[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Welcome to the 11th
meeting of the Xfire Debate Club!
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Hello, We are very
excited to have you all here today!
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Remember, Xfire
users should be debating the topics in the Open Debate Room - The Open Debate
Room is not for Spam. It will be moderated strictly. The best users will be
invited into the Xfire Debate Club Clan: The Two Handed Sword.
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Basic chatting
should go in Unofficial Chatter
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Q&A in the last
15 minutes will go in the Question Room (Invites will go out mid-Debate)
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: The Great Prizes
will be raffled at the end of the debate, so be sure to catch it all!
[Xfire] Matthew: sorry for the short
delay we will start soon!
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Welcome to Gamers'
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Please join me in welcoming our special
guests to Xfire's
Debate on Gamers'
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Matt Buchanan - Gizmodo
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Joe Blancato - The Escapist
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Robert Krakoff - Razer
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Jean Aw - NOTCOT
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Sean Gailey - J!NX
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Newegg.com and Michael Zenke have been unable
to join us, but send their best wishes.
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: So, without further
ado, for each guest: Starting with Matt, could you introduce yourself, and let
us know what is at the top of your wish list this holiday season?
matt [gizmodo]: Well, my rig's kind of dated, so it's tossup
between a new gaming PC and a MacBook Pro.
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: OK, Joe, how about you?
matt [gizmodo]: BTW guys, I described my ultimate gaming PC
here: http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/all-giz-wants/all-giz-wants-a-gaming-pc-with-the-soul-of-a-console-334928.php
Joe: Hey folks. I'm Joe Blancato, from The Escapist. I edit stuff and
occasionally write stuff. At the top of my wishlist right now is either an
iPhone or an Xbox 360, but I can't decide whether to scratch my gaming itch or
my smug hipster itch first.
Sean [J!NX]: i have found it to be effect to use both
hands for scratching those itches
matt [gizmodo]: You should scratch your smug hipster itch
with a 3G iPhone next year, get a 360 this year =)
Sean [J!NX]: effective*
Joe: You words make sense, Matt, but the call of the hipster is a siren's song
of early adoption.
matt [gizmodo]: Well if you missed the $600 pricetag you've
already lost.
Sean [J!NX]: I have found that my iPhone works best when
I'm humping a cell tower and thats about it
[NOTCOT] Jean: is an iphone even a hipster toy anymore? doesn't everyone have one?
Joe: blasphemy. Communicate Different.
Sean [J!NX]: I think they need to make the iPhone more
expensive again, I definately don't feel nearly as smug anymore
[NOTCOT] Jean: and they should only release a handful
Sean [J!NX]: Or maybe a smug booster pack where you get an
add-on that starts your money on fire
[NOTCOT] Jean: very very slowly
Joe: haha, sean. if it's less
than a car payment, it's just not worth owning.
matt [gizmodo]: Like the Wii, but with a PS3 pricepoint
matt [gizmodo]: It should ignite fanboy fervor on all fronts
[NOTCOT] Jean: watch that will be the hot thing of 2008 now
[NOTCOT] Jean: oh i'm supposed to introduce myself
apparently...
[NOTCOT] Jean: hi! i'm jean ~ i'm a design/gadget junkie
who's gone through every console at one time or another, but really am more of
a watcher than a gamer ~ i run NOTCOT
[NOTCOT] Jean: and as for whats on my list ~ after making gift guides all
month long, and being an impulse shopper.... nothing has been on the top of my
list, but i did get this sweet industrial vinyl cutter for my bday two weeks
ago ~ which pretty much is the best present i never expected
[NOTCOT] Jean: NEXT!
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Thanks Jean, Sean?
Sean [J!NX]: Hey everyone, I'm Sean and am the founder and
creative director over at J!NX Clothing (JINX.com). We keep gamers and geeks from being naked on a daily basis, although being naked is
perfectly acceptible. Really, I'm not
being prejudice, I mean, I have a lot of naked
friends. </backpeddle>
Sean [J!NX]: I have something at the top of my list that I
can't justify asking for
Sean [J!NX]: http://starwars.lego.com/en-us/products/exclusive/10178.aspx
Sean [J!NX]: Its $130 of legos
[NOTCOT] Jean: and worth every penny?
