Episode 17: “Lourdes in the Sky with Diamonds”

I’ve been embarking on a series of adventures, now that I’m “unleashed”. In this week’s podcast, I share with Chuck my first attempts at rock climbing and my amazing road trip to a classic arcade auction.

Chuck’s put together an interesting conspiracy theory about both Sony and Microsoft’s next generation consoles…or console? I’m convinced, which is a feat.

Oh, those crazy celebrities! Stealing brand names, hippie parenting, and taking the Fifth on drug references.

Episode 18: “Horrible Holocaust”

This is not a typical episode of the Alpha Counter podcast… More of a frankensteined construction of two partial recordings; forged together to form a single, patch-worked entity. If you’re just discovering this podcast after coming from Animazement, you should probably catch up on our previous episode first.

Kevin had a lot more to say about The Hunger Games after last week’s podcast was recorded. We have some…colorful peers that offered…unique perspective on the film and how it’s often discussed by others. But first I get to tell a story about how I, as a child, learned about a very important word.

The second part of this podcast is an excerpt from a recording with M. Due to some mental and technical failings on my part, the audio quality nearly doomed this material to oblivion. However, it’s directly relevant to my conversation with Kevin and contains one of the greatest jokes we’ve ever done on the podcast; earning it a second chance at life.

Episode 17: “Tracker Jackers”

Hunger Games has Kevin in a fury. It’s the hot new book-to-film series that no one will remember in five years. By the way, how’s that The Lost Symbol movie coming along?

Turbo-spoilers contained within! This could be one of Kevin’s most unleashed podcasts; wasting no energy on delicately veiling this movie from the oblivious. If you haven’t seen the movie, read the book, or if you’re especially sensitive to virgin experiences, you have some homework before engaging this podcast. I don’t give a shit, so I’m quick to indulge in discussion.

Episode 16: “Car[olla] Talk”

Reality shows can’t be considered trash TV. Most are so scripted and doctored that they’re worse than garbage–they’re immitation garbage. And yet, there’s always at least one that we each call our guilty pleasure. For Matt and I, it’s this season’s Celebrity Apprentice; mostly for its involvement with our hero, Adam Carolla. That is, until he was fired due to producer shenanigans.

After the break, M joins us to talk about a show that’s genuine about its fiction: The Walking Dead; specifically Season 2. If you haven’t seen it yet, do, for here there be spoilers.

Episode 15: “Warp Factor WTF”

M and I got gabbin’ ’bout some gamin’ for this episode of the podcast. The Wiimote controls of Skyward Sword has M flailing and failing. Meanwhile, I’m inventing new ways to get court-martialed in Star Trek: Bridge Commander.

After the break, we vent out our frustrations by laughing at the 1990s era of comic books–The publicity stunts, the market flood, the talent…or rather, lack thereof.

To correct an oversight: Joe Madureira did find success in the video game industry, as creative director to Vigil Games’ Darksiders and its upcoming sequel.

Episode 14: “Giant Osama Bin-Ladenzilla”

What begins as me fawning through nostalgia over Bionic Six quickly roller-coastered into Kevin and I both ranting over the horrible era of comic books and cartoons known as the 1990s. Image Comics was one of that decade’s greatest creations, but also its most potent toxins. The only relic of that era to survive–and strangely still be worth picking up–is Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon.

I never got around to mentioning that Rock-1 was one of my earliest childhood cartoon crushes. Add that to my list of “thank yous” for TMS entertainment. We need you guys back working for Warner Bros!

I also mentioned this: THIS IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW.

Cross Ups 01: “Commencing 4th down; Hut, hut, hike!”

On the success of our Method to Madness Omake outtakes, we present some of the pre-game anecdotes that take place before the show really gets started. They’ve been collected and released for you in a new podcast sub-series we call Alpha Counter Cross Ups.

You’ll probably notice a slight difference in audio quality, at least on my side. These audio clips are taken straight from our Skype recordings, before I mix in my locally recorded track. But the content makes up well for it. Especially for bonus content…that’s free!

