The Game Informer Show

As part of our month of ongoing coverage of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto V, we assembled a crack team of GI editors to discuss the game in a special edition podcast -- including cover story author Matt Bertz. Regular GI Show host Matt Helgeson welcomes Matt, Jeff Marchiafava, and Dan Ryckert into the booth for a lengthy and detailed discussion of what we've seen of the game so far. Jeff and Dan, who haven't seen the game in action but are longtime GTA fans, have a lot of questions and speculation about the game to add to the Matts' impressions of GTA V. (Please visit the site to view this media)

It's a big week for games, with the release of the latest Call of Duty and the Sunday launch of Nintendo's Wii U. We're here to discuss it all. First up, noted author Dan Ryckert checks in with host Matt Helgeson to discuss his reviews for Call of Duty: Black Ops II and the Vita title Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified. Treyarch's latest console CoD has some great elements -- including a branching story -- and some parts that don't work as well. We discuss the game's pluses and minuses at length. At the end of the segment, Dan dishes out a little more vitriol at Declassified a game that he is, shall we say, not a fan of. In the next segment, Matt is joined by three GI editors who have been putting in some quality time with Nintendo's Wii U. Bryan Vore, Tim Turi, and Kim Wallace have been playing some of the system's most promising games, including New Super Mario Bros. Wii U, ZombiU, and Nintendoland, and report back with impressions. They also give us a good look into the system's controller, design, and functionality. (Please visit the site to view this media)

343 Industries took up the mantle of the Halo franchise after Bungie, and the studio has done it proud. Find out what's changed, what's new, and what's still great about Halo 4 in this week's podcast. Host Matt Helgeson is joined by GI editors Matt Miller (who reviewed the game) and Kyle Hilliard for some in-depth discussion about one of the year's best games. Note: Hi all, I want to apologize for this week's podcast being late. It's also a bit shorter than usual. We had a full day of meetings in relation to an upcoming issue of GI, and there wasn't much time for anyone. Sorry for any inconvenience this might have caused you, but it was the best I could do today -- Matt. (Please visit the site to view this media)

This week we've got one of the year's biggest games -- and discussion regarding the deal the rocked the entertainment industry this week. We kick things off with a sometimes contentious discussion about Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed III. After three games centered around the saga of Ezio, this new chapter has a new protagonist and American Revolution setting. Host Matt Helgeson is joined by Matt Miller (who reviewed AC 3), Joe Juba, and Ben Hanson. While all agree the game is a must-play, there is some disagreement about some the decisions that Ubisoft Montreal made in designing the game. In the next segment, Jeff Marchiafava, Adam Biessener, and Jeff Cork stop by to react to Disney's blockbuster acquisition of LucasFilm -- which includes the rights to the Star War franchise and the company's video game wing, LucasArts. What does this mean for the future of Star Wars -- and Star Wars games? (Please visit the site to view this media)

This week we use the disappointing new Medal of Honor game as a jumping off point to discuss the industry's increasing reliance on day one patches. Also, meet our new interns! In the first segment, host Matt Helgeson is joined by Matt Bertz (who reviewed Medal of Honor: Warfighter), Matt Miller, and PC editor Adam Biessener for a wide-ranging discussion on the use and misuse of day one patching for games. Love it or hate it, it's a reality now and moving forward, but some companies seem to take a better approach to it than others. We also break down why -- patch or no patch -- Warfighter misses the mark in many important ways. In the second segment, Matt introduces you to our new crop of Game Informer interns: Odell Harmon, Jordan LaPorte, and Mike Mahardy. These guys have already been posting tons of news and opinion on the site, and in this podcast you can get to know them a little better. (Please visit the site to view this media)

In this week's episode, we discuss james Bond's legacy in games and why no game has truly captured the essence of 007. We also talk about the latest Skylanders game. In the first segment, we use the disappointing 007 Legends as a jumping off point to talk about James Bond's history in games. The iconic spy has had an inconsistent relationship with video game, starring in classics like GoldenEye and a host of disappointments. Host Matt Helgeson is joined by Tim Turi, Andy Reiner, and Ben Reeves as we speculate on why no game has really done justice to the franchise, and what the ultimate Bond game would look like. In the second segment, Reiner returns to talk Skylanders Giants, the latest in Activision and Toys for Bob's commercial game/toy blockbuster series. (Please visit the site to view this media)

Regular host Matt Helgeson is off on a less-than-secret mission to New York City, so guest host Adam Biessener breaks down this week's two highly anticipated launches with the GI crew's able assistance. Dan Ryckert and Ben Reeves join to rave about Firaxis' excellent XCOM: Enemy Unknown (read Adam's review here) in between spoiling the ending of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and arguing about Adam Duritz and Courteney Cox. In the second segment, Joe Juba and Andy Reiner break down their favorite strategies for creative mayhem in Dishonored (read Joe's review here). (Please visit the site to view this media)

This week sees another surprise departure of one of gaming's most public figures. We discuss Cliff Bleszinski's exit from Epic Games, plus the RE6 review controversy, and NBA 2K13. In the first segment, host Matt Helgeson is joined by editor in chief Andy McNamara, Tim Turi, Matt Miller, and Ben Hanson to ponder the fallout from Cliff Bleszinski's announcement that he has left Epic Games. We discuss the possible reasons, what it means for Epic and the industry, and Cliff's legacy in video games. Next up is Resident Evil 6. Tim Turi, who reviewed the game, Joe Juba, and Ben Reeves stop by to weigh in on the latest in Capcom's blockbuster series, which has generated some of the most contradictory reviews in recent memory. We also have a larger conversation about review scores and how they are perceived. Finally, Matt Bertz checks in with his impressions of NBA 2K13, the latest in the excellent basketball series. (Please visit the site to view this media)

