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This week: Marvel teams up with Telltale Games, a new look for the Joker, Konami has a huge mess, and a whole lot more! Run Time- 33:58 News- 17:30   Telltale and Marvel Teaming Up for New Game  HERE IS YOUR OFFICIAL LOOK AT JARED LETO AS THE JOKER IN SUICIDE SQUAD  Valve removes option to sell 'Skyrim' mods  Kojima and del Toro's 'Silent Hills' is not going to happen Open Letter- 25:09 Dear Konami, I have long been a fan of bold strategies and I'd dare say that yours fits the bill. I mean, you get Kojima, Del Torro, and Reedus together to work on a game that 90% of gamers are messing their pants over and I'd say you basically have your own money printing press. But you, you captains of industry, you refuse to let common sense tell you what to do and I dig it. Who needs money, after all? I think it's highly overrated. Now, the general reaction probably has you questioning yourselves. I'm here for you. After all, game development is kind of like a team sport. I want you think of how successful some other teams have been after letting their biggest stars go. Just look at the Bulls since Michael Jordan left. Ooooo. Look at the Edmonton Oilers since trading Wayne Gretzky. Ahhhh right. Well. How about when the Sonics traded Scottie Pippin? Hmm? They don't even have a team anymore? Eck. Well, it turned out well when the Montreal Expos traded Randy Johnson, right? They don't have a team anymore either? I see. But you can't argue that the Baltimore Colts trading John Elway was a good idea. They lost their team, too? Crap. They eventually got a different one, though, right? What's that? Murder? Domestic violence? None of that on the first team? Oh boy. Welp. Maybe this is just an awful id

The Hall Way opens up to now embrace all corners of nerdom, Star Wars news aplenty, David Hasselhoff re-emerges, and more! Run Time- 36:25 News- 20:28   Trailers! Star Wars and Batman vs Superman David Hasselhoff- True Survivor Humble Origin Bundle 2 Open Letter- 27:55 Dear people who over analyze movie trailers, It's fun to be excited for something, isn't it? I mean it really just gives you a rush, not to mention something to focus on when you zone out during the day. But there is a trend that has been going on for many years now and it's somewhat disturbing.  You see, some people take a 50 second movie trailer and have the uncanny ability to spin an almost unbelievable tapestry of speculation using specific still frames as their evidence. You know the type, "You see in that one frame right there? There is a piece of debris at precisely a 45 degree angle to the side of that building. That can only mean that Emperor Palpatine is not really dead because if he was, the angle would not be so precise. " or "Ok, hear me out. Now you see how it's raining here? It's raining because Storm is on the X-Jet flying around nearby. It's going to be revealed that this is the start of the DC vs Marvel war. We're getting a crossover!" I guess it's fun to pretend, but what you are really accomplishing is making me dread the release of every movie trailer. I want to enjoy just one without having to hear about how Chewbacca doesn't look aged because Half-Life 3 is coming out or how there is a shadow precisely 37 seconds in that signifies the appearance of Plastic Man in this movie. Shhhhh. Enjoy the trailers. Discuss what is actually in them. Stop looking for what is basically evidence of conspiracy theories. And don't worry. There is a presidential election next year. You'll have plenty of chances to dust off that sleuthy side of yourself for that. But for love of scruffy looking nerf herders, relax on the trailers, would ya? We're all excited. Take it down a notch. Love, Tom 

Guitar Hero cometh, Lego hops into the NFC realm, and someone wants to take away video game history. Run Time- 51:54 News- 22:56   Guitar Hero Live! The Dispute Over Preserving Gaming's Past Is Boiling Over Splatoon Dropped Voice Chat Over Toxicity Concerns Open Letter- 31:50 Dear ESA, A lot of people are very angry at you right now. That must be tough. After all, you are only trying to stand up for game developers and publishers who have been pushed around by their customers for too long. What kind of world would we live in if games had to be playable forever just because people paid money for them? Not one I ever want to see. I say kudos to you, defenders of the game industry. You keep standing up to pirates and thieves. You are our only hope against those who would willfully and dishonestly steal from those they claim to respect and admire-- er… bad example. You are our only hope against those who would blatantly rob people and then try to eek out of it with a half-hearted apology and a promise never to do it again-- er… Ok. You are our only hope against those so corrupted and evil that they cannot even see the despair and destruction that their actions cause-- huh. Ya know. I'm starting to think maybe you guys are just dicks. What other word could you use to describe an organization hell bent on destroying video game history? What other word describes an organization hiding behind a false campaign of "protecting against piracy" when in reality you are simply in the pocket of the game developers and publishers you claim to be defending? You don't care about piracy. I'm not sure what you actually care about or what your objection really is but I strongly suggest you cut the crap before the organization in charge of all of this in no longer the ESA, it's the T-O-M. Love, Tom Thanks to Aaron for the great listener email! Be more like Aaron by emailing me: 