Episode 14: “If You Can Read This, The Bitch Derezzed”

That girl is Poison… Or is she? That is, is she a she? It’s a debate that’s been waged since before many of its participants were only just born. With the release of the video below, it’s time we accept the truth and begin asking ourselves some very deep, personal questions.

M hops on for the second half of the show to adjust the focus of our male gaze while we discuss the recent Cross [Sexual] Assault scandal. Take notes, fellas. This may actually get you dates.

Episode 12: “Breaking Boobs”

Matt has challenged my distaste for sports and its rampant fanaticism. He doesn’t understand why, with my fervor for fighting games, don’t I gravitate toward real-world martial art contests. The truth is, I’d sooner watch WWE than MMA.

There may be some weight to Matt’s argument, since I do enjoy both playing Ace Attorney games and watching The People’s Court, though my joy of each stems from different roots. On the other hand, my love of the Portal series hasn’t inspired me to volunteer for testing experimental quantum weaponry in deadly labyrinths. No, the source of my Portal passion is likely more Freudian.

Matt and I do agree on one thing: Our opinion on boobs. We dig ‘em. And apparently, they could just save your life.

Episode 11: “We Cannot Leave the Magic”

Having gorged myself on the entirety of Fraggle Rock, I felt the intense need to gush over the show’s craftsmanship and timelessness. Luckily, M was game for some more Muppet musings.

Macross Plus is one of our favorite anime, and if you’ve seen it, it’s also one of yours. However, a peer has recently challenged our affections. Together, M and I seek out the corpus delicti of the show’s most intense scene.

The following video clip is strangely relevant:

Episode 10: “Foiled Again!”

Lisa Foiles riles me, though this may or may not be her fault. As I touched upon in my guest appearance on the Anivision podcast, my frustration may be rooted within. Chuck and I deconstruct this enchanting effect by Lisa Foiles and many like her. They’re the girls that our mothers warned us about and our fathers encouraged us to woo.

Supposedly, the Xbox 720 will be registering game discs to the console in order to “prevent software piracy”. It’s fairly obvious their true goal is to “prevent ownership”. Publishers of all media are waging a war and they’ve declared you, the consumers, as the enemy.

These whiney-butts crying that they’re not making enough money are forgetting that as long as their products are changing hands (rather than getting tossed into a bin), that proves these commodities have value. The ability to share and resell media is a healthy tool… Just ask popular literary genius, Neil Gaiman:

Episode 09: “This is Our Scene Now.”

Matthew “@PhantomFHarlock” Kraft hops on the podcast to exchange rants of chickenshit traffic tickets and to continue our ongoing IP war efforts, post-SOPA. And he’s okay with sex with dead people.

The Stop Online Piracy Act was put to rest some time ago, but all that was buried was a mask. The entity behind such laws is a villain with many faces; SOPA and PIPA among its repertoire. It may no longer be a hot trend, but we need to stay aware that it’s still alive and lurking about us.

Then there’s the woman who fucked a corpse, got pregnant, and is suing his estate for child support. Yeah.

Episode 08: “Fly Air Clapton”

Meeting Adam Carolla is probably one of the highest moments of my life. If Kevin and I were to have a child together, that still wouldn’t compare. And that’s not just assuming that the child would be a product of our love; but also including the epoch-making medical breakthrough and the inevitable wealth and celebrity that follows.

This podcast isn’t just about me flapping my gums about personal heroes. Kevin recounts with us some more stories from his college days with stories of colorful characters. The lesson to walk away with is that being an asshole and doing drugs won’t make you many friends, but it will get you laid.

Episode 07: “Method to Metal Gear”

Chuck Lai joins me for some Method to Mad Libs, where we map out the diabolical master plan of the evil Dr. Skanky. The moral of this podcast: I want a cock ring…so much.

After we’ve had our fun and games, Chuck and I discuss some movies that we’ve been meaning to see, some we regret having seen, and some we know you must see. Shortly after recording this podcast, I did give Insidious a viewing… Unfortunately, I found the scariest part of that film to be its title card. I believe that the producers shared my opinion, since they used it twice to bookend the show.

