At Botcon 2012 we caught up with Matt “Tieg” Tieger” to talk about the upcoming Transformers video game “Fall of Cybertron”. If you’re not already excited for this game, you should probably check out this clip so that you can get on board.

Could the console and PC wars have been snuffed out in the early ’80s if NES hadn’t been released? Or was Nintendo’s intervention in the market overblown? Vinnk and Sean ponder the rift between PC and console gamers, those who do both, and what kinds of games seem to be better suited to one over the other. Are the two devices on a collision course? Or is the idea of a Steam Box or other PC-based “console” nothing more than a fever dream?

Direct Link: Famicom Dojo Podcast 43: Console Versus PC

Check out ways to fix the Mass Effect 3 face import bug, and more in our show notes:
http://famicomdojo.tv/podcast/43

Get a sweet discount on the Famicom Dojo Season 1 DVD if you use promo code “NOSHAME”:
http://famicomdojo.tv/store/fdojos1.php

Take a sweet survey about video game stores. Hey, why not?
http://famicomdojo.tv/survey

Enjoy! This episode has a 40 minute run time, so I’ll save you the trouble and let you know the inevitable Terminator reference is at 7:58.

We have a lot more to say about this particular romance option (that isn’t officially a romance option), so keep reading, or watch the entire nine-part series from the beginning after the jump!

KEEP PLAYING: Mass Effect 2 Romance

The Case for Yeoman Kelly Chambers

Apart from not officially being a romance option, the amount of depth and nuance that interaction with Yeoman Kelly Chambers provides is unparalleled in the rest of the Mass Effect series to date.

The player gets to decide just how professional, friendly, or flirtatious the relationship can be, which isn’t the case for any of the official romances, or with any of the other crew NPCs for that matter.

Most other relationships in the Mass Effect games follow story dictates. You grow closer to Joker as a member of your crew because the story demands it, having nothing to do with your totally optional interactions with him. One might say that the romance characters offer the same nuance, but this isn’t really true. FemShep will always come off as overbearing and flirtatious toward Jacob, even if that’s not something your Shepard would do (e.g. she likes the ladies, especially blue-skinned ones). Thane will be so appreciative of FemShep’s company that he can’t help but make romantic overtures as a result, and doesn’t seem to take it well if she doesn’t reciprocate.

You can’t really carry on conversations with these romanceable characters without it furthering the romance goals — in fact, it’s really the only reason you talk to them. Yes, there comes a time when you must choose whether or not to act on what has been going on, but it’s more of a decision not to pull the trigger on the developing chemistry rather than try to have a different relationship altogether.

Kelly, on the other hand, will cast about trying to figure out what your relationship is going to be like, and then respect those boundaries once established. BroSheps beware: not actively returning these advances will forever put you in the “Friend Zone” which, like real life, is essentially impossible to undo. Tell her to “Keep your distance”, and she will do just that. Miss a chance to compliment her, and she’ll forever think of you as “a nice guy”.

Here’s hoping your relationship with Kelly is at least recognized and gets the attention it deserves, and I don’t just mean as a catty quip from Ashley Williams.

This month brought us New York Toy Fair, so what better way to celebrate than going over some highlights of the show.

Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Jean-Luc Picard himself reviews this preview of what the series will look like on Blu-Ray. Find out if it will be worth investing in the full season sets that will be released later this year.

Check out the message board for some pictures of the making of this costume.

Hey, this review is only a few years late! I’ll share with you the cautionary tale of not opening your toys and missing out of years of enjoyment of some good figures!

Click “more” for the show notes!

Comments and reactions go below!

Sean is looking for some retro game goodies at the Mad Gear booth in the MAGFest 2012 Marketplace, but Earl Gray III walks off with the best haul! What’s a retro video game reviewer to do?

Follow Earl on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/EarlGrayThird

Check out Mad Gear for your retro game wares:
http://mad-gear.com
http://twitter.com/MadGearStore
http://facebook.com/MadGearStore

Here’s a review of the extended edition of Hanna, which shows that Hanna is actually a prequel to the Hannah Montana TV series.

MAGFest 2012 starts tomorrow. If you don’t know what it’s about, then this video is a perfect place to start!

Read more after the jump!

While waiting in line (the pre-registration one, mind you), I couldn’t help but notice how many guys there had these just… HUGE beards! And they were worn so proudly.

Well, after I got out of line, I noticed no shortage of them still waiting there or otherwise milling about the convention. I had to think fast: I grabbed the ever-pleasant JewWario who thought the idea was great (or at least said he did!), and we took off to interview as many Magnificent beards as possible.

See more show notes at FamicomDojo.TV:
http://famicomdojo.tv/magfest/2011/potpourri/magnificent-beards

First review in quite some time. Enjoy!

Check out the whole album here! http://kngi.org/vampirevariations/

Sean tried out Street Fighter X Tekken on Capcom’s sweet arcade pad, and Vinnk plays Super Street Fighter IV Volt for the iPhone (out now)!

See more at FamicomDojo.TV:
http://famicomdojo.tv/tokyo-game-show/2011/previews/street-fighter-x-tekken

I decided to continue this little format experiment. Here are some highlights from the world of action figures during the month of November 2011.

Find out about how (and why) Liara T’Soni is the only ME1 character you can pursue in Mass Effect 2 after the jump

Okay, so it’s not a big mystery, but it is a big letdown if you wanted to see more of Kaidan or Ashley in a way that they’re not screeching at you.

Liara is really cool and distant in Mass Effect 2 proper, but Lair of the Shadow Broker lets her deal with HER personal demons, and puts her in an interesting (but not totally unexpected) position for Mass Effect 3.

In so doing, the formula very much follows that of the other regular ME2 love interests: Liara has personal baggage you have to deal with before you’ll even have a crack at… whatever it is Asari have for sex organs. Even then, you might have your work cut out for you.

Liara is also the only character that both players can romance (mostly… we’ll get to the others in the last two parts), so it’s a bit unfortunate you have to pay extra for the privilege.

As for your human romances? Well, it’s not clear what effect your choice to remain faithful or get jiggy with your new crew will have, but your surviving human crew member will play a part in ME3 for sure.

Check out the other 6 parts (so far) of this KEEP PLAYING special series, or tell us your Mass Effect 3 predictions!

We’re joined by Tak of the Imari Tones — Christian Heavy Metal rocker, and composer/performer of the new Famicom Dojo theme song “RPG” — to find it what it’s like for women to go through child-bearing. Check out the 12 steps of pregnancy in this exclusive video!

See more at FamicomDojo.TV:
http://famicomdojo.tv/tokyo-game-show/2011/potpourri/mommy-tummy

Dumbo himself gives a review of the Dumbo 70th Anniversary Edition on Blu-Ray and DVD.

This video will look at various aspects of the movie as well as the features included in this set.

Testing out a new format. Let me know what you think. Also an 8th Joe figure was announced yesterday, Barrel Roll. This was a little rushed so I know its lacking in a few areas, but I like to experiment.

Burnout Crash is awesome. If you like Burnout Crash. Watch my full video review!