Sean [J!NX]: which is exactly $100 over my theoritcal lego
spending allowance
[NOTCOT] Jean: besides gifts are fun when they are things
you wouldn't buy yourself
Joe: I was the lego-smashing kid growing up
Sean [J!NX]: But hey, its out there now, and there are
lots of people reading this, so PST for my address
matt [gizmodo]: Oh, that whole intro deal--I'm matt, a
contributing editor at Gizmodo, one of the big gadget blogs--I write about
pretty much anything shiny or geeky.
Joe: I'd like to think I haven't grown out of that mindset.
[NOTCOT] Jean: they can all pitch in and buy you a few
pieces each
Sean [J!NX]: haha
Sean [J!NX]: Jean, you have something brilliant there
[NOTCOT] Jean: haha ~ user generated lego building?
[NOTCOT] Jean: one block at a time?
Joe: oh god, that's all lego needs, open-source culture
[Slashdot] Michael: Hello all; I seem to have problems
understanding what day things are happening.
Sean [J!NX]: Keep the vulnerabilities out, that way I
can't get my email hacked through my motorized At At
Sean [J!NX]: I accept the challenge BFM_Knight
[NOTCOT] Jean: i missed the challenge
[Xfire-TTHS] Debateox: Sean, what challenge?
Sean [J!NX]: Oh sorry, was in debate room, it was a lego
building challenge
[NOTCOT] Jean: was it the 360 of legos?
[NOTCOT] Jean: hey sean ~ do you guys
have any lego tees?
[Slashdot] Michael: Okay folks, looks like we're going to get
started.
[Slashdot] Michael: My intense apologies again for my tardiness.
My name is Michael Zenke.
[Slashdot] Michael: And I'm the games editor for Slashdot.org.
[Slashdot] Michael: We have some fairly excellent people here
today.
[Slashdot] Michael: And we'll go around and have them do an introduction.
[Slashdot] Michael: Sean, do you want to start?
[Slashdot] Michael: or ... we already did that.
Sean [J!NX]: Yeah, I bored them with my description
already
[Slashdot] Michael: hah.
Sean [J!NX]: :)
[NOTCOT] Jean: some but not all of us did i think
[Slashdot] Michael: Okay, let's jump right into a question:
[Slashdot] Michael: What do you folks see
as the signature change this year to gamer-gifts?
[Slashdot] Michael: You've already said what your top of the list
was ...
matt [gizmodo]: I think the signature change is the
definition of a gamer, really
[Slashdot] Michael: what was it about this year that was
different from 2006?
[Slashdot] Michael: Howso, matt?
Sean [J!NX]: I have been buying everyone a PacMan tie
since the 80s so not much has changed here
matt [gizmodo]: The DS and Wii have really broken open just
who is a gamer really
[NOTCOT] Jean: wii definitely seems to have opened things up
to toddlers and grandmas.... as gamers even more?
matt [gizmodo]: Casual gaming is the big buzzword, but I mean
it has some pull to it beyond PR hype--look at lines for the Wii, a year after
launch
matt [gizmodo]: And the DS sold 600k units Black Friday week.
matt [gizmodo]: Everyone's getting one
[Slashdot] Michael: Right; lots of folks
see it as acceptable now. Do you folks think that will mean more people buying
Xbox Cards or Wii points for friends/family?
Sean [J!NX]: I wonder how many people get gaming devices
like the DS simply because they are a gamer and people want to buy them a game
related gift
[Slashdot] Michael: Will this tie into the downloadable content
thing everyone seems to be so big on?
matt [gizmodo]: I don't know if it'll tie into downloadable
content--the issue with that getting bigger is mostly on the company's side of
things, really
Joe: It's possible, Michael. I mean, as popular as gift cards are, it probably
won't take long for Nintendo to start selling Wii points next to Best Buy gift
cards.
matt [gizmodo]: They do already
Joe: Well I'll be damned.