Episode 06: “Method to Meth Labs”

Don’t call it a comeback; we’ve been here for years! Matt Kraft joins me on the new Alpha Counter podcast to take Method to Mad Libs back to its roots. And when the mics get hot, so do we!

After some nostalgic tête à tête with Mad Libs, Matt and I keep the podcast ball a-rollin’. TV has apparently been good to the both of us, as we compare and exchange the images that occupy our living rooms. Robotech is a hot topic during this podcast, as Matt is brought up to speed on the various Macross series that have emerged since the classic days of Harmony Gold. Yes, including “Shadow Chronicles”.

Episode 05: “Hi-Def Hands of Fate”

Kevin embarked on a quest to for a new workout arena, with fancies of The Wheel of Pain, à la Conan. He found no such complex; at least not ones without severe, inescapable cancellation fees (that include, but are not limited to, lashings). While that does intrigue Kevin, it’s probably also illegal.

In other news from The Internet, we may now have the means to produce and purchase a true high-definition Blu Ray release of Manos: The Hands of Fate. Good…? We aren’t able to come to a solid conclusion on that, though one thing we find certain: Punk chicks are hawt. It’s too bad our audio cut during our investigation of Disney punk princesses.

Episode 04: “At the End, There’s Happiness”

Kevin went on a routine road trip to Wilmington recently. While it’s familiar ground for him, there are always new [mis]adventures to be had. For this episode, Kevin shares his latest tales of karaoke, Hooters, and Wings… The last two are strangely unrelated.

Daytime court shows are a guilty pleasure of mine and probably the only reason why I notice broadcast television. Judge me all you like, but Marilyn Milian is a sexy lady. Even at nearly 20 years my senior, it’s hard to view clips like the following and not be turned on.

I hope she has “fuck you” money, as we also discuss in this podcast. A lesson, listeners: Never say a con word about Rutger Hauer while in earshot of Kevin.

Episode 03: “Assholes on Assholes”

Xbox LIVE was hacked! Customer accounts were compromised! Thousands of dollars in funds were stolen! And for what? Basically, trading cards. And this isn’t news? Chuck Lai and Matt Kraft join me in scolding Microsoft and the media for not giving this serious breach of security its due attention.

For better updates on the hack and how Microsoft is resolving this matter, Chuck recommends this blog.

Later in the podcast, we talk about how we refuse to get old. Getting old makes you retarded the r-word. Then we shake our canes, gripe about kids today, and talk politics. Don’t worry; you can also look forward to plenty of butt talk.

Episode 02: “I’m Your Prostitute; You Gon’ Get Some”

Batman: Arkham City has an ending that begs scrutiny. Paul Dini was apropos in planting in-jokes of Lost into the game’s script, since it ironically reflects its confusing conclusion.

Guest co-host, Charles “Comtar” Lai joins me in this week’s podcast as my Devil’s advocate. Together, we break down not only Arkham City‘s plot holes, but also its cast and controversies. Chuck (as I know him) also brings his experience in “bullet hell” shmups and other classic, niche games…that have recently been invaded by fan service.

Episode 01: “The First Issue’s A Collector’s Item”

It’s the premier episode of the Alpha Counter podcast! New website, new podcast, new talent… Most of those statements are true.

First topic up: Superheroes!

This episode will touch fans of comic book superheroes and traditional RPGs, though not like that ghoulish, handsy uncle you hate to be with alone in a room on Thanksgiving. No, it’s more like that uncle who only gets handsy because he’s drunk himself blind. At least you know that when he apologizes for it, he means it! I’m not doing so well selling this new podcast, am I?

Fans of Method to Madness will find this episode familiar, despite its fresh, new format. I’d just returned from a local comic convention with stories in tow. In the same spirit, Kevin was curious to see how I’d fare starting up a superhero RPG…with unexpected results.

Look forward to the next episode where we introduce some new voices to our podcast party!