Midwest Nerds

Midwest Nerds Podcast #103 – Joel is a Very Good Listener

Burnsie — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:00:21 +0000

This week on the Midwest Nerds Podcast, Joss Whedon’s take on “The Avengers” is out in a theatre near you, and the nerds discuss the spandex-clad, cybernetic exoskeleton wearing, green-skinned covered cinematic romp. Also, Steven has had a chance to play the Xbox Live Arcade Title “Awesomenauts”, and trys to explain the many, many ways it lives up to it’s name. Also this week, we take a trip to facebook and website land to pull in the best stuff that’s been submitted to us by you, the faithful midwest nerds podcast listener. The show this week includes: -Marvel’s Avengers on the big screen -Awesomenauts is, well, Awesome -The Star Wars “machete” viewing order -Sony has serious Super Smash Bros. envy -Why Burnsie may be declaring Jihad on Hulu Plus, Joel shows us all how to be a good listener. And, don’t forget Steve’s Zombie tip of the week! The Midwest Nerds Podcast, the only podcast endorsed by The Avengers themselves! (minus Hawkeye, that guy totally hates us). Break Song - Dinosaur Jr - Feel the Pain

MWN #102 – Horrifabulous

Burnsie — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:21:42 +0000

This week on the show, Joel’s back, and with his return the show quickly transforms into something simultaneously wonderful and disturbing, equal parts intriguing and terrifying. Indeed, no existing word is sufficient to describe this show, so one had to be created: Horrifabulous. Or maybe Horrifabulous describes the crews thoughts on the recent Diablo III beta. Or maybe horrifabulous describes Steve’s zombie tip of the week. Come to think of it, the word really applies to the entire show. Topics this week: -The Diablo III beta -How Valve makes games (and why you should want to work there) -Adam Sessler is out at G4TV, G4TV apparently still a thing -Burns wades through all the boring crap in the google lawsuit to bring you the interesting stuff -Steve’s Zombie tip of the week The Midwest Nerds Podcast, side-effects may vary. Break Song - Pearl Jam "Yellow Ledbetter"

MWN #101 – Cruella DeBaker

Nick — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:00:54 +0000

Among the various signs and portents that 2012 may be the last year of existence EVER, none is more shocking, more harrowing, more potent than this impossibility become reality: Nick Baker played more video games this week than anyone else on the show. Truly, we are fast approaching the end of Days. Nick shares his thoughts on a bunch of recent titles, including the latest Trials game (it’s just as hard as the last one). Later in the show, Burns talks about a Kotaku article that just might be on to why board games are arguably better than video games. Also on the show this week: -Guild Wars 2 approaches -RSS feeds and obsessive compulsive behavior -Hologram, or not a hologram? -Steve’s Zombie tip of the Week The Midwest Nerds Podcast, it’s the official podcast of Captain N the GameMaster*.

*Captain N, and Nintendo of America DO NOT officially endorese the Midwest Nerds Podcast... yet.

Break Song - Florence + The Machine - Hurricane Drunk

MWN #100 – Wait, is it really episode ONE HUNDRED?

Burnsie — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:00:42 +0000

We’d like to tell you that we prepared. We’d like to tell you that there’s an amazing retrospective on where we’ve been, what we’ve accomplished, and what this show has meant to us. But all of that? That requires work and time. So instead, we acknowledge the 100th episode of the podcast by doing what we do every week, trying to sound like we know what we’re talking about, and cracking jokes at each others’ expense. On the show this week: -Risk Legacy -EA’s worst PR Spin EVER -Why we can’t have nice things (even when we get nice things) -FUS RO DAH! (Better with Kinect) -Listener emails -Steve’s Zombie Tip of the Week. Plus, be sure to keep checking the site, as episode 100 marks our commitment in growing our audience share from 4’s and 4’s of listerns, to 10’s and 10’s. You can help! More info soon. The Midwest Nerds Podcast, 4 out of 5 dentists agree they don’t give a crap about video game podcasts! Break Song - Queens of the Stone Age "Go with the Flow"

MWN #99 – Baker’s Hotline for Troubled Youth

Nick — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:00:29 +0000

This week... on the Midwest Nerds Podcast: We’re ONE episode away from a hundred kids. We have no idea how it happened either. We started this thing as 4 starry-eyed dreams with a dream and a skype connection, and we wound up 4 incredibly jaded professional gaming and geek culture critics with fans, fame, and internet celebrity status the world over. Some of that last sentence is true, the overwhelming majority of it is not. Also, we talk about Kickstarter in greater detail this week, as TONS of really gaming projects are getting the “Tim Shafer” bump. Nick Baker reveals his “plan B” if this internet radio thing doesn’t work out, and we dive into: -Star Wars Kinect abominations -A world without used games -Sweet ways to customize your phone -The next big thing on fitocracy (for Midwest Nerds fans) Plus, Steve will once again share his tips for staying alive when the dead rise this December (2012, it’s totally happening). WE ARE ONE EPISODE AWAY FROM #100, WE ARE SCARED AND YOU SHOULD BE TOO. Break Song - Lake Street Dive - Hello? Goodbye!

