Podcast Unlocked
Podcast Unlocked Episode 168: Max Hoberman Talks Halo 2

If you don't know how Max Hoberman is, here's the elevator pitch version: he's not only the Halo 2 lead multiplayer designer, but he helped invent all of the amazing party and matchmaking systems that Halo 2 pioneered that we all now take for granted. And now, he has his own studio, Certain Affinity, where they build maps for many multiplayer games, including Halo 2 DLC, Halo 3 DLC, Halo 4 (shipping version and DLC), various Call of Duties, and now Halo 2 Anniversary. Max shares some incredible insights on the making of Xbox Live's killer app, and then shares his gut reactions to every map from Halo 1 and 2. His answers may surprise you...

Direct download: Podcast_Unlocked_Episode_168.mp3
Category:Podcast Unlocked -- posted at: 9:24am EDT

Podcast Unlocked Episode 167: Phil Spencer Interview

Microsoft Head of Xbox Phil Spencer makes his first Unlocked appearance in a year, dicussing a range of topics including when certain features will be added to the Xbox One via the monthly system updates, what he wants out of the next Gears of War, why there is no special-edition Halo-themed console to pair with The Master Chief Collection, what the hell Rare is up to, and much, much more. 

Direct download: Podcast_Unlocked_Episode_167.mp3
Category:Podcast Unlocked -- posted at: 12:39am EDT

Podcast Unlocked Episode 166: Xbox Is a Hell of a Drug (Mule)

Find out what happens when four guys get busted for trying to use an original Xbox to smuggle cocaine. At the very least, it produces the funniest moment in the history of the show. Also, a new Halo game got announced, HBO Go will soon be usable on Xbox 360 or Xbox One without a cable/satellite TV subscription, a new Assassin's Creed Xbox One bundle provides pretty good value (and we share our favorite special-edition consoles ever), and much more.

Direct download: Podcast_Unlocked_Episode_166.mp3
Category:Podcast Unlocked -- posted at: 8:12pm EDT

Podcast Unlocked Episode 165: Assassin's Creed Unity (of Resolutions)

On this week's episode of the world's #1 Xbox podcast, we discuss why Ubisoft messed up badly with their explanation as to why Assassin's Creed Unity will run at 900p on both Xbox One and PS4. Plus: how much of Halo 5 will Agent Locke star in? Why did Kingdom Hearts 3 switch to Unreal Engine 4? Why is Mitch worried about Geometry Wars 3? And find out which special guests will be appearing on the show this month.

Direct download: Podcast_Unlocked_Episode_165.mp3
Category:Podcast Unlocked -- posted at: 9:05pm EDT

Podcast Unlocked Episode 164: The Destiny Story

Alleged NDA-breaking sources claim Destiny's story was VERY different earlier in development. We discuss. Plus: love for Screamride and its Crash Mode-esque feature, why you should get pumped for the release of Thomas Was Alone next month, pouring one out for Burnout, and hacking is bad, mmm-kay?

Direct download: Podcast_Unlocked_Episode_164.mp3
Category:Podcast Unlocked -- posted at: 9:04pm EDT

Podcast Unlocked Episode 163: Michael Condrey Interview

Want to know how you can have no artistic or programming talent and still end up becoming the head of the studio making the biggest game of the year? Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare's Michael Condrey shares his fascinating career story of how he went from beach bum to co-founding Sledgehammer Games and working on the world's biggest shooter franchise. Plus: Destiny's raid, Rudy Giuliani's defense of Activision against...Manuel Noriega (!), Grand Theft Auto V's next-gen first-person mode, D4 pulls a Beyonce (and why that's bad), and more!

Direct download: Podcast_Unlocked_Episode_163.mp3
Category:Podcast Unlocked -- posted at: 8:48pm EDT

Podcast Unlocked Episode 162: Dissecting Destiny

We're back, and so much has happened! In this jumbo-sized 90-minute edition of the world's #1 Xbox podcast, we spend nearly an hour discussing Destiny -- what it is, what it isn't, what it could evolve into, and more. Plus: Jose Otero's Halo: The Master Chief Collection impressions, our analysis of Microsoft's big Minecraft developer purchase, and much more!

Direct download: Podcast_Unlocked_Episode_162.mp3
Category:Podcast Unlocked -- posted at: 9:37pm EDT

Podcast Unlocked Episode 161: For Whom the Bell Tolls

An annoying bell is left behind in the podcast studio, and we abuse it before finally hurling it out a window. More importantly, Halo pro and superfan Sean Finnegan discusses how it felt to play the new Lockout in Halo 2 Anniversary multiplayer. We also dive into the "WTF?" Saints Row expansion that's coming to Xbox One as well as 360. Plus: Get to Know Your Locksmiths gets a bit serious, discussing the topic of bullying.

Direct download: Podcast_Unlocked_Episode_161.mp3
Category:Podcast Unlocked -- posted at: 9:20pm EDT

This week, we're down Ryan McCaffrey, so it's a shorter show as we discuss HD remakes, Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer, Shadow Complex's 5th anniversary, and what we think of Microsoft selling Kinect for $150.

Direct download: Podcast_Unlocked_Ep._160.mp3
Category:Podcast Unlocked -- posted at: 7:24pm EDT

Marty and Destin return from Gamescom in Germany, where they got to be among the first in the world to play Halo 2 Anniversary multiplayer. They tell us how Halo 2-y it feels. Plus: Madden 15's time limit on EA Access, a bigger hard drive for...Xbox 360, a Reddit app for Xbox One, what to expect in the September Xbox One system update, and the return of Get to Know Your Locksmiths.

Direct download: Podcast_Unlocked_Episode_159.mp3
Category:Podcast Unlocked -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT