It’s September 2005. The United States is suffering from a terrible post-industrial depression and the west is still a wild and untamed frontier. Subversive communists are at every corner, drugs and in the streets women burn their brassieres in an act of defiance. The world is in chaos.

Yet through this darkness, there is light. A single beam of hope of things to come. Beneath the star of DDD, a podcast was born. It would become the BEST DAMN PODCAST EVER.

MacDudes was our very first attmept at podcasting. Originally intended as a spinoff of Adam Christianson’s MacCast with a humorous twist, the MacDudes quicly turned into the IMG Podcast, and later BDPE. It may be crude, but it still has the heart of BDPE.

It’s our 50th show! Soon we’ll start talking about the how the picture show used to be a nickel and demanding senior discounts at Gamestop. Also this week we’ve got Take-Two cut-n-runnin’, price
your brand new 360 is now last-gen, and a gaming journalism battle royale.

Judgement: God of War Mini Judgement, Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja
Quad Jank: Amazon Marketplace, Dreamfall, Sticks, Cheap MS Points
Quote: “I’ve told you a million f**ing times. It’s not f**ing Crispix. I eat Crispix every f**ing day. In fact, when I duke, I duke Crispix.”

If you have any feedback, you can shoot us an email here, call our voicemail at 845-BATTLE-9, or leave your thoughts in our forums here.

VOTE FOR US AT PODCAST ALLEY

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode17.mp3

On this week show we talk about both independent game development and independent game journalism, page
and how both are stifled by pretentious douche-bags and circle jerking. We’ve also got some great new contest entries!

Judgement: Crackdown & Alien Homonid HD Revisit
Jank: Alien Homonid HD for $10 on XBLA
Quote: “Look, allergy
I’ve seen Brian Crecente. And let me tell you something – that man is not attractive. He is ugly.”

If you have any feedback, unhealthy you can shoot us an email here, call our voicemail at 845-BATTLE-9, or leave your thoughts in our forums here.

VOTE FOR US AT PODCAST ALLEY

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode16.mp3

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Also this week the ESRB may have to actually start playing games, buy
a culturally insensitive look into japanese game development, and shocking new contest developments!

Judgement: Final Fantasy VI (GBA)
Jank: Serious Sam 2 for $7.99 @ Gamespot, Valentines Candy Galore
Quote: “So now you have to play this, or else I’ll have wasted five cups of rice”

If you have any feedback, you can shoot us an email here, or call our voicemail at 845-BATTLE-9.

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode15.mp3

We’ve got a brand now show format to minimize the rehash and maximize discussion and the funny! And by the funny, sick
I mean fart jokes. This week we’ve got the Metal Gear Movie (hopefully starring Kurt Russel), neuropathist
Xbox Gamerscore points now get you more than just respect from your co-workers at Gamestop, and GoD games becomes Gamecock (insert penis joke here). We also discuss our favorite game bosses, read your feedback, and what’s this? A brand new contest?

Judgement: Sid Meier’s Pirates (PSP)
Jank: Sid Meier’s Pirates (PSP), Freedom Fighters (PS2, Xbox, GCN)
Quote: “Dude, Snake is not manly enough to be played by Kurt Russel”

If you have any feedback, you can shoot us an email here, or call our voicemail at 845-BATTLE-9.

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode14.mp3

On this week’s show we’ve got eBay delisting my +10 bracers of critical strike, help
Girls = austrailian for gaming, nurse
and Jack Thompson rides the headlines into a firey pit of dispair. We also discuss multiplayer gaming, and pick some of our favorite multiplayer games (including meta games, like drunken Contra).

Judgement: Alien Homonid HD
Jank: Lumines Live? & $1 SNEEK KEENG
Quote: “If you play Contra, and you can’t keep up with the other guy, you are not a man”

If you have any feedback, you can shoot us an email here, or call our voicemail at 845-BATTLE-9.

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode13.mp3

Sometimes these shows have witty descriptions. Sometimes they do not. This is one of those second times.

Judgement: Crackdown Demo
Jank: Rallisport Challenge @ Gamestop (http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=950515)
Quote: “Most of the time it stays in the closet just fine, pharmacy
like a furry suit”

If you have any feedback, disease
you can shoot us an email here, call our voicemail at 845-BATTLE-9, or leave your thoughts in our forums here.