We have a couple of big talkers this week: Nintendo's Wii U launch lineup and pricing and a firsthand report from the Toyko Game Show. First up, Matt Bertz, Tim Turi, and Dan Ryckert join host Matt Helgeson to discuss the Wii U's upcoming launch. By now, we know the system's launch lineup, pricing, and feature set -- but some questions still remain (especially in the online arena). It's a wide-ranging and interesting discussion, so make sure you tune in. Following, our intrepid reporter Ben Reeves regales us with tales from the Toyko Game Show -- including everything from the best game to a trip to a strange video-game themed restaurant. GI news editor Jim Reilly is also on hand to provide a skeptical view of the show. (Please visit the site to view this media)

It's a big show this week, featuring an exclusive interview with Garth DeAngelis and Jake Solomon of Firaxis' XCOM: Enemy Unknown team, plus discussion about the fallout from the sudden retirement of BioWare founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk and review impressions of Borderlands 2. First up, host Matt Helgeson and Adam Biessener are pleased to welcome Garth DeAngelis and Jake Solomon to discuss the development and vision behind 2K Games and Firaxis's reboot of the XCOM series. The duo hope to reestablish turn-based strategy and bring the XCOM franchise into the modern day, and provide us with some interesting insights into their development process. In the second segment, Andy McNamara and Joe Juba stop by to discuss the news that "The Doctors" from BioWare, Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, are stepping down and retiring from the game industry. We speculate on what that means for BioWare and also pay tribute to their legacy in games. Finally, Dan Ryckert (who reviewed the game) and Andy Reiner talk about Borderlands 2, which manages to improve on an already great formula and should be a contender for game of the year. (Please visit the site to view this media)

Anthony Burch of Gearbox, lead writer of Borderlands 2, joins the podcast this week. We also talk NHL 13, Mark of the Ninja, Double Dragon Neon, and Joe Danger 2. Burch, who first earned Internet fame writing for Destructoid and the hilarious "Hey Ash Whatcha Playin?" web series, is now the lead writer for Gearbox's highly anticipated Borderlands 2. Host Matt Helgeson and our Borderlands 2 cover story writer Jeff Marchiafava interview Burch about his career, approach to writing, hopes for Borderlands 2, and future DLC. In the second segment, Matt Bertz and the newest member of GI's Jock Squad, Kim Wallace, check in to talk about NHL 13. The latest in EA's long-running series is polarizing, impressing and frustrating our resident puckheads in equal measure. Finally, Bryan Vore, Matt Miller, and Ben Reeves chat with Matt (who threatens to strangle Ben later) about Mark of the Ninja, Double Dragon Neon, and Joe Danger 2: The Movie. (Please visit the site to view this media)

On this episode, we discuss Kojima's new chapter in the Metal Gear Solid saga and speak with the lead writer of Assassin's Creed 3. Ground Zeroes is first, with Metal Gear experts Kyle Hilliard, Joe Juba, Dan Ryckert, and Ben Hanson joining host Matt Helgeson to separate fact from fiction regarding the new trailer. We also engage in some high-level geekery and come away impressed by Juba's exhaustive knowledge of MGS lore. In the second segment, we're joined by a special guest, Corey May of Ubisoft. Corey has been the lead writer for Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed II, and Assassin's Creed III. Matt Bertz, Matt Helgeson, and Andy McNamara pick his brain about his work on AC, as well as his views on the game industry as a whole. (Please visit the site to view this media)

This week special guest Brent Weinbach, co-host of the classic game music blog The Legacy Music Hour, shares some of his favorite 8- and 16-bit music with the GI Show. We also break down Madden 13 and Guild Wars 2. If you have any interest at all in game music, this podcast is required listening. Brent is an expert in the field and stops by to play some of his favorites -- many of them from extremely rare and Japanese-only games. Also stick around for Matt Kato and Matt Bertz's talking about some of the sweeping changes EA Sports instituted in the new Madden, as well as Matt Miller and GI's new editor Kimberly Wallace waxing enthusiastic about the stellar new MMO Guild Wars 2. Note: Due to some technical difficulties, the podcast is late this week. We weren't able to upload it to the server for some reason. Big thanks to Joey Guerra at our corporate HQ for helping get this up! Sorry for the inconvenience. (Please visit the site to view this media)

The GI Show returns this week with discussion on a great Transformers game, a report from the recent Gamescom, and a fond farewell to our Game Informer interns. First up, robots-in-disguise fanatics Matt Miller, Tim Turi, Jim Reilly, and Andy Reiner join host Matt Helgeson to discuss High Moon and Activisions new Gobots....er...Transformers: Fall of Cybetron. Unlike the Michael Bay movies, this game understands what Transformers fans crave, and delivers it in a highly polished, variety-packed action game. Also, Jim likes this game, which is rare. Next up, Jeff Cork, Adam Biessener, and Bryan Vore pop in to talk about their impressions of the recent Gamescom 2012 conference in Germany. It was a big show for Sony, and there were some interesting new games debuted for a number of systems, so tune in to hear their firsthand report. Finally, we bid a fond farewell to our first class of Game Informer interns: Jack Gardner, Ali Rapp, and Josh Straub. They tell us what they learned in their time at GI and give advice to prospective interns. (Please visit the site to view this media)

One of our most anticipated games of the year has arrived. Tune in for a long discussion of Vigil's Darksiders II. In this segment, host Matt Helgeson is joined by reviewer Andy Reiner, and Darksiders fans Kyle Hilliard and Matt Miller. Miller sticks around for the second segment, when Joe Juba checks in to talk about his reviews for Dust: An Elysian Tail and The Last Story. Also, we troll Joe. He deserves it. (Please visit the site to view this media)