MWN #98 – Revised Endings and Artistic Integrity

Nick — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:00:42 +0000

This week, on the Midwest Nerds Podcast.... The internets were conspiring to rob Nick of the opportunity to voice his thoughts on the idea of an Elder Scrolls MMO, and his stance on the subject may surprise you. Then, we dive headlong into a discussion of Bioware’s plans to “address” the concerns many have voiced about the ending of Mass Effect 3 (for those of you worried about spoilers, 100% spoiler free guarantee). Also this week: -The most balanced source for gaming news, EVER -Fake money, real video cards -Listener emails, comments, questions -Stevepocalypse Now, AKA Steve’s zombie tip of the week Plus, we do make reference to one political thing that happened in the news this week. We’re not a political show, we don’t endorse a political candidate, so please don’t say we’re “biased elite liberal media”. It is our official stance that Republican, Democrat, Independant... none of these will matter in the future when there wil be a TRUE two party system: Zombie Food, and the Un-eaten. The Midwest Nerds Podcast, come get a taste. Break Song: The Decemberists - Don't Carry it All

MWN #97 – Addictions are “Better with KinectSAUCE”

Nick — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 07:10:48 +0000

The title of this week’s episode sounds like a marketing nightmare from a PR firm gone nanners, and to be honest, that’s what most of the show sounds like too. This will go down in history as one of our best shows, or one of our worst. Either way, you’re intrigued aren’t you? On this week’s show: Joel goes on a rant about sauce, Burns has an emotional breakdown, Nick deserves an award for “best use of marketing slogan as a punchline”, and Steve is still finding new ways to shock and horrify us. Also on the show: -New, insulting video game marketing -Now new Xbox at E3 this year -Warren Spector, KING of passive aggression -World of ScorllsCRAFT Oblivion-rim -Why Warp Drive could be real, and DEADLY And TONS of other stuff you love. Don’t forget, you can comment on every show online at midwestnerds.com, like us on facebook, or tweet @midwestnerds. Audio so good, you’ll never ask for a refund. You didn’t pay for it anyway, so you won’t get one if you ask. Break Song - Soundgarden: Spoonman

MWN # 96 – A Conspiracy of Galactic Proportions

Nick — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 06:53:25 +0000

You may be shocked to hear that this episode is NOT entirely about Mass Effect 3. You may be even further shocked to find out that Mass Effect 3 is BARELY MENTIONED AT ALL. That’s because the #1 Mass Effect fan on the podcast, and possibly in the known universe, doesn’t have much to say on the subject. Find out why on this week’s show. Also on the show this week: -Peter Molyneux is leaving Lionhead studios, probably on a carpet fueled by imagination -Party like it’s 1997, a new Sim City is in development -The New iPad is upon us -Listner mail message -Diablo III might ship incomplete? -You might soon be getting more gamerscore Plus, this week’s Zombie Tip of the week with our very own Steve Nelson has us all more uncomfortable than usual. It’s all inside this week’s digitally transmitted internet radio show spectacular we call “Midwest Nerds Podcast: Episode 96”. Break Song - Green Day "whatshername"

MWN #95 – 100 hour RPGs in your SteamBox

Burnsie — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:29:30 +0000

This week, on the Midwest Nerds Podcast... It’s been proven ONCE AGAIN that the movers and shakers, the titans, the who’s who of the gaming industry are monitoring our podcast. Mere WEEKS after we declared that Valve is the ONLY force in PC gaming to make a console/PC hybrid work, the Internet explodes with rumors they’re working on just such a device. Joel Gifford confirms you’re listening to the most influential podcast on the web. Also this week, we have a discussion about a recent article that appeared on slate.com asking if it’s really worth it to drop 100 hours on an epically punishing, soul-crushingly tough, masochistically demanding RPG. Plus we answer your questions with listener feedback, and Steve’s rounds out the show with his weekly dose of common sense Zompocalypse style. It’s all in this week’s Midwest Nerds podcast. Break Song - Epic Hero: Stars

MWN #94 – Questing for Fitness

Burnsie — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 19:53:40 +0000

This week, on the Midwest Nerds Podcast... Have you noticed your fellow nerd brethren buffing up recently? Has your own physique recently become more shapely and toned? Nerds everywhere are transforming into Adonis-like creatures of legend, and one website may hold the key to this magical transformation. This week, the nerds get BUFF and talk about all things Fitocracy. Also, visit our facebook page and listen to the show for details about our first every Fitocracy challenge Also on the show this week: -Has “web justice” gone too far? -The future of TV distribution (and how the studios are making a mess of it) -Listener comments and questions -Steve’s Zombie tip of the Week. It’s the Midwest Nerds Podcast, episode #94, we guarantee you can’t find a better podcast in the time it took you to read this last sentence. TOO LATE, don’t even try, times up now. Midwest Nerds Podcast #94 - Questing for Fitness Break Song: The Vines - Sunshinin'