Dang you guys make me so jealous, GAME is out of stock of GTA here :'( Im waiting to spend a voucher there on it too that I got for my bday - btw is it me or are a LOT of geeks a Taurus? ;)

Great vlog guys, always entertaining :)

Happy birthday Angela ! and Happy anniversary to you two

I like the GTAs but I don't have the XBox 360

Can't wait to see what you think of WiiFit

I think that was a great review of GTA.  The best I have heard so far!  It was an exciting morning at the store when GTA came out.  We nearly sold out the first day!

Happy Birthday Angela and Happy Anniversary to you both! 

Do either of you ever participate in gaming tournaments?  I like setting them up on release days.  GH III has been our best so far. 

As for release dates in the US.  Most games are released on Wednesday, but bigger releases can be on a Sunday or Tuesday.

SweetTalentedOne 

I hope you have a great birthday. I hope you get lots of computer games and more battlestar parafinalia.

 Don't make me get a large tele. Last time I was in front of one I didn't realise that my GF's mum had been talking to me for about ten mins until my GF shouted at me. And what was on? Sponge Bob Squarepants, so embarrassing.

 I loved your critque of GTA4, really made me think about the debate, nice use of lollipops as well.

I haven't played the GTA4 but I've tried some of the earlier releases. I really didn't like the fact that my roomate kept sleeping with hookers and then running them over and taking back the money (in GTA not real life). But I think that it's really up to the person playing what your character will be like. Yeah you have to kill a lot of bad people during missions but you don't have to car jack, run people over or beat up innocent passers-by unless you really want to.

Plus parents should take more care about what games they buy for their kids. It's a 15, it tells you on the back it has violent scenes so don't buy it for your underage kid and then blame the programmers. 

Anyway, I have an Lword rating, probably one that's already been used, a Mark which can be used in three ways. For games where you think a) what the @&£# was that about? b) Who thought that was a good idea or thought it would ever be interesting? or c) I really didn't care or was interested in the game but I went along with it and tried it hoping that with each save (episode) the game would get better but it didn't it sucked all the way through and was really boring and the only good bit was when it ended and I got to kick it out the house.

Happy Birthday again  

Peace out xxx

I'm sorry I make you feel old, if it's any consolation I have a 39 year old brother and I don't understand all your inuendos, so we're even, you make me feel umm, well dang, I can't think of another word, so I'll go with that horrible sterotype, blonde.

I loved the game, it's kept me entertained for several hours on end. I love the guys accent in the game, and some of the commentry is classic. I do hate the bullcrap going on with the politics, my campus has tried to get the game banned locally, agrueing about the irreversable effect it plays on children. But then again "The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.--Oscar Wilde" but that in modern times and you have video games.

I think one of the issues with the game is that men are rewarded for their bad behavior, while the women continue to remain objects. And while it's obvious that the main characters are not good people, it might not seem that way to younger players. Of course two grown women can discern the satire and the wink at the audience going on, but I think there's legitimate concern for players hovering around that preteen age who might take things at face value. I don't think that means 12-year-olds are going to start stealing mom's car to pick up hookers and then try to run them over, but these images do influence attitudes during formative years.

But the game is still really, really fun, so I have no idea how to keep kids from taking the wrong message from it.

A much belated big up: I enjoy a lot of vlogs on AE but this one has got to be the best for viewer participation. It's really cool that you take the time to read the feedback and make everyone feel involved. And for this you get the Alice Pieszecki rating,lol

Im looking forward to what you will have to say about the Wii Fit. I love it. The sore knee, hip and back are all worth it because I lost nearly 3 lbs in the week I got it. lol. I'm not into serious war type game so this is perfect for me because not only am I getting to play a game that is visually appealing but I'm also getting off my fat arse while I'm doing it.lol

I hope Nintendo bring out other titles that can be used in conjunction with the Wii board.

I love GTA, especially Vice City and I am so pissed that It has not been released on the Wii. Is the Wii not cool enough for it or something? Also I have to admit that I personally had no problems with shooting hookers, grannies or anyone else for that matter. In real life that would be wrong and understandable that people would be up in arms but this is only a game.

Finally Happy Birthday Angela and also Happy Anniversary to you both.

Sorry for the long winded post, lol

Thanks

That was the most balanced, mature review of GTA4 that I've read or listened to so far. Well done.

