one outlaw will leave with all the gold as he rides into the sunset. So what are you waiting for ya yellow bellied, gutless, no good snake in the ground, click your mousy thingy on the link thingy below.

Pinekast 21: Cowboys

I was thinking about this yesterday. Here I am a father, and I’ve not really talked about it on the site. Yea I’ve got a few instances where I say I’m a dad, but nothing beyond that. So I aim to fix that oversight.

Yesterday was of course Father’s Day. It’s my second one, but it’s still just as good. We woke up late that morning and got ready for church. After service was over, our pastor said he had a gift for all the fathers. Now usually the gifts range from suck to pathetic. And hey, that’s alright, I’m not expecting anything spectacular because hey, it’s free. This year though, they gave us all a great gift. On the way out, each gather received a big ol’ one liter bottle of Dad’s root beer. Mmmmm buddy. If I can eat or drink it, it’s a good gift.

Afterwards we grab a bite to eat at Taco Bell. We were going to go to a sit down restaurant, but they were all crazy and the lil’ guy was getting tired and ready for a nap. Instead we went through the drive thru and zipped on home. Normally Taco Bell is pretty stingy on the sauce packets. See my wife likes mild sauce (pansy) and I loves me some fire sauce. This means when I ask for both, they just don’t give us both enough. Sure, if you totaled up both sauces, it may be enough, but not for each of us individually. This time around we got more sauce then we knew what to do with.

From there we chilled for a bit and then went out and about. We looked around at the local mall and a perennial favorite Target. Got ourselves a water filter. We always buy those one gallon jugs of water, and it’s a pain to buy them every trip. They’re heavy, cumbersome, and always run out when you really need a drink of aqua desperately.

It was about 6:30 when we got home. I thought I would take my shoes off and just relax on the bed for a quick little reprieve from the hectic day. Figure I might do some Father’s Day gaming later on in the evening. My wife lays next to me and we joke about how we’re just resting here but we’re not gonna go to sleep. 12 hours later at 6 A.M., I wake up. Looks like we were wrong. Funny thing is, both my wife and my son slept all that time too. We must have been burnt. But hey, it was a good rest and I felt like a million bucks this morning.

So to sum it up, sleeping in, beer, water filter, and a long sleep, not too bad of day if I do say so myself. I’m very glad to be a dad (that rhymed on accident). It’s something else, and as much time and energy as it takes up, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Happy (late) Father’s Day to all those gaming dads out there whole juggle gaming and parenthood.

Recently, Dusty Wenton with www.examiner.com interviewed lil’ old me. I then go on to blab on about this and that. From Substance TV to the current state of video games, I just can’t shut up. So, if you enjoy reading my ramblings, then you’re in luck! Thanks to Dusty for interviewing me thereby giving me an even bigger ego complex.

Interview with me, myself, and I

Sorry I haven’t been around as much, but working on episode 10 has taken up a lot of time. Plus it’s just nice to take a bit of a break from the website every now and again. This should have been up much sooner, so my apologies.

Pinekast number 19 is out, and in it they discuss this years E3. What we liked, didn’t like, and all in between. Enjoy!

Pineksat number 19