Jalopnik.

I liked the podcast. It was really funny and interesting. However, I’ve noticed that whenever Fish has a point he wants to make, he will go to ridiculous lengths to to make it. First with Mass Effect 2, Fish says that the game (combat system/everything else that isn’t story) isn’t good. In my opinion, this is completely wrong. I too miss the whole looting/weapon add-ons that they had in the first, and I know that it’s missing some of the old fun RPG elements, but still, the game is fucking fun. I’m playing as an adept and it is so fucking exciting when I’m in tough combat. I love using all my powers to methodically kill all the enemies I’m up against. It’s awesome. Maybe it’s because you chose the soldier and he doesn’t have many powers, but the combat for me is so much fun. The action elements in this are phenomenal. Now the point you were obviously trying to make was that the story is fantastic. And I couldn’t agree more. The Mass Effect story is easily my favorite of any game by a mile. But just because it has a superb story doesn’t mean the rest of the game isn’t good. I love every single part of this game. It’s perfect, and I strongly disagree with you calling the game “not good”.
The second ridiculous claim you made was about the iPad. You said that it is going to make laptops/computers obsolete. Are you kidding? The comparison you made here was that it’s similar to laptops replacing desktops. But it’s a completely different thing here. The desktop AND laptop are both computers so you’re essentially just buying a more portable version of the same thing with a laptop. A laptop is still a computer; It’s just a more portable version of a computer. The iPad is NOT a computer. It’s an ipod touch. A bigger version of the iPod touch. It can’t do NEAR the amount of things a computer can do. You can’t run multiple processes, there isn’t nearly as much software, it simply can’t do most of the things a computer can, and for internet browsing, it doesn’t even have flash(yes I understand your point about html5 but until everyone DOES switch away from flash, this is still a necessity for browsing the web). I find it extremely hard to believe that it will replace the computer.
Anyways, that’s just my two cents. Good podcast though, keep it up.

I have to go to ridiculous lengths. If I don’t, Plachy will peck at it until he finds a hole. I have to build a fortress of concept. You’ll forgive me.

Don’t misunderstand, I love Mass Effect 2. I adore Mass Effect 2. Mass Effect 2 may be one of the best interactive experiences of my life. But game has been ripped out violently like a Mortal Kombat Fatality. By the end of the game I had Warp and Incinerate and all that, but it didn’t change the fact that those elements weren’t all that fun. They weren’t bad. I would describe my feelings towards them more like apathy than hatred. Here is my question to you sir: When you are playing the game, are you looking forward to running around shooting and warping people, or are you looking forward to another clue as to what The Collectors are doing? They could have eschewed the combat system completely and just used dialog trees as the only interaction and I still would have loved the game. Again, this is all subjective and if you are enjoying it then your experience is even stronger than mine.

As for the iPad. Look, the computer will never disappear. But if you don’t think the iPad will replace computers for most people, then you are fooling yourself. Most people use computers in a very task based manner. They check email. They browse the web. They listen to music. Its the perfect computer for 80% of computer users.

Here is a much more eloquent way of putting it: http://stevenf.tumblr.com/post/359224392/i-need-to-talk-to-you-about-computers-ive-been

Now I want you to Harass Hodapp to murder bros.

I’m not sure why I capitalized “Harass” there. Perhaps to add emphasis?

The people who are going to any lengths to decry the iPad are pretty ridiculous, and are saying some pretty uneducated things about the device.

That being said, Fish and Hodapp are just as knee jerk about it, but they’re for the other side of the argument.

It’s kind of interesting to watch.

Like I said, peck peck peck. YOU WILL NEVER BREACH THE FORTRESS!

I agree, I would rather go to the story, but the combat I must say is GREAT filler between that time. This game is phenomenal.
And I agree with you about the iPad. I mean it’s a pretty neat device and I’m probably going to buy one. I’m sure that it will replace the need for a computer for SOME people, but I still don’t think that it will be 80%. So many people still need more than what the iPad offers for their work. But I guess only time will tell. We’ll see.

P.S: Any way you could change the size of this damn comment box? This thing is like the size of my fucking thumb.

Yeah, calling the iPad an absolute slam dunk at this point is silly. Developers will have a lot of weight to bear. It’s really in their hands.

We will have to agree to disagree on the ME2 combat system. What we can agree on is that its fucking awesome. Maybe one of the best experiences I have ever had.

As for the comment box… I’ll have my guy look into it. But only because you asked like a gentleman.

Any day.