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In this week’s extra-lengthy episode of Podtoid*, Jim Sterling, Aaron Linde, Topher Cantler and I discussed a lot of things. you may hear those discussions either by going to the officialPodtoid website(good), or by subscribing to us on iTune (better). Highlights included: – The worst, best, most awful, most awesomeDer Sïëgëlpüntz™ yet –LittleBigPlanetlevels based on existing videogames: boring and derivative, or satisfying and clever? – First-person versus third-person – Topher Cantler is: black, elderly, a Hollywood legend...

You know something is up when you go to bed after staying up late into the night to discuss pre-E3 trailers and wake up only to find that there’s still a bunch more to be covered. This is going to be one of those days. But enough about me, let’s talkAlpha Protocol. Yes, a new trailer for the game was released by way of GameTrailers TV. How did you know? Since the video is CGI, it is more “here are some things youcoulddo in our game, but we aren’t going to show you what any of it actually looks like” than anything else....

Despite having its delicious British fingers in many pies, it is never far from the truth to say that out of everything Codemasters does, driving games are by far their specialty. From the beginning with their retro success ofMicro Machines, the critically acclaimedGRID, and their current cash-cow and BAFTA award-winningF1 2010, it is no surprise to see the formallyCollin McRae Rallyseries — now known asDiRT 3 —leading the way for Codemasters....

SinceSonic Generationswas first announced back inApril, the heartstrings of many fans have yet again been pulled one way or another, as they hope that Sega doesn’t screw up yet anotherSonicgame. Even our very own Jim is in disarray, convinced that this game — due out onNovember 1— is in fact “an elaborate trap!“ While Hamza was busy trying out the 3DS versiona few weeks ago atTGS, producer Takashi Iizuka had a nice long chat with Japanese site Inside Games about the title’s development and all things Sonic....

It’s not often that the protagonist of one game is the villain in the sequel, but it makes a lot of sense ofPrototype 2. In this trailer, the developers explain how they’re working to make you hate former antihero Alex Mercer, after he robs new protagonist James Heller of everything. It’ll be interesting to see how sympathetic they make Heller.Prototypehad the seeds of a great story, but Mercer wasn’t all that developed a character....

Patience is a virtue and if you’re a PlayStation 3 owner, you better have a ton of it. The good thing is Sony has seen an issue (such as PS2 games looking poopy on the PS3) and addressed and fixed it via their latest system update. FromGameLife: PlayStation 3 owners can (must) now download system update 1.5, which — get ready —actually fixesanactual problemthat peopleactually complained about. It’s a little ridiculous that it took this long for Sony to fix the backwards compatibility issue that made some really fun games look like crap (left) versus good (right), but fix it they did....

According to the latest issue ofGamePro, Epic and Microsoft will be offering five maps as downloadable content day-and-date with the release ofGears of War 2. The five maps may look familiar — they’re all from the originalGears of War. “Gridlock,” “Subway,” “Canals,” “Mansion,” and “Tyro Station” will be made available as download when the game launches next month. The catch: the maps will be free, and accessible by redeeming a voucher code that comes packed in withGears of War 2....

[Update] Winners are jpolchowski, Daxelman, PhilHornshaw, JtotheShay and downsouthtigger! Catch last week’sepisode of Destructoid? Well in case you haven’t, we’re giving away five copies ofTron: Evolutionfor the PSP plus two Super Villain Studios shirts, a total value of $66 for each prize pack! Just go on Twitter and Tweet the following: “Follow@SVSGamesto win #tronevolution for the PSP from the #destructoidshow!” It’s that easy! You have until this Friday to enter and contest is open to US residents only....

You rememberQWOP, don’t you? (Now on iPad!) Of course you do — italmost spawned a meme, and you can’t hearChariots of Firewithout seeing the bruised and broken body ofQWOP‘s nameless protagonist. Today, Bennett Foddy releasedGIRP, “a spiritual sequel” toQWOP: a lone freeclimber — I’m going to name him Girp — must scale a sheer rock-face or plunge to a watery death. Watching Girp’s arms and shoulders bend and dislocate as he clings, literally, to dear life is gruesomely voyeuristic....

I just glanced over at myBuffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel2009 calendar and noticed that it’s August 11. That means the Xbox 360 System Update revealed at E3 should be available, andaccording to Major Nelson, it is. The update brings a few new cool features which we’ve already discussed, including the ability topurchase items for your Avatar, along with updatedNetflix capabilities. What you won’t find in the update is the Xbox LIVE Twitter, Facebook, and Last....

In 1963, Alfred Hitchcock directed a horror film about birds. Not super-strong hulk birds, or vagina dentata mouthed devil-birds, just regular birds. Pretty weak subject matter for a horror film, but some say that was the whole point. Legend has it that someone close to Hitchcock challenged him to make a horror movie about the least scary subject matter possible, and he chose birds. In case you don’t know, Hitchcock was (and still is) commonly regarded as the greatest film director of all time, and by 1963, I’m sure he was looking for opportunities to prove he deserved the title....

Rygar on the NES is something of a guilty pleasure of mine. The game makes little sense, has some poorly implemented concepts and bosses that just seem unfair. Despite this, I still like to pop it in on occasions where I want to run around killing monsters as the Diskarmor is a really cool, fun weapon to use for such a purpose. So, when an updated version ofRygarwas released on PlayStation 2 a few years ago, I eagerly snapped it up....

The San Diego Comic Con is a month away, and with it comes news that attendees can get their hands on an exclusive special edition JUVI. Typing such words as these makes me feel like aTomopopwriter, but since this is Sonic-related, I am compelled to type them. This Jazwares Urban Vinyl figure has a metallic finish to the paintjob and will be available from July 23rd, via Toys ‘R Us. Items will be limited and shall cost $17 apiece....