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We're joined by GameSpot's own science guru Cameron Robinson to chat What If Machine, Wii U, and answer your questions live on Twitch.tv.  Get the full article at GameSpot "GameSpot UK Podcast 04/12/12" was posted on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 10:30:00 -0800

We had a beard quota to reach, so this week we're joined by video producer extraordinaire Johnny Chiardenay.  Get the full article at GameSpot "GameSpot UK Podcast 20/11/12" was posted on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:30:00 -0800

Both Uncharted 3 and Mirage are up for Best Visual Arts awards at the Game Developers Conference tonight, but that's not all that links the two wildly different games. Naughty Dog FX lead Keith Guerrette joins one-man-show Mario von Rickenbach and Tom Magrino to discuss how developing a "realistic" production like Uncharted 3 is kind of the same, kind of different than making a highly abstract indie game like Mirage.

If one thing can be learned from this week's episode of The HotSpot, it's that VGA is not an acronym that should be pronounced phonetically. But Shaun McInnis, Tom Mc Shea, Brendan Sinclair, and Tom Magrino do anyway! Repeatedly! We also give our impressions of The Last of Us, Command & Conquer: Generals 2, Fortnite, and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, before Chris Watttttters puts a bullet in the week's show with talk of Gears of War 3: RAAM's Shadow.

Bethesda Softworks' latest Elder Scrolls title is clearly one of the best games to come out this year, even if its burdened by ludicrous glitches, idiotic AI, and less-than-compelling storytelling. What's going on here?! Join Kevin VanOrd, Kurtis Seid, John Davison, and Tom Magrino for a replay of our first-ever (and possibly last!) LIVE episode of The HotSpot.

Of dildo bats and played-out tropes, The HotSpot crew tackles Saints Row: The Third and Need for Speed: The Run. Here me out on this: Including a bat shaped like a dildo--indeed, uttering the phrase dildo bat--is a progressive step for the game industry. Seriously, that's an argument that's made, as Carolyn Petit, Kevin VanOrd, Tom Mc Shea, and Tom Magrino tackle played-out tropes in the context of Saints Row: The Third. Also, Need for Speed: The Run does not leave us breathless, panting, begging for more. I mean, after that run? We're not even winded!

GameSpot editors prove that they don't hate PC games and talk about that wormlike thing that is growing on Kevin's head... in Dark Souls. Jody Robinson makes an appearance to represent the community. Also, Sophia Tong begins her farewell tour by substitute hosting, and reviewers Kevin VanOrd and Carolyn Petit round out an (almost all-female) panel in this week's HotSpot!

Bodycount takes the truth in advertising award with its new mode that lets you honest to god quantify your kills. Kevin VanOrd, Marko Djordjevic, Carolyn Petit, Eddie Makuch, and Tom Magrino give this new mode some air time, while also taking a stand against pretentious indie games (namely Trauma). Plus, we see what's what with this whole live (-to-tape) calls thing that's sweeping the nation. Unmitigated disaster? You be the judge!

The HotSpot's under new management, and what better way to kick things off than taking an in-depth look at Catherine and wondering why oh why are we aroused right now? Kevin VanOrd, Giancarlo Varanini, Chris Watters, and Tom Magrino do just that with Atlus' sexually disorienting puzzle game, as well as talk about Ubisoft's From Dust and San Diego's Comic-Con.

Kevin VanOrd, Chris Watters, Carolyn Petit, and Brendan Sinclair are on hand to see if Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 sends the series out on a high note (it doesn't), if Ms. 'Splosion Man lives up to the combustible platformer's reputation (it does), and if griefing Kingdom Hearts fans ever gets old (not yet!).

Kevin VanOrd, Shaun McInnis, and Tom Mc Shea shoot the breeze...and ants, spiders, robo-daddy long legs, and all manner of invertebrate invaders in Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon. Then, the panelists reflect on their Games of the Half-Year, sniff Team Bondi's dirty laundry, and weigh in on rumors of the next PlayStation and Xbox.

Duke Nukem Forever is finally out, much to the chagrin of Kevin VanOrd, Tom Mc Shea, and Brendan Sinclair. Also, Mc Shea addresses the blowback from his Infamous 2 review, THQ shutters the Homefront studio, and absolutely everything's getting hacked.

Coherent thought has left the building, as GameSpot's Tom Mc Shea, Kevin VanOrd, and Tom Magrino string together words that are nothing if not English. In our discussion of Sony's and Nintendo's press conferences, we expound upon the Wii's new U and ways in which playing the Vita is a lot like tickling a small child. Special guest: vacuum cleaners!

Infamous 2! Red Faction: Armageddon! Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm! Terraria? It's a packed prE3 podcast with Tom Mc Shea, Chris Watters, Kurtis Seid, Maxwell McGee, Carolyn Petit, and Brendan Sinclair sifting through the latest scuttlebutt as we head into the biggest gaming event of the year.

Tell me, do you want a new HotSpot? I have a dead bird's wing, some chopped-up bits of string, and a pen that's run dry, all of which say you do. ARE YOU CALLING THIS EVIDENCE FALSE?! Oh, you are? Well, OK then. Carolyn Petit, Kurtis Seid, Maxwell McGee, and Tom Magrino practice the fine art of zetetics as we discuss LA Noire, and then, hey, do some wenching with The Witcher 2. NPD drama, PSN saga, and Modern Warfare 3 bonanza are also on the agenda.

Kevin VanOrd, Tom Mc Shea, Ricardo Torres, and Brendan Sinclair trade in their scuba gear for an ornithopter. Why? Hard to say. It may have something to do with BioShock Infinite, which receives a healthy amount of chit-chat on this week's HotSpot. Other topics include The Witcher 2, Kung Fu Panda, Gotham City Impostors, and that new Modern Warfare 3 trailer.

Tom Mc Shea, Kevin VanOrd, Chirs Watters, Carolyn Petit, and Brendan Sinclair share their experiences as the latest Aperture test subjects and examine the hows and whys of Valve's much-loved sequel. Caution: Spoilers ahead!

Tom Mc Shea, Kevin VanOrd, and Brendan Sinclair take a trip through the Outland before shining a light on Darkspore. Then the gang recaps the woes of Sony Offline Entertainment, questions whether Need for Speed is putting on too many miles, and ponders the potential for game-themed musicals.

Nintendo announced a new console this week, but Sony somehow steals the headlines as Ricardo Torres, Sophia Tong, Tom Magrino, and Brendan Sinclair talk about their fears for the PlayStation Network's massive security breach, their hopes (and pet names) for the Wii's successor, and a homework assignment crammed full of vaguely vulgar gaming terms.

Shaun McInnis, Chris Watters, Tom Mc Shea, and Brendan Sinclair have laser-focused, tangent-free discussions about a huge week of new releases with Portal 2, Mortal Kombat, and SOCOM 4: US Navy SEALs. Also, Epic Games executive producer Rod Fergusson answers all our questions about the Gears of War 3 beta, rumors of Nintendo's next console start flying, and Sonic attempts an umpteenth comeback!