Achievement Junkie - Nelson and Natalie News

This week we discussed Bioshock, Xbox 360 price drops, Halo 3 record-breaking preorder sales, EA's policy of shutting down servers for older games, and hand animations. We also talked about a bunch of other things, but why would you buy the cow if we gave you the milk for free?

This week we spoke early and often. We spoke of Xbox 360 price drops, games like Grand Theft Auto 4 and Blacksite: Area 51 being delayed, and new Xbox Live Arcade titles Spyglass Board Games and Marathon: Durandal. We also spoke of Medal of Honor: Airborne's multiplayer component, and compared it to jumping off a structure for no apparent reason. We found out if you felt the public had ever steered you wrong about a game, and we ask a new question about a different kind of warning label on EA games. We also spoke with our hands. A lot.

If you're into Wing Commander Arena, Bioshock, Project Sylpheed, Dead Rising, Test Drive Unlimited, Stuntman: Ignition, Lost, Ace Combat, Bomberman Live, Nascar, Oblivion or Salma Hayek (especially) then we probably have you covered this week. We also covered Hayden Panetierre (figuratively speaking), pay for play OXM demos on the marketplace, an HD-DVD price drop, what the listeners think of E3 and whether or not the masses can ever be wrong.

Interviews flowed like water this week, with a slew of pre-recorded episodes including such gaming luminaries as Microsoft's Peter Moore and Aaron Greenberg, Lionhead's Peter Molyneux, Hudson Entertainment's Joel Breton and Bungie's Frank O'Connor and Brian Jarrard. We spoke about many topics, and put forth our own opinions, but we also talked about the "U.C.", if you get the drift. Games like Fable 2, Halo 3, and Bomberman Live are discussed, so sit back and enjoy.

Microsoft is about to sink $1 billion into a long-needed fix for a bitter problem. The Darkness and Overlord are evil and they both want your money - we gave them a spin. You told us whether you were hardcore or casual, and we discussed the M and AO ratings in games. We also talked about the Xbox Live Arcade games Missile Command and Carcassonne, and ask you what you expect to get out of the hype-machine that is E3.

We got an over the shoulder preview of Call of Duty 4, we played a few quick rounds of Carcassonne and we scoured the web and store shelves for a few of the latest game deals and releases. We shared some Guitar Hero II and Crackdown tips, and found out how you felt about game manuals.

PS3 is getting a light gun. Take 2 revealed that they will be receiving two big fat checks (each in the amount of $25 Million dollars) for exclusive GTA 4 content. We talk about a few new games: Tenchu Z Call of Juarez Band of Bugs We interviewed John Greiner, CEO of Hudson Entertainment - the folks who will bring us Bomerman Live. We shared game tips for Gears of War and Forza 2 We revealed your video game fantasies and ask you: Do you really use the manuals that come with a new game? Our daily episodes featured chances to win: HD-DVD drive from Goozex.com Command & Conquer 3 Pac Man CE Forza 2 Shadow Run

This week Sony launches a new community blog and Apple focuses on gaming. America's Army: True Soldier will try to get new recruits exclusively on the Xbox 360. We discussed the Xbox Live Arcade titles Prince of Persia: Classic, PacMan CE and a sneak preview of Bomberman Live. The Project Sylpheed demo hits the marketplace. We ask about your video game fantasies, and answer some of your questions about us.

This week we discussed the good and bad of Shadowrun, Overlord, Vampire Rain, Hour of Victory, Pac-man Championship Edition, and Tomb Raider: Anniversary. Nelson's dad stopped by to give us a piece of his mind, and we look at a download-only gaming future. EA launches a casual games division and we found out just how much our listeners like waiting for things. This week we also offered a coupon for the trading site goozex.com. 5 free trades and 100 free credits after your first successful trade. Coupon code: junkie-2007. And last but not least, we are giving away a copy of Shrek the Third for anyone listening to this weekly episode. Just send us an email to junkie@achievementjunkie.com with the subject line “Give Me Shrek”. One winner will be randomly selected. The contest ends Friday, June 15th at Midnight Pacific. Good luck.

Shadowrun & Forza 2 hit stores this week, and if you’re too cheap for Forza the toy racer Madtracks made it to the Xbox Live arcade. We present an achievement manifesto. We talked about the Halo 3 beta, Call of Duty 3, Hour of Victory, Gears of War and Guitar Hero III. We found out what you thought about Limited Edition achievements and ask if waiting is good for international gamers.

This week we previewed Medal of Honor: Airborne, caught a glimpse of a secret sequel, drooled over Brothers in Arms, Splinter Cell Conviction and Assassin's Creed trailers and begged Microsoft to rescue Shadowrun. We also gave Halo 3 another go - with better results, sampled some of that Xevious and Rush'n'Attack flava, and got your feedback on recent Xbox Live Arcade titles. Finally, we found out how real is too real in games and ask what you think of limited edition achievements?

We got to hang out with the homeless and Master Chief for a preview of the delayed Halo 3 beta. The new CrackDown content was broken and we fear Shadowrun might be dead on arrival. Two XBOX Live Arcade games launch, including a free one - Aegis Wing. We looked at some of those game demos that are off limits to certain regions (Pirates of the Caribbean and Eternal Sonata). Riddick heading to the 360, but not the way you wanted. COD 4 details were revealed and we ask you if video games will ever get too realistic?

This week we had a Forza 2 interview with Che from Turn Ten studios. We were shocked and awed over the Blacksite: Area 51 demo. We discussed the ups and downs of the Spring dashboard update. We got to preview the Halo 3 beta, and messed around with the new Crackdown Downloadable content.

This is a mashup of all the daily episodes we’ve recorded so far this week. Some of what we talked about was: Mass Effect may leave you hanging this summer. Microsoft half-denied a Halo 3 - 1080P rumor. A big GTA IV leak was called out as a hoax and a new rumor emerged about a female playable character. Call of Duty is going modern and a listener's bean got steamed over some of our Guitar Hero II comments. The Xbox 360 got outsold by the past gen and we launched another game giveaway involving colons.

Several new (old) Xbox games were added to the backward compatibility list – but Chronicles of Riddick may never make it. GTA IV spoilers burst onto the web and you can win $100,000 for making an Xbox Live sitcom. A violent maniac + Jack Thompson + Dr. Phil = millions of normal people having to defend video games – again. Our question of the week hopes to find out if Whack a Mole, the game ever made you whack a mole in real life. We also find out what you think makes a game great. We also reveal the winner of last week’s second chances contest.