We handbrake turn with racing game Fuel, Danjo turns blue with excitement talking about Gargamel and procedurally generated worlds, then we hyper combo into Marvel Vs Capcom 3.

Music is L.T.H. (AA's Refix) by Abstract Audio

YouTube video on how Fuel's world might have been generated

An seven-second K.O. in MvC3. High-level play at its deadliest?

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We kick sand in Bulletstorm's face, power up some love for Crysis 2, limp along in FPS Breach, get deja vu with Modern Combat: Domination and trade hits with David Sirlin's card game Yomi.

1hr 2min / 59mb

Music is Late Night Volition by Phonnovo

Breach by Atomic Games

Modern Combat: Domination trailer

Sirlin Games home of Yomi / Play Yomi online for free

HatchetJob Sirlin interview

We knife Assassin's Creed Brotherhood's multiplayer, try to remember Amensia: The Dark Descent, go full throttle with Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, get lost in Dungeons and Dragons' Castle Ravenloft and hide in foxholes with Combat Commander Europe.

Music is 'I refuse to give up' by Rocavaco ft. MiElle

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Castle Ravenloft

Combat Commander Europe

We start by comparing Fable 3 to Fallout New Vegas and, spoiler, one comes off *very* badly indeeed. Super Meat Boy captures us in his fleshy grasp and we discuss good games that have bad demos. We even see how Civ 5 is more like a boardgame than a PC game and find out about a Civilization-style boardgame called 'Through the Ages'.

Music is 'Outside Poolside' by Lasswell

1hr 33mins

Ascension review

Claustrophobia review

Through the Ages review/overview (not ours)

Nothing to Envy, website for book on North Korea

Wikipedia entry for Primo Levi's book

Humans have played boardgames for thousands of years - civilisation and gaming are indivisible. I speak to Dr.Irving Finkel, a British Museum expert in ancient Mesopotamian script, languages and cultures, about his interest in games and their development, genres and history.

1hr 29mins

Music is 'Oh Dear Mr Williams - Tango? by Unreal Dm

We discuss Frozen Synapse, a top-down, quasi-realtime tactical shooter, sidestep with the demo of Platinum Games' Vanquish and tease you about a video review of Puzzle Strike aka Puzzle Fighter the board game. 34 mins.

Puzzle Strike video review

The Worst Date Ever

Frozen Synapse website

Staats' Frozen Synapse video. Uploaded with the game's YouTube feature. He is the green player. Notice how, just before his rocket is fired, the top-right red player steps back, waits, then goes forward, avoiding the rocket.

Is Castlevania: Harmony of Despair a new game with a retro heart? How come someone who hates JRPGs can play Squeenix's 'The World Ends With You'? And what if George Lucas made The Lion King?

39 mins.

Castlevania HoD

The World Ends With You / gameplay video

We cover open worlds and 'emergent' gameplay Minecraft, talk about the best support character in gaming with Monday Night Combat and, sadly, end up being a bit mean about Moon Taxi - a game that's all about stories, but doesn't tell them very well.

49 mins.

Music is 'I Don't Hurt My Love (pseudo-format Mix)' by Vidian

In this in-depth interview, we speak to David Sirlin, author and videogame / boardgame designer, about Playing to Win, balancing games and more. He was lead designer on Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix and re-balanced Puzzle Fighter HD. His boardgames are partially inspired by videogame genres. Note: the iTunes entry may mistakenly say he was lead designer on Puzzle Fighter HD.

1hr 27min / 62 mb

Sirlin.net

Sirlingames.com

The mysterious book Trip Hawkins mentioned.

Music is 'U Teru S. Birth of Souls' By Loveshadow

We rock up with an alternative to 'traditional' game of the year awards - you came up with the categories, you chose the winners. From the weird to the wonderful, these awards are as much about you as they are games - can you guess which title won 'best stubble'?

42 mins / 50 mb

Music

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