Have you girls seen Boom Blox for the Wii, the new game that Spielberg worked on? I saw a review on Wired and it looks pretty cool. What do you think?

Past review redux: Lara Croft Anniversary Edition for the Wii. Maybe I'm old and uncoordinated, but I keep forgetting to hit the blasted Z on the nunchuck when I shoot. Seriously, that control issue has detracted from my game play. Argh!

BTW, my friends call ourselves OWLs because O.W.L. = older wiser (or wise-arse) lesbian. I refer to one of them as FOWL because she is a Funny, older, wiser, lesbian. Tracy, in another decade or three, you'll definitely move into the FOWL group. Angela, enjoy!

WooT! For Tauruses (mine was may 2nd) and that indomitable stubborn streak :))

We wanted to get GTA 4 but waited to hear your views on the game first. We trust your reviews more than the ones from the usual suspects because some have been known to review a game without actualy playing it.

Oo and grats on your 10th anniversary as well! I thought it was so cute when Angela refered to Tracy as "gorgeous". That was an "aww" moment.

So Tracy, when the world gets take over by computers and the human race subjugated into slavery I'll know who to blame hehehe :)

Will you two be joining the Afterellen vloggers in NYC on the 18th for the meet and greet? Come on.. you know you want to come ..

Happy birthday and anniversary to you ladies. I am so jealous of your Battlestar gun, Angela, insaaanely cool. Good use of the looly pops as well ;) Oh and Tracy, I'm very glad to know you're a Rangers fan, as I'm pretty sure my brother in law would have disowned me if he discovered I even knew a Celtics fan, nevermind fancied one :)

Definitely looking forward to purchasing GTAIV, I've loved the franchise from the very beginning, and have played it on pretty much every platform. I still revel in the joy of managing to run over a whole chain gang in their orange jump suits- though I can't recall in which version that was. I think making the seedy, darker world into a game for me anyways allows me for a while to imagine that this sort of stuff is just fantasy, just a game, and the exaggerated violence and horrible characters help to convince me. I only actually get disheartened when I realize that the game content isn't just from the imagination of a game developer and is actually based on stuff that really goes on. What people should be up in arms about is not that this kind of thing is part of a video game, but this kind of stuff is part of real life. Priorities people!

Thanks for another good vlog, and I'll let you know when D-Tritus arrives, as he hasn't yet.

Wow, thanks for taking an interest in my suggestion, but I do feel bad now that I realise how much research would have to go into some of them.

Also I work in an electronics store, and in the days leading up to the release several copies of GTA4 were sitting out the back. Taunting me. Because I don't have a 360 or PS3. And won't for a while. But the game was RIGHT THERE! It's just been cruel.

And finally, excellent, thoughtful review. I do have to say though, I think there's been significant social commentary in all the GTA games from GTA3. Maybe not as explicitly as in the latest, but if you even just listen to any of the talkback radio stations on any game then it becomes pretty obvious they're taking the piss.

That's how I've always felt anyway.

First, happy birthday Angela! And happy upcoming anniversary.

Release date differences

In Canada, the localization is something they often use as an excuse. While there is some merit in it (packaging has to include french) there are a lot of instances where companies can release the game at the same time as in the US. Guitar Hero/Rock Band have delayed their Canadian releases, and blame it on this. When that happens I just go to the US to pick it up, as do many other Canadians. What makes that an excuse is when games like GTA4 launch on the same date in the US and Canada, and the Canadian version has it's french packaging.

GTA4

I've been loving the game. I got it first thing Tuesday (1 minute after midnight!) because I hung out at one of 5 locations in Canada with my brother and a bunch of people with Nintendo DS's for the launch event. It was actually quite cold that day, but I got fuzzy dice and a giant foam hand!

I haven't been playing it as much as other people, because I play a lot more World of Warcraft than anything else. But I have been playing enough to listen to most of the talk radio stations (my favourite part of the game), and ride around on motorcycles (my second favourite part).

Random

NOTHING :D

Happy Birthday Angela!! And 10 years, woohooo! Happy Anniversary to you both.

I really enjoyed your run down on GTA. The game really does rip everyone apart, not just women or men or whoever. Very well said on your both your parts.

And as a hard core Xena fan, I really need to hear your Xena story!!

Fantastic vlog ladies!