Joe: I'm a genius on a three-week time delay.
matt [gizmodo]: Bought a friend 2000 Wii points at Target
last year
[Slashdot] Michael: hah
[NOTCOT] Jean: haha
Sean [J!NX]: lol
Joe: (three-year time delay) :(
[Slashdot] Michael: yeah, that's what I meant. And like say ...
Jinx's stuff seems to be showing up in more mainstream places.
Sean [J!NX]: We even got J!NX cards at circuit city
[NOTCOT] Jean: nice
Sean [J!NX]: What is the world coming to!?
[Slashdot] Michael: Jean, do you think that this popularization
of gaming will lead to folks taking design of nerd toys more seriously?
[NOTCOT] Jean: hopefully they at least design them to look a
bit better
[Slashdot] Michael: The change from the DS phat to DS lite was a
big deal for some folks ..
[NOTCOT] Jean: i think the shift of what is considered
gaming and what a controller looks like is huge
[NOTCOT] Jean: the idea of more party games and drunken
multiplyering certainly changes things a bit
[Slashdot] Michael: hah.
Joe: The Wii went a long way in that.
matt [gizmodo]: Drunken halo has long been a frat boy
tradition though
[NOTCOT] Jean: guitar hero and rock band
Joe: It's Gen Y charades
Sean [J!NX]: I heard that Budwiezer sales doubled when the
Wii came out
matt [gizmodo]: Yeah GH and RB are huge in that way
[NOTCOT] Jean: i know ex bosses who got them and had rock
band parties ~ i think he bought an xbox just for that
[Slashdot] Michael: Right, but can you play Halo with your
grandmother? Or rather, would you want to?
[NOTCOT] Jean: its more ~ can your grandmother play halo?
matt [gizmodo]: Would you play anything w/ your grandma
drunk?
Sean [J!NX]: lol
Joe: Me? Yes. Grandma talks some shit when she headshots me, though.
Sean [J!NX]: Matt, is grandma drunk too?
[Slashdot] Michael: oh dear ... going in bad directions. :)
matt [gizmodo]: I don't know she probably has a pretty solid
liver
[NOTCOT] Jean: drunken grandma halo parties
[NOTCOT] Jean: hmmm is that a new one at the retirement
homes?
[Slashdot] Michael: To redirect: what do you think that this
means for giving gifts *next* year?
Joe: Straying back to the train of thought, a number of old folks' homes are
buying Wiis.
matt [gizmodo]: You might be able to find a Wii next, maybe.
Well...
[Slashdot] Michael: Are we going to be
seeing gaming continue this trend of social acceptance, or is that 'Wii bubble'
everyone talks about finally going to deflate?
Joe: I think next year is a real test for how "sticky" games are.
razerguy08: Wii fit for the old folks
[Slashdot] Michael: joe: exactly.
matt [gizmodo]: And how "faddy" the Wii is
matt [gizmodo]: But I think game culture going mainstream is
more than just the Wii
matt [gizmodo]: Look at WoW on
matt [gizmodo]: or GH
Joe: Well, that begs another question, Matt.
[NOTCOT] Jean: if the wii is as hard to find next year as it
was this year and last.... people might totally freak out on them,no?
Joe: Are the people who play only WoW or only Guitar Hero/Rock Band into gaming
culture?
[NOTCOT] Jean: aren't they just asking for some backlash?
[Slashdot] Michael: That's a great point:
virtual worlds are getting much more socially acceptable. Do you think we're
going to see 'Webkinz-like' worlds for older folks? worlds
with some sort of physical stickiness?
matt [gizmodo]: Probably not--I think Facebook's the extent
of social networking for "older folks"
[Slashdot] Michael: jean: i'm not sure ... I think mario still has a lot of cachet.
razerguy08: worlds that might be based on some futuristic
social network?
Sean [J!NX]: Yeah, older people tend to fear electronics,
almost as if they possess voodoo powers
Sean [J!NX]: ALthough I recommend getting your
grandparents a Presto
Sean [J!NX]: lemme dig up link
[NOTCOT] Jean: dont think thats
wearing off yet?
