The Game Informer Show

In this episode of the Game Informer Show, we weigh in on the new IP from Insomniac called Fuse before exploring the music of Anamanaguchi. With Matt Helgeson busy once again with top-secret business, video producer Ben Hanson is guest-hosting another episode. In the first segment we are joined by Dan Ryckert, Tim Turi, Andrew Reiner to talk about the co-op third-person shooter from the acclaimed developer Insomniac. While the game is a departure from Insomniac franchises like Ratchet and Clank and Resistance, it can be a lot of fun when playing with friends. Read Dan's review to get a better idea of what to expect from Fuse. In the second segment, Tim Turi hosts the chiptune bandAnamanaguchi to talk about their music, gaming histories, and their new album Endless Fantasy. If you like what you hear, you can check out their Kickstarter to expand on the concept of the album by sending pizza into space or something. Enjoy the show! (Please visit the site to view this media)

Earlier this week, we asked the Game Informer community what they wanted to know about Sucker Punch's upcoming Infamous Second Son. We received plenty of questions about the studio's Playstation 4 debut, and we took them straight to game director Nate Fox and producer Brian Fleming. Click below to hear two of the project's leads answer your questions. (Please visit the site to view this media) Tio learn more about Infamous Second Son, click on the banner below to enter our content-filled hub.

Microsoft's unveiling of the Xbox One was the news that rocked the video game world this week, and we've got nearly an hour of discussion on the new system. Host Matt Helgeson returns with Tim Turi, Matthew Kato, and Matt Bertz to talk about everything related to Microsoft's ambitious new all-in-one entertainment box. (Please visit the site to view this media)

Our regular podcast host Matt Helgeson is busy with top-secret magazine features, so video producer Ben Hanson is filling in for the first time as the host of the show. If you're a fan of post-apocalyptic worlds and competitive trivia games then you are in for a treat. In the first segment we talk about the new title from 4A Games and Deep Silver called Metro: Last Light with Jeff Marchiafava (who reviewed it and enjoyed it) and executive editor Andrew Reiner. Centering around the survivors of a nuclear armageddon that live in the Russian subway tunnels, the sequel to Metro 2033 maintains the dark, survivalist tone while refining some of the more annoying aspects of its predecessor. Listen to the segment to learn more. In the second segment we bring back our recurring trivia show that has contestants Dan Ryckert, Bryan Vore, Jeff Cork, and Kyle Hilliard trying to guess the game based on the descriptions and quotes from the back of the box. It is a close round and a new champion is crowned, so tune in, play along, and let us know what you think in the comments below. Thanks! (Please visit the site to view this media)

With regular host Matt Helgeson out of town, GI's Adam Biessener steps in on a week without a standout game release. At least Electronic Arts and Disney made some news by announcing a partnership for Star Wars video games. The usual three-segment format survives the hosting controversy, though. After chatting about our hopes for EA's recently announced stewardship of the Star Wars license with Joe Juba and Matt Miller, Bryan Vore relays his experiences with Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move and Sid Meier's just-released iOS game, Ace Patrol. Finally, Tim Turi and Kim Wallace join Adam to close out the show with a PSA to Microsoft and Sony with the mistakes we've seen in previous console generations that we just shouldn't have to put up with in the next. (Please visit the site to view this media)

This week, we got to speak with some of the leads on Batman: Arkham Origins and ask them questions submitted by readers. Bryan Vore and Matt Miller, both of who were on our cover story trip for the game, helm the first segment. They asked GI readers for questions, and put the best of them to creative director Eric Holmes and senior producer Ben Mattes. Host Matt Helgeson returns for the second segment with Andy Reiner and Tim Turi in tow. They are here to talk about Ubisoft's excellent Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, a new standalone game in the FC universe that provides a unique and excellent take on 1980s pulp sci-fi and action films. (Please visit the site to view this media)

