BeyondStrange

So, Alex mentions in the write up that the Majora's Mask version of the New 3DS is already selling out via online pre-orders. The thing is that I can't find where these pre-orders are happening. The only place that I see the New 3DS available is Gamestop. Basically, I have an Amazon gift card set aside to get one of these things, but I don't see it listed on that site yet (or any site for that matter). Am I not looking in the right place or am I insane?

As a person who has spent about four hours of this weekend playing that Pokemon Pinball game, I will say I hear rad things about that Duke Nukem 3D. It is supposed to be edgy and extreme! I hear they are working on a sequel that is supposed to be even better.

It is awesome to see so many (mostly) awesome goodbyes to Patrick, but I do have a question: when anyone else logged on to the site and say a picture with the entire staff waving and a title that said "The End," did anyone think it was the end of the entire site? I knew it logically didn't make any sense, but that was my worry when I clicked.

I figured if it was the end of Giant Bomb, those GOTY videos were going out on top.

I am also one of those people that found Giant Bomb through Patrick. The first video game podcast I ever listened to was Feedback on G4, the best incarnation of which featured Adam Sessler, Patrick, Abbie Heppie, and a revolving fourth person. It was only like thirty minutes, but I looked forward to each one. When he left (followed shortly there after by Abbie), I was super bummed and that thing never was the same. So, when I first found the Bombcast... okay, I'll be honest, I was super confused. I had no idea why this thing was three hours or why Jeff was talking about Minecraft. I mean, Minecraft was years old by that point... what the heck? Also, I couldn't tell Jeff and Brad's voices apart (which is crazy to me now) and everything seemed weird and scattershot. The only reason I kept listening was because Patrick was there. Now I am one of those fools who are sad if the Bombcast is less than three hours.

I definitely find this melancholy, but I'm optimistic about the future and not shocked by the news. I know I'll read or watch whatever Patrick does next. I want to say I'll miss Patrick interacting with the guys, but the sad part is that he has't been doing that since he moved to the Chiacgo (outside of the twice weekly show with Alex). Patrick always felt too segregated from the rest of the crew, though damn, did he try to make his own content. I admire that, but he really only interacted with non-Alex crew during special times like E3 and GOTY. Plus, all signs point to the expansion of GB East in New York (that senior news editor listing some one found a while back makes a lot more sense now) and we knew that Patrick would not move to New York. Having Vinny and any future GBeast hires on Scoops and the Wolf would be unfeasible, so that would have probably be canceled after a point too.

Yes, this is a bummer, but I have hope that both Patrick and GB will grow from it. Good luck Patrick! I'll look forward to reading or watching whatever you do next and hearing you randomly pop up on Giant Bomb shows. And... and is it insensitive for me to say that I hope your replacement is Cara Ellison? I know that is just a pipe dream, but still, it could happen.

Because it will probably become a point of contention here, the podcast was rerecorded this afternoon live. It is just Jeff and Rorie, but still manages to be interesting and was good to listen to while wrapping presents. It is of the standard length of around three hours or so and it was interesting to hear Jeff record commercials live.

I will say that the original podcast sounds like it was a heck of a time, but there is nothing to be done about random crashes. Jeff mentioned in had the first 38 minutes so it may be stuck onto this whenever this goes up. By the way, Jeff and Rorie's live random old games and call in show just ended, so I doubt the podcast will go up until super late.

I won't comment much on the finale that much because it would just devolve into an over-hyperbolic spewing of pure enjoyment that has been better expressed by others here. I was one of those though at first who wished they just showed the kiss, but upon reading these comments, I changed my tune. I think that wouldn't have fit the show. Much of The Last Airbender was about Aang's love for Katara so much so that major plot points centered around it. That finale needed to bring that story to a definitive close. The Legend of Korra had romantic subplots involving Korra, but focused more on Korra's development from an immature unlikable person to an all right and competent person. Walking into the sunset with her best friend and closest confidant was far more fitting of an ending. Of course, I, like probably many, assumed that they did the thing.

All in all, I thought book 4 was great, but could have used a few more episodes to flesh things out better. To me, Book 3 stands as some of the best TV this year and possibly ever for me.

I do need to ask though: what is the general consensuses on the first season? When it first aired, it seemed everyone was super into it except for the last episode, but it seems to have fallen out of favor. I personally think it is very good, though not to the levels of books 3 and and 4.

Book 2 was kind of.... well.... um..... yeah.

I must admit that I am in the "this game was fun, but no crazy bonkers amazing" camp. I just wanted to post this video that lists all of Gamepot's GOTY winners. Say what you will about whether the games deserved the honors or not, all of them are remembered or have influence on games today. Weeeeell, except for Chrono Cross. I will never understand Gamespot circa 2000's obsession with Chrono Cross.

http://www.gamespot.com/videos/a-gamespot-retrospective-past-goty-winners/2300-6422844/

@amp_1986: That's funny, because RAW did the reverse to me. I was convinced she would be at NXT longer, but I'm afraid Charlotte lost to Natalia in order to set up some "dueling legacy feud" that will transition her to RAW.

As much I love Charlotte and would like to see a Sasha and Bailey war for the belt, I don't think she is quite ready for the big time yet. Some of her moves are still wonky. Also, RAW is an inescapable soul sucking nightmare in which no good talent can hope to grow or escape. So, that too.

Fret not! It may have come 25 days late, but I am here to say you aren't the only person on GB to play this game too much.

I really like the new set for the most part and feel it is better than the last one. Before, I relied on a Killion, Iron Maiden, and card resurrection deck that worked well, but felt like borderline cheating. Along with the Brood Queen, Iron Maiden felt too powerful. With the new cards, both those are far more manageable.

I decided to build a new deck from scratch which is something I haven't done for a long time. It is a completely Nekkrum deck built around the Sorrow Maiden. Not only is it nice to rely on cards that are nonlegendary, but it feels like I am using strategy to win again instead of just the strongest cards like I have done with the last expansion.

Of course, as always, there are new kinks to be worked out. Wegu is way too strong in its current form. It isn't an guaranteed win, but Wegu doesn't take much strategy to use, just get a level 2 or 3 out and play a bunch of heeling cards and you will probably win, even if your opponent has been dominating. Also, I see some complaining about the rage of kadras, but I have only encountered it once or twice. I want to try the new tournaments, but may wait until those are balanced. Plus, I haven't had the time or energy to do so. I think I have like 80 tickets at this point.

The sharing system is nice, but I still worry the game is too impenetrable for new people. I tried to get a friend of mine into it, but even with sharing cards, it was hard for him to do well. I am not sure how that problem can be fixed though.

Yeah, sadly, Betheseda already announced they wont be showing anything. Microsoft announced that too,I think.

As much as some huge announcements be great, I think Jeff is right. Those big announcements happened because it was on tv. I mean, look at last year. It was associated with Spike TV, but was just streamed, so the biggest announcements were (No Man's Sky (while super cool, not the same thing as announcing Skyrim), a few Tell Tale games, and that.... Cranky King was a playable dude.