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode12.mp3

Due to back to school scheduling woes (and William Miller being a flake), pharm
there’s been a bit of a dought of new shows around TBDPE lately. So to hold us over, we’ll be posting a few of our old IMG shows (back before he who must not be named took over). Here’s the description of each episode:

Episode 31
It’s a Freeverse Bonanza! We sit down with Steve and Bruce of Freeverse Software and talk about Wingnuts 2, Escort Wing, and their other upcoming projects. This show also marks the triumphant return of Tuncer Deniz!

Episode 32
Transgaming’s Cider to rock the Mac Gaming world? We examine the issue, plus, we’ve got the BATTLE to END ALL BATTLES. Plus we’ve got a big announcement at the end of the show…

Episode 33
It’s the last episode of the podcast with Blake Buck, William Miller, or Justin Fic as hosts! The shock! The horror! But Tuncer and Andy Largent will keep the show rolling, and you can check out the old crew’s new podcast at BEST DAMN PODCAST EVER.COM .

You’ll find these shows as optional downloads at the bottom of the feed (we’ve dated them back to their actual release date), so if you’re using iTunes, scroll to the bottom of your BDPE feed and click “Get” to download.

So you’ve bought youself and shiny new Xbox 360, order
the envy of every sweaty nerd in your apartment complex. The back of the box even says it can play your old Xbox games! This truly is the next generation of gaming.

But not so fast, medical son; I know what you’re saying. “But if I play my Xbox games on the 360, information pills
I’ll have to start all over! I’ll lose my 60 hours of progress in Bad Boys 2!”

Fear not fellow Will Smith and Martin Lawrence fans! Because today I’ll be giving you the complete how-to on transferring Xbox gamesaves to Xbox 360. This method is 100% legit, and dose NOT involve any hardware modification, voiding of warranties, or even any technical skills. But be warned…

Transferring Xbox gamesaves to Xbox 360 is a lot of hassle, costs around $75 dollars, and will NOT WORK WITH A LARGE PORTION OF GAMES. First, let’s talk about compatibility.

Part One: Compatibility

The Xbox game you wish to transfer must meet ALL of the following criteria to be trasnferred to the 360:

1. You have the hard drive for your Xbox 360 and a connection to Xbox Live.
2. The Xbox 1 game must be backwards compatible on the Xbox 360. A current list of compatible games can be found here.
3. Xbox 1 game save must be able to fit on an Xbox 1 Memory Card (8 Megs – 502 Blocks).
4. Xbox 1 game save must be “unlocked”, that is, transferrable to an Xbox 1 Memory Card (some game saves do NOT allow you to trasnfer even if you have enough room).

* To find out if your Xbox 1 saves meets the last two requirements, boot up your 360 with a memory card in and test it out.

These four requirements eliminates a large portion (if not the majority) of games. I found that the games I wanted to transfer most failed at least one of these steps. Mercenaries – fails on step 2. Black – fails on step 4. Splinter Cell Chaos Theory – fails on step 3. Mechassault 2 – fails on step 2. Burnout 3 – fails on step 4.

That’s not to say it won’t work with any games however. Of the games I wanted to transfer, Halo 1, Halo 2, Crimson Skies, and Sid Meier’s Pirates worked fine. So if you’ve got a game that will transfer, it’s time for the next step.

Part Two: Xbox 1 to PC

For this you’ll need one of two parts: An Xbox Action Replay or an Xbox Transfer Kit. Both are made by Datel and do exactly the same thing, but the Action Replay costs $25 and comes with a memory card transfer cable (MCTC) and a memory card, while the Transfer Kit costs $15 and comes with an Xbox 1 MCTC and a 360 MCTC (but because Xbox 1 saves are locked to the hard drive, you won’t be able to transfer via this cable). I could only find the Transfer Kit at my local Gamestop, so I picked up the memory card seperate for $10.

Once you have the required hardware and have installed the Action Replay software (included with either kit), complete the follwing steps:

1. Copy Xbox 1 save to Memory Card
2. Transfer Saves to PC Via Cable and Included Software
3. Locate the .zip file containing the save you want to transfer and extract them to a temporary directory for use later.(The location of the .zip file depends on where you installed the Action Replay software)
4. Delete the file datelinfo.xbx from any .zip files you extract.

If you’ve gotten this far without falling asleep, you’re doing better than most.

