* Netflix for FREE on XBoxes? Linky * XBox One is NOW $400 (by dropping Kinect) to compete with PS4 Linky * PS Now Closed Beta Link * Steam Home Streaming * PC Gaming is more profitable than Consoles (duh!) Linky * Pre-E3 News Photo by JD Hancock

* Cliffy B leaves Epic? Linky Irrational Games shuts down as Ken Levine leaves? Linky John Carmack leaves ID? Linky Where are we going to get our AAA titles now? * PC gaming in the Living room in late 2014? Anyone ready / willing / wanting this? Linky Maybe use the nVidia Shield Linky * Martin O’Donnell fired from Bungie Linky * 2014 Gaming forecast, any winners you want to talk about? * Borderlands 3, a sequel prequel. Link * Captain America 2, perhaps recent movies in general. Captain America 3 to release the same day as Batman vs. Superman. * Evolve, from Turtle Rock (L4D developer) Site Link * What are you playing lately?  

In our first podcast of 2014, we discuss: * Steam active user base exceeds Xbox Live * Sony launches bricks at user base and the state of the Wii U as it turns 2. * EA launches BF4 in what can charitably be called an ‘Alpha state’ * The past Console generation that was called ‘next gen,’ the games it spawned in console-land and PC, our thoughts on it, retrospective. * 2013 in gaming and tech retrospective, what mattered to us and why * Valve Steam Machines announced at CES * AGDQ & the world of speedrunning * What we’re playing Art based on a photo by Piero Sierra  

The OTF staff fires up its warp engines and discusses: * Apple news * Batman Arkham City goes GFWL-less – GOTY free on Steam; GFWL shutting down * Steam Universe/Machines/OS * Fall / next-gen titles people are looking forward to and why? * What we’re playing lately

* Post E3 / next gen impressions, hopes, dreams, etc. * Valve’s Pipeline to teach HS students how to get into the video game industry * Steam Summer Sale

* Windows 8 Failed to Boost PC Market Linky * PC Market seeing a sharp decline in 2013 Linky Funny Linky * Apple’s re-org suggest unification of iOS and OS X Linky * Epic Games seeing an exodus of employees Linky, more than just Cliffy B Linky * Ubisoft’s former creative director of Assassin’s Creed left in 2010, then joined THQ Montreal, which was later acquired by Ubisoft, at which time they fired him. Linky * BioShock Infinite ‘over the top’ violent? Linky * Gearbox ripped off the art style of Borderlands? Linky Proof: Linky * Farcry 3 Blood Dragon DLC is 1980’s Action Sci-Fi Cartoon Come to Life! Linky * MegaUpload tries to combat US government corruption (from Hollywood), will that get anywhere? Linky * Lucasarts folds; Star Wars license handed over to EA, who announces no major SW releases in 2014. Linky * J’nathus’s random topic  

* iPad Mini – Too Mini, or just Mini enough for the 7″ crowd? * Windows 8 is out… What ELSE has ‘Surfaced’??? * Steven Sinovsky leaves Microsoft * The Wii-U came out this ‘Wii-kend’ * Hostess is out of business… anybody missing the twinkies? * J’nathus’ random topic Artwork based on a photo by Joe Hagan

* L4D2 Valve’s first Linux game Link * Windows 8 is actually peachy – you should install it. INSTALL IT NOW!!! * Steam Big Picture mode * EA making more from PC rather than PS3 Link * Forbes says if you don’t use Facebook, you’re suspicious Link Reddit disagrees Link * Black Mesa Source is actually happening? Link * Ubisoft scraps always-on DRM Link * iPhone 5 announced * Guild Wars 2 launch

Jonathan and Tim discuss the pros and cons of Windows 8, including practical user considerations and share predictions on hurdles for new users.

* E3 post impressions * Windows 8 Release Preview – It’s going to flop * Valve is working on a Linux client – Escape hatch from Win8 much? * Mass Effect – Most Important Sci-Fi series of our generation? Link * Jonathan’s Random Topic – Let’s talk about Reddit Artwork based on a photo by Jaymar Turner