Erich, Tim, and Dave roll up the red carpet with a round of “Oscar Best Picture nominee video game tie-ins”—a bad idea that gets progressively worse. Things get better once talk turns to video games, as Dave embraces fight stick ownership, Tim earns his merit badge, and Erich decides on an unlikely first game purchase for 2010. Games discussed this episode include Street Fighter IV, Modern Warfare 2, Borderlands, Gears of War 2, Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, and Mega Man 10.

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Erich, Steve, and Jon are knee-deep in recent releases this week. Heavy Rain gets a torrential downpour of love from Steve, as does Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (Modern Warfare 2 fans may not want to listen to this part); Jon comes to terms with his disappointment in Bioshock 2, then he and Erich go old school with first impressions of the NES-tastic Mega Man 10; and it wouldn’t be an episode of this podcast if Erich didn’t whine about the combat in Mass Effect. Also discussed this week: Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Risen, the global PS3 meltdown, Nintendo’s recent media summit, upcoming releases, and the DSi XL.

What have you been playing? Let us know in the comments below, over in the DVD Verdict Jury Room forums, or by emailing us at feedback@pixelverdict.com.

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Dave, Tim, and Erich run through the games they’ve been playing—including Modern Warfare 2, Mass Effect, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, ‘Splosion Man, Dante’s Inferno, and Street Fighter IV—before looking ahead to big (and little) titles on the horizon. Dave wonders whether he should try Heavy Rain, Tim wonders whether he’ll be able to find a PS3 before God of War III comes out, and Erich wonders whether the Xbox Live Arcade Game Room will be worth downloading. No Symposium Ad Nauseum this week, but we have a very good excuse. At least, I think we do. You’ll have to listen to find out.

Make your own excuses in the comments below, over in the DVD Verdict Jury Room forums, or by emailing us at feedback@pixelverdict.com.

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Adam, Steve, and Erich spice up our big 50th episode with a little role playing. Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origins, Oblivion, and White Knight Chronicles spearhead a stat-tastic game discussion that also includes Alien Vs. Predator, Dante’s Inferno, ‘Splosion Man, and demos for Heavy Rain, Battlefield: Bad Company, and Thexder Neo. Having missed last week’s Symposium Ad Nauseum, the gang tackles it this time around: Odd Choices for TV Show Video Game Adaptations. Do you like references to Canadian TV shows? Then you’ll love this!

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Dave, Jon, and Erich convene for what may or may not be the actual 50th episode (either way, we’ll celebrate the milestone next week) by eagerly anticipating Dante’s Inferno, giving the Wii some hard-hitting love in the form of Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, and heaping more praise on both games in the Mass Effect series. Are you tired of hearing us talk about Batman: Arkham Asylum? Good news: Erich finally finished it. Bad news: he talks about it one last time. To finish, this week’s Symposium Ad Nauseum takes us all around the world, from London to the Bay.

Hammer out your own thoughts in the comments below, over to the DVD Verdict Jury Room forums, or by emailing us at feedback@pixelverdict.com.

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It’s a two-man show this week, as Steve and Erich pour one out for Conan O’Brien, dig into space sequel extraordinaire Mass Effect 2, go back in time with PS2 launch title Summoner, bemoan the Killer Croc stage of Batman: Arkham Asylum, wonder whether some games are just too darn long, and pay lip service to sports with this week’s Symposium Ad Nauseum “Super Bowl Special!”

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Dave, Tim, and Erich do their best to alienate listeners with musings on the religious implications of recent games, the tail-end of the NFL season, and NBA Jam tournament memories. The boys make up for it, though, with another 40 minutes of video game talk. Tim still loves Modern Warfare 2, Dave sings the praises of Darksiders, Erich learns a valuable lesson about his gaming tastes thanks to Batman: Arkham Asylum, and should difficulty count in review scores? The capper is this week’s Symposium Ad Nauseum: Over My Dead Body is My Daughter Marrying That Guy. Oh, and pinball.

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Jon and Steve join Erich for a gamestravaganza of epic-ish proportions! There is praise-singing for Darksiders and Bayonetta, admiration for Army of Two: the 40th Day, and iPhone game recommendations by Steve (yes… Steve). In other news, Jon digs into Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Erich can’t stop talking about Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection (though he does so long enough to give his long overdue impressions of Batman: Arkham Asylum), and Steve talks about going to the coolest high school ever. Keeping with the awkward teen theme, the crew wraps things up with this week’s Symposium Ad Nauseum: the ideal video game prom date.

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Erich, Dave, and Adam cover a lot of video game ground this episode: Dave’s first impressions of the much-anticipated Bayonetta, Adam’s disappointment about delayed Dragon Age DLC, Erich’s downloadable dabbling and love of Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection. One thing you won’t hear is what Adam accidentally said then asked be edited out. How awful was it? You’ll just have to guess. Meanwhile, enjoy this week’s Symposium Ad Nauseum: Babies. Make your New Year’s resolution to listen to this podcast. It’s way easier than losing weight.

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Join the Pixel Verdict crew for a look back at their favorite games of 2009—a list that includes RPGs of the role playing and rocket propelled variety, a bad night for a bat, dragon punches, mustachioed mushroom eaters, and a true Renaissance man. Because when you aren’t forced to choose just one Game of the Year, everyone is a winner! From all of us here, our sincerest thanks for listening this year. We’ll see you bright and early in 2010—but not too early, we were up late last night.

Submit your picks for 2009’s best games in the comments below, over in the DVD Verdict Jury Room forums, or by emailing us at feedback@pixelverdict.com.

You can listen to the show with the player below, download it here, or subscribe through iTunes or by adding our feed to your podcatcher of choice.