The Legend of Zelda is delayed, people are going crazy for Bloodborne, and you can now play Super Mario 64 in your browser.  Run Time- 34:59 News- 17:45 The Legend of Zelda Wii U delayed beyond 2015, skipping E3  Hundreds of Steam Keys for This New Game Are Hidden Across the US  Play Super Mario 64 in Your Browser Open Letter- 23:06 Dear Keyboard Controls, You may have the masses fooled, but I am wise to you. You were sent here with one single mission: to cripple all of our left hands so when your alien overlords invade, we'll be unable to put up a fight. How else could you explain the awkward positions you make us put our hands in just move a character? If I want to jump, I need a double jointed thumb. Lord help me if I have inventory I need to cycle through. You are so wise to keep the right hand busy with the mouse under the guise of "precision aiming". No need letting that guy interfere with your grand plan. Well, I'm afraid I've got some bad news. There is a resistance forming. We call ourselves the Coalition Of Nimble Tactical Response Opposing Liquifying Left Extremities Resourcefully, or C.O.N.T.R.O.L.L.E.R. for short. You see, we here at C.O.N.T.R.O.L.L.E.R. will never let you or your overlords take over. We have designed a C.O.N.T.R.O.L.L.E.R. device to counter your evil ways. With this C.O.N.T.R.O.L.L.E.R. device, gamers will no longer fall prey to you or your WASD Empire. They will be able to play video games comfortably, and without having to learn complicated gang signs in order to control their game. Then, when your empire attacks, we will be strong and ready. You will be thwarted and humiliated, all thanks to me and my C.O.N.T.R.O.L.L.E.R. friends. So, I say back off, Keyboard controls. Find some other unsuspecting planet to attack. As me and my friends like to say, we have this situation under C.O.N.T.R.O.L…. L.E.R. Love, Tom No listener email this week, but there is always n

This week, Nintendo's Future, Five Nights at Freddy's developer opens his wallet for charity, and an open letter to Atari. Run Time- 37:36 News- 19:29   Atari Lawyers Demand Vita Game TxK is Removed First Details of Nintendo's Next System, the 'NX'  Nintendo Reveals Plan to Develop Mobile Games  Five Nights at Freddy’s Creator (Scott Cawthon) Donates $250k to St. Jude’s Children Hospital Open Letter- 27:15 Dear Atari, You know what feels really good? Asserting your dominance over a hopelessly outmatched opponent. After all, what was it that Loki said? "An ant has no quarrel with a boot." Remember how that turned out for him though? A one man show developer isn't stealing anything from you by making a game that is influenced by a game you hold the rights to and have done absolutely nothing with for 15 years. You don't see Kellogg's suing anybody for selling "Sugar Coated Flakes", do you? Ford doesn't sue anybody for making a car. So why is it that you suddenly reappear to squeeze out dude making a simple Vita game? I think I know why. You see, Atari, for all of your past accomplishments, you are nothing now. To be honest, I didn't know you were still a company until this all went down. It bugs you be so inconsequential now and have someone else making money in your stead. I understand. And I have a great idea to help you become relevant again. It's a reality TV show called "Dev House". I want to put you in a house with Sega, John Romero, Midway, Acclaim, THQ, LucasArts, LJN, and for some reason Gary Busey. Everyone will be tasked with making a game. Trouble is, there is only one modern computer in the house and everyone else has to develop on an Apple II. You gain access to the modern computer by winning challenges like balancing a 2600 joystick on your nose for the l

Majora's Mask 3D is all the rage, Comcast cares not for your Net Neutrality, and an Open Letter to EA. Run Time- 37:13 News- 16:45 Rock Band 4 is Coming Back (And It's About Time)  SimCity and Sims 4 Development Continuing After Shutdown of Maxis Studio HBO Go Blocked on PS4 by Comcast, Just Like on PS3 Open Letter- 23:35 Dear EA, You really remind me of someone. See, I have a friend like you. Well, sort of like you. You see, she likes to garden. She acquires all sorts of plants and tries to maintain them the way she likes for them to be maintained, no matter if that is the best way to maintain them or not. The trouble is, she has no idea how to maintain plants and eventually, she kills every single one of them. Sometimes they are plants that people really love because they produce the best fruit. On several occasion, her poor gardening skills have caused her plants to produce terrible fruit right before they die. Some say she kills those plants on purpose to make it seem as though it was just a poor plant, but people aren't dumb. They all know the score. Some people simply should not be gardening. You might ask yourself, "Why on earth doesn't she just stop gardening altogether and save the lives of those poor plants?" Well, that's what normal people would ask. If I know you, and trust me I do, you are more likely saying, "Well forget those plants. They're dead. She should acquire more plants. Her method is the only correct method." And that is the whole problem. I have a confession. I made up that friend to make a point to you, EA. It was an analogy. I know, clever. You see, you are the gardener. The plants are great game studios you continue to ruin and kill. So for the good of video games on the whole, give up gardening please. There are other hobbies. Needlepoint, stamp collecting, jigsaw puzzles, bird watching, heck, maybe baking is up your alley. But for the love of all that is holy, no more gardeni