Part Three: PC to Xbox 360

For this you’ll need yet another, even more pricey ($50) part: the XSATA. This device goes between your 360 and the 360 hard drive, and allows you to mount the hard drive to a PC (perhaps even a Mac, though I never tested this), and the included software allows you to access the data on the 360 hard drive via your PC. Once everything’s hooked up and installed, follow these steps:

1. Turn on your 360 and pop in the game you want to transfer. The required updated will download to your hard drive and you should now be able to play the game (without your saves that is).
2. Turn off the 360 and mount the drive to your PC using the instructions provided with the XSATA unit.
3. Navigate to the “Compatibility” folder on Partition 3 of your 360’s hard drive.
4. Right click in the right hand window and choose ‘Insert folder’.
5. When prompted, browse to the location where you extracted the Xbox 1 gamesave to (in Part 2 Step 3). Click ONCE on the game folder (don’t double click or you’ll open it). The save is inside the UDATA folder and called something like ‘4b4e0002′.
6. Click ‘OK’ to ‘inject’ the gamesave into your Xbox1 gamesaves folder on your Xbox 360.

You should now be able to unmount the 360 hard drive from your PC, boot up the 360, and play your old Xbox 1 saves on your 360. Now to just return all this crap Gamestop.

Gamestop Manager: “You know Blake, this merchandise is open. I don’t have to accept this”

BLAKE BUCK: “Oh I know. But you’re going to”

After a long holiday break, information pills
the BDPE crew is back for the new year. On this week’s show we try to snake our way into the Halo 3 beta, order
a lucky kid discovers boobies on his Madden tape, try
and Rare still sucks.

Judgement: Wii Sports
Jank: Sega Genesis Collection [Link]
Quote: “Oh I don’t like this! Go get me the Internet Crimes Against Children or Babies or whatever the **** it’s called”

If you have any feedback, you can shoot us an email here, or call our voicemail at 845-BATTLE-9.

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode11.mp3

On this week’s show we delve into the world of role-playing games – the different types, there
the different franchises, and those oh so effeminent male leads you can’t help but feel a little attracted to. Also this week, a Second Life realtor makes one million dollars in real life (BDPE still broke), another big budget sony title falls through the cracks, and the Scarface game > originality.

Judgement: The Late IMG Podcast
Jank: 2 Free Xbox Live Arcade Games! Use this code: XBXNG104 . Link: www.xbox360nextgennow.com/register
Quote: “Edgar from Final Fantasy VI was halfway to date rapist”

If you have any feedback, you can shoot us an email here, or call our voicemail at 845-BATTLE-9.

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode10.mp3

The future is now! The PS3 and Wii have been released, viagra buy
my 360 can download HD movies, and the Doc says we’ve got to go back to the wild west and make a flying train. Also this week, the New York Times bashes the PS3, gery goo covers Second Life, and PS3 = UNLIMITED TACOS FOR LIFE.
Judgement: Guitar Hero 2
Jank: Holiday Game Shirts
Quote: “I think I did more damage to my wrist in those two times playing Miserlou then fifteen years of furious masterbation”

If you have any feedback, you can shoot us an email here, or call our voicemail at 845-BATTLE-9.

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode9.mp3

This week we’ve got the full review of Gears of War for Xbox 360. This game is so OMG awesome we almost forgot that it’s actually just sorta good. Also in this week we check out Team Ninja’s new game: Itagaki’s Intern Groper, tadalafil Nolan Bushnell believes we still care about what he thinks, generic
and Stefan Erickson convicted – Deitrich still at large.
Judgement: Gears of War
Jank of the Week: Oblivion Guide @ Amazon
Quote of the Week: “Either get in front of our animators and jiggle, or go cry in the closet”

If you have any feedback, you can shoot us an email here, or call our voicemail at 845-BATTLE-9.

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode8.mp3

Ah, population health
the arcade Beat em’ Up boom of the mid 90’s. Brings back fond memories of dank arcades, health care
sticky buttons, and that guy who kept trying to show me puppies in his van. We’ve also got bad news for the PS3 (shocker), Jack Thompson and Bully, and something about game developer sauce.
Judgement: Luxology’s Modo 202
Jank of the Week: Mech Assault 2: The Lone Wolf @ Gamestop / EB
Quote of the week: “As soon as I beat off all the other sweaty nerds”

If you have any feedback, you can shoot us an email here, call our voicemail at 845-BATTLE-9, or leave your thoughts in our forums here.