In this episode of the Game Informer Show, we discuss the highly anticipated new Dead Island game, Nintendo's continuing sales struggles, and some new DLC for Assassin's Creed III. Host Matt Helgeson kicks things off with Tim Turi and Jeff Marchiafava, who are on hand to talk about Dead Island Riptide, the follow-up to Deep Silvers' breakout zombie hit. The game features a lot of the elements that attracted horror fans to the original, but it also misses the mark in terms of polish. Tim and Jeff discuss the game's considerable strengths and nagging flaws. In the second segment, Matt is joined by Matt Bertz and Ben Hanson to talk about the recent Nintendo financial report, which revealed some disappointing Wii U sales numbers and a shakeup in the company's management structure. Things aren't looking especially good for the Big N right now; we discuss what's gone wrong so far and what Nintendo can do to right the ship. Finally, Matt Miller stops by to talk about the final part of Ubisoft's "The Tyranny of King Washington" DLC trilogy. This chapter is entitled "The Redemption" and, like the previous chapter, contains both some intriguing content and some frustrating design choices. Miller breaks down his impressions of the DLC in detail. (Please visit the site to view this media)

This week's GI podcast features an impressive new comic book fighting game, DLC for one of last year's best titles, and an intriguing television show/MMO/shooter hybrid. We kick it off with Injustice: Gods Among Us, NeatherRealm's latest fighting game. This time, it's not a Mortal Kombat game, but an epic battle between the greatest DC comic book characters. Reviewer Andy Reiner and resident GI fighting game expert Jason Oestreicher join host Matt Helgeson for a lengthy discussion of the game. Both of them love the game, which builds on the MK formula in interesting ways, while adding a good deal of DC comic flair. Next up, Joe Juba stops by to chat about the Knife of Dunwall DLC for Arkane's excellent stealth title Dishonored. It's a very substantial DLC release, and features one of Dishonored's coolest characters, so fans are advised to check it out. Finally, Reiner returns with Adam Biessener and Matt Miller in tow to talk about the intriguing partnership between Trion Worlds and SyFy Network - the MMO shooter Defiance. This has a bit of everything: co-op shooting, MMO play, and a strong story-driven tie to the TV show of the same name. It's one of the more interesting experiments we've seen in years, and, so far, they've managed to pull it off. (Please visit the site to view this media)

This week we get into the controversy started by the tweets heard 'round the world by ex-Microsoft Studios' creative director Adam Orth. It's been a tough week for Microsoft, particularly now-ex Microsoft Studios' Adam Orth, who touched off a firestorm of online controversy after sending out a series of sarcastic tweets that seemed to confirm that the next Xbox will require an "always-on" Internet connection to play games. This was in addition to a seemingly endless set of rumors and leaks regarding the console. In the first segment, host Matt Helgeson, Matt Bertz, Joe Juba, and Adam Biessener sift through the fallout and give our opinions on the concept of an always-on console. The second segment is much less controversial, but no less interesting. We actually get to talk about a good game - specifically, DrinkBox Studios' excellent brawler/Metroid hybrid Guacamelee. It's one of the year's best, and Bryan Vore, Dan Ryckert, and Ben Hanson will tell you why. (Please visit the site to view this media)

In this episode, we bid a fond farewell to LucasArts and ponder where it all went wrong. Host Matt Helgeson is joined by Matt Bertz, Tim Turi, Andy Reiner, and the newest member of the Game Informer staff, news editor Mike Futter. We're happy to have Mike aboard, but sadly this was a bad in the world of video games. We discuss the demise of LucasArts, why it happened, and how the publisher will ultimately be remembered by gamers. In the second segment, Matt welcomes back Tim, and they are joined by MGS fans Joe Juba, Dan Ryckert, and Ben Hanson to unravel the sneaky saga of Hideo Kojima's now-legendary fakeout "The Phantom Pain." After all the fake trailers, fake bandaged developers, and subterfuge it turns out to be - as we expected - the next Metal Gear Solid game. (Please visit the site to view this media)