Tom finally finds a Tetris strategy, Nintendo pulls some shady shenanigans, Toejam and Earl are coming back, and an open letter to Sega.   Run Time- 31:03 News- 16:57   Details revealed for microtransaction-laden Pokémon Shuffle, and they're pretty disgusting.  Microsoft cuts price of Xbox Live down to $40  ToeJam & Earl bring the funk to Kickstarter Open Letter- 21:10 Dear Sega,  Word on the street is that you are leaving console gaming behind. I say good for you. You're going to likely hear a lot of detractors telling you to stick it out and that you can still rise to glory, but I salute you for knowing that glory left you sometime around "Saturnday" and every day since has been one on borrowed time. Now I'm not saying that I don't appreciate the great titles and memories you have provided us with over the years. I'm saying that outside of Alien: Isolation, you have produced nothing but wheelbarrow after dump truck of steaming manure since the Dreamcast died and it was really starting to get sad.  Now that you're going to focus on mobile gaming, you can reap all of the rewards of the quick buck, free to play juggernaut that is roaming our streets, seducing our youth. Now you can rebuild your empire on the impatience of the weak and reclaim that glory everyone keeps talking about. As always, I am here to help. I have a couple of game ideas that will set you on your way.  First up is Unnecessary Character Simulator. Free, ad supported of course, or $.99, you play as the Sega development team. You goal is to ruin the company by creating unnecessary, generic, forgettable characters for Sonic games until you go bankrupt. The goal is to do this in as few unnecessary characters as possible. Every unnecessary character costs 1 Chaos Emerald to create. If you run out of Chaos Emeralds, you can buy more for 100 rings. Oh, the rings? You have to buy those with real mo

This week, Hyrule Warriors is super popular, Peter Molynuex is the John Romero of our time, and an open letter to 2K Games. Run Time- 33:00 News- 15:00 Banjo-Kazooie devs tease 'a worthy spiritual successor' Contrite and deflated, Molyneux vows to 'retreat' and 'stop talking about games' New Nintendo 3DS XL System Transfer Open Letter- 22:44 Dear 2K Games, Never let it be said that the smaller guy can't compete with the bigger guys. You have proven just that with your go for the throat DLC strategy for Evolve. A lot of people say you're just greedy, scuzzy, underhanded D-Bags with utter disregard for your customers but I say your strategy is brilliant. If your customers are spending $60 on DLC that your $25 Season Pass doesn't cover, they aren't spending it on your competitor's games, are they? People think this much DLC is unnecessary. Don't let it get to you. These simple minded folks just don't understand how much yachts cost these days. Then when you factor in all of the full time staff you need just to keep it operational and stocked with food and liquor, well I wouldn't blame you for piling on 2 or 3 hundred dollars more of DLC. How are you supposed to pay for all of that on just a $60 game, $25 Season pass and $60 more of DLC not covered by the Season Pass. People are just unrealistic. What do they expect you to do? NOT have the launch party catered by Emeril? That's just uncivilized. Besides, think of how you are establishing your dominance over companies like Square Enix and EA. After this display of wallet emptying DLC overloading, they will think twice before underestimating you again. Heck, they might even come to you for advice for their next games. And when they do, you'll be ready with a nifty bill for consulting. Because after all, what good is a yacht without your own island to sail it to? So I say chin up! Ignore the nay sayers. They'll never understand until they've walked a mile in your gold plated, diamond encrusted Gucci shoes while drinking the finest imported coconu

This week, a live action Zelda TV show, an open letter to Free-to-Play Mobile games, and  EA thinks games are too hard. Thank you to A.C Menes for providing the intro/outro theme for The Hall Way. Check out her other work here! Thank you Wally for providing the intro voice over for The Hall Way! Run Time- 30:43 News- 13:19 Troll gone wrong: Suspected swatter arrested Netflix Is Developing a Live-Action ‘Legend of Zelda’ Series EA exec admits games are 'too hard' Open Letter- 20:28 Dear Free to Play Mobile Games, Man. Congratulations! People sure do love you. Some people love you to almost unbelievable ends. Take Kate Upton and Liam Neeson for example. For them to love your games soooo much that they would star in Super Bowl commercials for you at absolutely no charge is amazing. You  guys must be doing something very right. I mean, they have to have done it for free since your games are free to play and therefore people aren't having to give you any money to actually play and enjoy your games. Otherwise, you'd just be dirty, lying, manipulative, sleeze and that certainly can't be the case with such upstanding celebrities lending their faces…and other body parts to your ads for no charge. And kudos to you for setting an example that other fine, upstanding game developers can follow for generations. Why, just a few minutes ago, I looked in the store on my phone and there were hundreds, if not thousands of similar games just waiting to played for absolutely free! What a glorious time we live in when people are so generous as to not hold back gameplay features for money or allow people to buy advantages over other players under a false name of "free to play". I tell you, your care and concern for the enjoyment of the gamer over your own underhanded gains is nothing sho