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode7.mp3

THIS SUNDAY, case
OCTOBER 29th AT 4PM EASTERN (1pm Pacific, 9pm UK)

Listen to the show as it’s recorded Live! In addition, you can participate in our Live! chat by joining the room “bdpelive” (no quotes) on any AOL Instant Messenger program. Finally, rumor has it that BATTLE will be making it’s triumphant return – the section of the show where YOU can call in by dialing 845-BATTLE-9 on any phone, or contact our Skype name “bestdamnpodcastever” (no quotes).

Just click HERE to download the streaming file (lisen.pls), and double-click to open in iTunes (or other audio app) and listen in Live! For more information check out our liveshow page at:

http://www.bestdamnpodcastever.com/liveshow

Finally, we’ll be running a Debug Show this Thursday night at 9 PM Eastern to get all the kinks out, so if anyone wants to tune in or give us a call so we can test everything out, we’d appreciate it.

Alone in the Dark, seek 2 hours of your life, treatment Lowtax – what do all these things have in common? They’ve all been destroyed by Uwe Boll. This week we talk about video games and movies, plus we’ve got the News, Releases, the Judement (Rocket Slime and Cooking Mama), Jank of the Week, your Feedback, and the Cancer Rule. Quote of the Week: “I’d shoot God of War, and it’s just Blake Buck taking a deuce in the bathroom for two hours”

If you have any feedback, you can shoot us an email here, call our voicemail at 845-BATTLE-9.

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode5.mp3

The BDPE crew continues to tweak the show format, ed
and this week’s central topic is everyone’s favorite blue bomber, MEGA MAN. We talk this week’s news, Halo the Ride, and Zero’s dark secret. Quote of the Week: “Nintendo Power is my church and my god”

If you have any feedback, you can shoot us an email here, call our voicemail at 845-BATTLE-9, or leave your thoughts in our forums here.

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode4.mp3

While poking around the internet today, health I read a rather poorly written article about the excess of sequels in the gaming industry today. The article reports that Electronic Arts released 26 games in 2005, symptoms
25 of which were sequels. The article continues on to state this is due to the increase of online communities, piggybacking successful features of original titles, and the comfortable mechanics of a familiar title.

However, where I really think this article misses the mark is the role of intellectual properties in the gaming industries today. In 1987, you’re average hit game was developed by a team of 15 people or so and sold around 500,000 copies. In 2007, you’re average hit game is developed by hundreds of people and sells 5 million copies. And since the gaming industry has grown to such a massive business, multi-medium tie-in’s and cross promotion has now plays an integral role – just like it does in all other businesses. Observe the graphic below:

Obviously, you’d buy the more familiar and tasty looking T.G.I. Friday’s Buffalo Wings, rather than the buffalo wings you don’t know anything about. Odds are, the Friday’s Wings probably aren’t even remotely like the one’s you’d get at the restaurant, yet because of a strength of the Friday’s name, they seem much more appealing.

The same holds true in the gaming industry. People latch on to an idea they are famliar with, usually referred to as an Intellectual Property (IP). And strong IP’s are the driving force behind the majority of sales in the gaming industry: Mario, Star Wars, Solid Snake, Judge Dredd, etc. So let’s examine the top 8 sellers for the entire video game industry for the month of August.

Top Software for August (by Units)

1. PS2 Madden NFL 07 – 1,012,000
2. 360 Madden NFL 07 – 569,000
3. 360 Dead Rising – 337,000
4. XBX Madden NFL 07 – 253,000
5. PS2 Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus – 200,000
6. NDS New Super Mario Bros. – 179,000
7. PS2 NCAA Football 07 – 160,000
8. PS2 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories – 102,000

As you can see, all but one of these games is either a sequel or based upon an existing franchise. The one exception is Dead Rising on the Xbox 360, which Microsoft has been heavily advertising over the past few months to drive up it’s otherwise slow software lineup for the summer.

Another great example of the stregnth of IP is the Cars game, which shot to the top of the charts upon it’s release in late June. Even though gamers had never played a cars game before, the stregnth of the name and simultaneous release with the film generated far greater sales than any original game with unique gameplay.

In the end, the masses will buy what they like – which usually turns out to be the same thing over and over again. But this isn’t a new development, original games have always taken a back seat to more widely-appealing commercial titles. So go ahead, buy Final Fantasy XIII-2: Dirge of Bahamut, just keep an eye out for new original games as well.

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode3.mp3

MEDIA LINK: http://www.blakebuck.com/media/BDPE-Episode2.mp3