extintor

I'm slowly warming to the idea of buying this more and more. No doubt that Destiny being such a let down in terms of story is a part of that. This'll be a game in a similar mold but more fun to play.

Useful and interesting podcast - I'm looking forward to taking part... Although perhaps the only bad thing about taking part will be missing all the other streams!

@fcdrandy: updated

@mpgeist: @meatsofevil: done and done.

@deltax20a: @kingringtail85: also updated.

google sheet

@dwigtk: cool - details updated!

Edit: also congrats on the fundraising thus far... really great effort!

@kingringtail85: @thefishofwisdom: @rand0mzer00: @deltax20a: @jvalenti57: @fcdrandy: all added to the google sheet.

Team giant bomb now has 40 streams listed. There's plenty of time to add your info ahead of the event if you haven't already done so. Post in this thread, PM me your details, or ask for editing rights to get your stream info added.

I've PM'd our Captain (Monsieur Matt Pascual) and he's okayed the idea that these details will end up as either a 'tv guide' that'll be posted to the GB forums, or as the base data from which an explosive runs multi-embed style site *could* be assembled.... (or both).

I'm certainly not presenting it as an excuse but I wonder just how much of the nonsense we've noted this year is connected to the relative sparseness of blockbuster game releases we've had? These big games would normally be made by big companies against whom vitriol is thrown with relative lack of personal impact to the recipients (if lots of people are trash talking EA for example and you happen to work there then you might feel a little defensive but you aren't going to feel personally attacked). The last year has correspondingly been a bigger than usual one for indie developers. Is it just the case that the spotlight is on these individuals and so that's where those who have vitriol to spew are spewing it? When rage is directed at people and not companies the impact is always going to be much more unpleasant and ugly.

Exactly. There are plenty of people that don't fit the stereotype that are equally passionate, if not more passionate about games. I intensely dislike the fact that there are groups of people that proudly associate being a hateful shithead with their notion of video game purism. It feels as if these are still the loudest voices coming out of the whole video game playing culture in spite of the fact that video game culture is way more normalised and (supposedly) grown up than it ever has been before... I'm 34 and regularly play games with people in their 30s and 40s. This fact doesn't bat an eyelid from the people I work with or even family. There's no way that would have been true if I was 34 and doing so 10 years ago.

Part of me looks at the noise that these shitheads have been making and just thinks...ah well, they're a bunch of angry and frustrated teenage boys who don't know better and aren't able to reason any further than in the most binary and polarized ways. They'll grow up. They'll sort out their confused fear/lust/hatred/hormonal response toward women... just give them a little time. But then that's sort of shitty too because why should women have to endure their bullshit in the meanwhile? Then I wonder if I should step in and confront... but ultimately I think that is sort of patronizing in its own way. Best thing then, is as Patrick suggests, to make sure that you voice the positive thoughts you have when you have them... and to do so loudly on the internet. This counterbalances the negative, while also ignoring it. Best of both worlds.

My user-made Don Bradman 2014 'Giant Bombers' team will be playing in a three-way 20-20 tournament against Canada and Russia. It'll be streamed here.

For a minimum donation of a dollar, you can place a bet as to who will be (a) top run scorer (individual batting points) and (b) top wicket taker (pitcher 'outs') for 'Giant Bombers' at the end of the tournament. Each donation entitles a bet for one player in both categories. Each donor can place multiple bets if they donate multiple times.

Leave your choices in the comments on my donor page (or PM me on giant bomb after donating if you don't use/want to use facebook).Correct choices in each category will be raffled and winners declared at the mid-point of the stream.

The two winners will get a steam key for a game of their choice up to a maximum value of $40 each

To help you make an informed choice, here's the 'Giant Bombers' team roster and a little bit about each player's strengths.

(full individual player stats available if you download 'Giant Bombers' from the Don Bradman 2014 Academy (Xbox 360 version))

Confused? Never mind, take a punt anyway! For the kids!

Just pick two players and...

PLACE YOUR BETS NOW!!

@Karthas: @danimo: @sovietdancnbear: I've added your details to the googledoc.