This week, I bid farewell to Joystiq, have an open letter to eBay scalpers, and hop on the #IDARB craze. Thank you to A.C Menes for providing the intro/outro theme for The Hall Way. Check out her other work here! Thank you Wally for providing the intro voice over for The Hall Way! Run Time- 30:22 News- 13:15 Joystiq is shutting down http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/28/grab-a-pint-with-free-dragon-age-inquisition-tavern-songs/  Link to the actual songs. HURRY! They are only free until February 9. Club Nintendo puts up last set of rewards. Open Letter- 17:16 Dear eBay Scalpers,   There's nothing quite like making a quick buck, is there? I mean, who cares if it's at the expense of the joy of thousands of people? It works for UbiSoft, right? I'm sure all of your ill-gotten gains are totally going to good causes. Like the hoarding of the next thing a bunch of people want so you can build your throne out of the tears of people who just wanted a quick reminder that there are great things in this life and maybe things aren't so bad.   Far be it for me to ruin your price gougingly good times, but if you could, ya know, NOT do that anymore, that would be great. You see, you are creating a vicious cycle. It could very well be that Sony made enough anniversary PS4's and Nintendo made plenty of Majora's Mask New 3DS's. However, when you show up at Best Buy and GameStop with a U-Haul to carry them all home in, you really aren't playing on a level playing field anymore. Hey, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe you each have 23 children that each need one of every limited edition thing that comes out, but eBay tells a different story. eBay tells me that you are all just greedy scumbags trying to profit off of people's love of their f

Thank you to A.C Menes for providing the intro/outro theme for The Hall Way. Check out her other work here! Thank you Wally for providing the intro voice over for The Hall Way! Run Time - 29:38 News - 14:32 Windows 10 Xbox App Revealed Rock Band survey hints at modern console sequel Club Nintendo closing, 'new loyalty program' on the way Open Letter - 22:24 Dear Nintendo, Did you know that a great way to sell stuff is to have stuff to sell? It seems to have slipped your mind lately. Either that, or you've been taken over by a team of mean spirited big brothers who enjoy nothing more than robbing people of their favorite things. And look, I know how much fun it can be to sell nothing. One time, I had this box of nothing. Sat outside with it and a for sale sign for hours. People came by, trying to buy what I was selling, but since it was nothing, they just left angry and went somewhere else. And that is what I don't want to happen to you. People are angry right now. You have not provided enough stock of the things people want to buy. They are pulling up to buy the things you have for sale. But since that is nothing, they're going to go somewhere else. I don't want that fate for you and hopefully you don't either. You're in luck, however. There is this radical concept sweeping Europe right now called "sufficient stock" or perhaps it is pronounced "suh-fick-iant stohck" since it's European. Basically, the root of this concept is that manufacturers of things make enough o

Hey, it's finally time to launch The Hall Way! Welcome to Episode 1 where I tell just who I am, share what YOU have been playing, and have a grand old time talking about all things video games with you.  A HUGE thank you to this week's sponsor, VideoGamePriceGuides.com! You believed in this show before I recorded a word and I am grateful! More thanks! Thank you to A.C Menes for providing the intro/outro theme for The Hall Way. Check out her other work here! One more! Thank you Wally for providing the intro voice over for The Hall Way! Run time- 34:47 News- 14:46 Speedrunning Event Raises $1.3 Million for Cancer Research Banjo-Kazooie, Battletoads, Perfect Dark to Return 'Someday' Play Over 2,400 MS-DOS Games in Your Browser for Free Open Letter- 21:10 "People who use the term 'Xbone'" Dear people who use the term "Xbone", I can only imagine how difficult it is to be born without any sense of creativity, but it's time to give this thing a rest. It's a term that was mildly smile inducing the first time someone uttered it. Since that time, which has been WELL OVER A YEAR NOW, you have proceeded to beat the joke into the ground with no hope of ever recovering its remains. I'm sure your refusal to stop beating this dead horse can only come from your deep seeded fear that you'll have no other way to show everyone how clever you are so I made this list of clever phrases you can beat into the ground for a while instead: Eat my shorts *Urkel Voice* Did I do that? Sorry not sorry Totes I know you are, but what am I? He who smelt it, dealt it Epic Fail It's not rocket science Thanks for sharing Sunday Funday This should help those of you that can't even. I know not all of you