[Slashdot] Michael: Well, not even social networking per say,
matt. Online spaces other than 'Second Life' where folks will
feel comfortable interacting online.
Sean [J!NX]: http://www.presto.com/
Sean [J!NX]: THat was tough...
Sean [J!NX]: Anyway, lets you send them pics and emails
and you can pretend like they care about the Interwebs
Joe: The problem with the "virtual world" thing is it tends to draw
people who aren't happy with the "physical world" as early adopters
[Slashdot] Michael: true, joe.
razerguy08: WoW XPS ... at $5k that's not targeted to
kids
matt [gizmodo]: I don't even play WoW and I want one of those
[Slashdot] Michael: hah. Welcome to the conversation, Robert!
razerguy08: lol
razerguy08: tech challenges
Sean [J!NX]: Woot, he cracked the code!
[NOTCOT] Jean: hah
razerguy08: i'm using a Dell
Joe: that XPS is a funny beast, though
Joe: I'm pretty sure WoW will run on a cell phone, it's so low-end happy.
Joe: Who ARE they
[NOTCOT] Jean: the idea of WoW on cellphones seems like bad
news...
[NOTCOT] Jean: i can only imaging people playing and driving
Sean [J!NX]: he
Sean [J!NX]: heh
Joe: I kinda like it, Jean. It gets raiders out of the house.
[Slashdot] Michael: hah
[Slashdot] Michael: Is there any chance we'll see WoW on console
next year?
razerguy08: speaking of gifts i can't afford have you
seen the $500 Millennium Falcon from Lego?
Sean [J!NX]: oh yeah
Sean [J!NX]: 5,000 peices
matt [gizmodo]: Yeah if they wanted to get on the
future-proof bandwagon, a Starcraft II XPS would've sold just as well
[Slashdot] Michael: razer: yikes. amazing.
[NOTCOT] Jean: between the texting, iming, youtube watching,
game playing while driving already.... i dunno,
carrying your virtual world everywhere with you in your real world?
Sean [J!NX]: and it comes with Harrison Ford, he hangs out
with you while you build it
Joe: Oh man. I'd pay $1,000 just to smash one
razerguy08: agreed
[NOTCOT] Jean: link to the lego hrrison ford?
matt [gizmodo]: Yeah Jesus from Giz is building one: http://gizmodo.com/335673/sorting-the-5195-pieces-of-the-millennium-falcon-gives-strange-pleasure-back-pain
[Slashdot] Michael: Okay. So were' going to go to questions from
the floor.
[Slashdot] Michael: Because I'm awesome and this is already
getting tight on time. :)
[Slashdot] Michael: We've already talked
about the tops of your lists : what was your Game of
the Year?
razerguy08: How bout Home Arcade System
http://www.chicago-gaming.com/alegends.php
You can upgrade with other game packs.
[Slashdot] Michael: This should be easy.
[NOTCOT] Jean: home arcade system ~ is that like the one
they put the keg in?
Joe: GOTY? Is the Orange Box cheating? Five games at $8 apiece with one of the
best games ever written bundled in.
[Slashdot] Michael: Mine is without a doubt Mass Effect. :)
[Slashdot] Michael: Not at all Joe.
matt [gizmodo]: I really, really love Mario Strikers Charged
razerguy08: CoD4 http://www.charlieoscardelta.com/ageconfirm.php
You love Call of Duty 4 and you are glad to
see that Infinity ward took the reins back on this series.
matt [gizmodo]: but I want to steal my friend's Mass Effect
pretty badly
Sean [J!NX]: Bioshocker possibly
Sean [J!NX]: Although orange box is really good
[Slashdot] Michael: sean: your shirt is not a game. :)
Sean [J!NX]: ha
matt [gizmodo]: Orange Box was also fantastic
razerguy08: agreed
Joe: It's been a great
year for games.
Sean [J!NX]: Yeah, it really has
[Slashdot] Michael: It's really hard to argue with the bang for
your buck that Valve gives you.