We asked for questions about the upcoming Thief reboot from our readers, then posed them two of the game's leads. This podcast was hosted by Game Informer's Ben Reeves and Bryan Vore, who asked the questions to Eidos Montreal lead producer Stephane Roy and lead level designer Daniel Windfeld Schmidt. (Please visit the site to view this media)

BioShock Infinite creator Ken Levine headlined last week's podcast, and this week we're coming back with another Infinite-heavy show. It's just that good. This time around, we do our more traditional review impressions and discussion of the game, which will stand as one of the greatest games of the year, if not this generation. The world that Irrational created in Columbia is amazingly creative and immersive, and the game is grounded in one of the most affecting relationships we've seen in a video game. There's also a ton of finely crafted combat powers and gunplay to go around. All in all, it's a masterpiece, and host Matt Helgeson, Joe Juba (who reviewed the game), Dan Ryckert, and Andy Reiner will tell you why. In the second segment, we welcome some special guests to the program (via phone). Certain Affinity's senior brand and community manager Mike McCarthy and senior producer Tom Potter call in to talk about the company's upcoming Castle Map Pack for Halo 4. Certain Affinity has deep roots with Bungie, 343, and Halo, and has worked on multiplayer DLC for some of the biggest franchises in gaming, including Halo, Halo Reach, Call of Duty, and Left 4 Dead. They tell us a little bit more about their company and talk about the art and science of creating multiplayer maps. Note: This podcast is SPOILER FREE. (Please visit the site to view this media)

We're excited to welcome Ken Levine, the visionary creator of BioShock and the upcoming BioShock Infinite, to this week's Game Informer podcast. We were fortunate to get the opportunity to speak with Ken about BioShock Infinite, which releases next week. Host Matt Helgeson and Joe Juba, who wrote Game Informer's cover story on BioShock Infinite, interview Ken about the game's design, plot, inspirations, and long development cycle. As always, his answers are interesting and thought-provoking. On a slightly less high-brow note, Game Informer's Dan Ryckert stops by in the second segment to discuss his review of Gears of War: Judgment, Epic Games' latest entry in the ultra-popular third-person shooter series. While this game doesn't break much new ground, Epic did make some important changes in the game's single-player and co-op campaign as well as a the multiplayer, which includes one breathtaking new mode. (Please visit the site to view this media)

This week, we break down the latest in the epic saga of Kratos, and talk about the long-awaited expansion to StarCraft II. In the first segment, host Matt Helgeson is joined by Joe Juba, Dan Ryckert, and Andy Reiner to talk about Sony's God of War: Ascension. It's likely the last God of War game of this console generation, and Joe (who reviewed the game) has mixed feelings about the game's storytelling and some of the changes that were implemented to the gameplay. Next up, Matt Miller, Ben Reeves, and Ben Hanson stop by to talk about StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, the expansion pack that has been more than two years in the making. However, as with most Blizzard games, the wait was worth it. Look for Miller's review in the days to come, but until then you can listen to us analyze the game. (Please visit the site to view this media)

In this week's podcast we discuss the critically acclaimed Tomb Raider reboot, and the controversy surrounding the launch of EA's SimCity. We start things off on a positive note, with a segment on Crystal Dynamics' expert reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise. Though reviewer Matt Miller (read his review here) is traveling and unable to be a part of the show, host Matt Helgeson taps the brains of Andy Reiner and Ben Reeves, both of whom have spent a lot of time with this excellent new title that takes the Tomb Raider in new directions. Next up is a long discussion of Maxis' SimCity. For reasons we outline in the podcast, Joe Juba has not submitted a review of the game yet and we explain why. The game's online functionality has been severely compromised at launch, resulting in a lot of backlash against EA and Maxis. Tune into hear Matt, Joe, and Adam Biessener break down the controversy. (Please visit the site to view this media)