Joe: Best since 2005
[Slashdot] Michael: Any unsung heroes that got overlooked?
Sean [J!NX]: Ratchet and Clank was great
[NOTCOT] Jean: as a non gamer i must say the rabbids still
amuse me to no end
matt [gizmodo]: I hate that I can't play TF2 with my Xbox
Live friends though , since I prefer FPS on PC by a million to one
Sean [J!NX]: the newest (well, all of them)
[Slashdot] Michael: I think Drake's Fortune has really gotten
short shrift, unfortunately.
razerguy08: i came in a little late - has any1 discussed
Rockband for the 360 http://www.rockband.com/
One guy on durms, another on vocals, one on
bass, and one on lead guitar. It is pretty freaking sweet.
matt [gizmodo]: And the $25 Black Friday price Best Buy ran
was just too good
[Slashdot] Michael: I got my wife Raving rabbids 2 for christmas this year.
[NOTCOT] Jean: ha, how'd she like it?
Joe: I burn a candle for Out of the Park Baseball and all the other sports
management sims.
[Slashdot] Michael: Haven't given it to her yet, Jean, but we
played through the whole first game last year. :)
[Slashdot] Michael: Anyone else on sleeper hits?
[NOTCOT] Jean: ohhh ok right ~ xmas
is next week
matt [gizmodo]: She doesn't read gamer debates does she?
[Slashdot] Michael: I'm going to use the mind trick on her for
this one. :)
Sean [J!NX]: I thought of a good Worst Gift idea. You could buy someone Vanguard - Saga of
Heroes with 6 months of pre-paid game time so they feel guilty if they don't
play.
[NOTCOT] Jean: prob need to pick up one more surprise gift
for her now just in case ; )
[Slashdot] Michael: Okay, more questiosn coming in:
[Slashdot] Michael: (sean: hah)
[Slashdot] Michael: Is the PSP Slim really better then the regular
PSP, I have heard that it is made of cheaper material but can hook up to a TV
and can load games faster. What is your opinions on
this?
Joe: Back before I sold my unlocked original PSP, all I really wanted was TV-out
and better loading times.
razerguy08: i have to find a place for this gift ...
Poetictech Aura Work station http://www.poetictech.com/aura/index.html
Pretty sweet station.
Joe: So, uhh, as long as you've got good hands and don't play on concrete, it's
better.
matt [gizmodo]: Thin is in.
razerguy08: yes but fat is where its
at
[Slashdot] Michael: haha
[NOTCOT] Jean: hahaha
Joe: Yes. It's positively svelte, even if their commercials are almost as
annoying as the Old Navy ones from a few years back.
Sean [J!NX]: portables got back
[Slashdot] Michael: Random question: Do any
of you have a doodad or piece of swag that you find yourself using a lot that
you think would make a good gift?
[NOTCOT] Jean: are there any new must have psp games to make
it worth getting the
slim if you dont have one?
[Slashdot] Michael: Something wacky that would make a good
stocking stuffer, perhaps?
matt [gizmodo]: I like anything by Takara Tomy
[Slashdot] Michael: I'm kind of partial to the final fantasy
series, but buying them *again* ...
matt [gizmodo]: They have this exploding bank bomb that's
excellent
Joe: It's an old-school gadget, but if it's good enough for MacGuyver, it's good
enough for me.
matt [gizmodo]: Also, I really dig mimobots--they're on
NOTCOT's gift guide too
Joe: http://www.swissknifeshop.com/SwissTool_s/73.htm
Sean [J!NX]: http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=TYV15019
[NOTCOT] Jean: i was about to say ~ i just got mimobots
today
[NOTCOT] Jean: they are pretty sweet
Joe: If you don't have something made by the Swiss Army, you're not prepared for
the zombie apocalypse. Consider yourself warned.
Sean [J!NX]: Monty Python talking keychain thingy, great
stuffer (link above)
[NOTCOT] Jean: http://www.notcot.com/archives/2007/12/the_rayd8_clan.php
[Slashdot] Michael: I can't even tell you how much fun these are:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/934c/