--- "In three words I can sum up everything I know about life: it goes on" Robert Frost ---

first off a big happy birthday to Angela and a really big happy anniversary to both of you.

secondly a huge thank you for the shout-out!!!!

GEEKS OF THE WORLD UNITE!!!!!!!!

you two...a bunch of Xena fans and a boat???? what could have possibly happened????

yes I was and still am a big Xena fan I idolized her growing up...oh and on themes...why not a Xena theme...or a Buffy/ scooby theme...how the two are different and similar at the same time.

as for gta4 being controversial...I wrote a very graphic blog post about violence in American media....on how as gta4 is not discriminate on who they go after....verses on what the right christian wing of this wonderful nation go after...its funny how they say the very same thing yet in very different ways...if you want to know what I wrote ask me in p.m. and I will give you the whole rant.

Awwww thank you everyone who took the time out to say happy birthday and happy anniversary!

I had a cool day and will be playing Professor Layton soon as I got that and Patapon for my birthday! YAY!

 Anyway, thanks soooo much everyone! 

From the GTA insights to the justifications for the L word ratings (that's exactly how I felt about Helena) to the credits, this vlog was really astute. I actually finished watching feeling impressed. Kudos (and Happy Birthday to Angela!).

Hey, 

Just a quick reminder to everyone that we're in the process of setting up a new Lesbian Gamers MySpace page. You can find us at www.myspace.com/lesbiangamers and we'd love to add any of you as a friend.

Also, if you want to leave us a phone message about anything that was in the vlog or anything else for that matter, you can find us on Skype under the name thumbbandits

Go on... leave us a message.. you know you want to. 

I don't think so!!! This was by far the best GTA review ever and probably one of the best game review in general... Really thorough!!

I will of course also use this opportunity to wish Angela a happy 23rd birthday (so you two met when you were 13?? awesome ;-)) and since you already have all the cool stuff I don't know what we should get you!!

Congrats on your 10 years anniversary you two are so the perfect match so I wish you at least 50 years of happiness, crazyness, geekiness and gaming!

Thanks again for the awesome vlog!

"I'm gonna give you all a nice, fun, normal evening even if I have to kill every person on the face of the Earth to do it"

I have a few thoughts on the game:

1- The tapping the button to sprint was really really annoying. Seriously? There are much better ways to do that!

2- Winking and coffee? Is that what the kids are calling it these days? That makes my morning coffee runs seem so much more seedier then normal!

3- You guys did a great job providing a thoughtful anaylisis of the social and political aspects of the game, and I really appreciate that. I thought that pointing out that both men and women basically are portrayed terribly in this game was spot on. I played this game with my best gay guy friend, and he talked about how he hates how the gay men are portrayed in the game.

4- Overall, I may not be a hardcore GTA fan, but I did enjoy the game for what it is- a game with some deeper aspects to it. It doesn't make me the most popular lesbian on the block but I'll still play it.

And Happy Birthday Angela!

I've been neglecting my lesbian gamer side because I didn't even know a GTA IV had come out. I'm ashamed. But thanks for the great review of it. I'll put it on my list to buy.

It's funny. I consider myself a huge feminist but I never had a problem with the GTA games. Maybe because, like yall said, it pokes fun at everybody.

Happy birthday Angela and have a great anniversary.

Am very much looking forward to your Wii Fit demonstration, however this little gem caught my eye this week - http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23647600-5014117,00.html

From the article:

The announcement of a pole-dancing game means Wii players may see another type of peripheral for the console – an electronic pole controller...

Wii Pole Dancing! Yeah baby - can't wait for the GGWG review of that! Hee!

I don't like GTA, and I don't like Rockstar Games. It has always been the core marketing strategy of Rockstar to provoke and stir up controversy with their games, pulling in media attention and pushing sales this way.

For the age argument: Sure, this is a game for adults. But we all know that kids who want to play it will get their hands on it sooner or later. Heck, as I was 14-15 years old myself, I was playing games which had been put on the index here in Germany. There is always a way to get it. And sure it's the primary responsibility of the parents to have an eye on what their kids are doing. But no parent in the world is capable to control their children 24/7. If Rockstar would simply refrain from giving the player the freedom to do certain things in the game, this whole debate wouldn't be necessary. But they stubbornly keep that crap in the game out of the above mentioned reasons.

It's my deeply felt conviction there are things which should not have a place in any entertainment product, be it a book, a movie, a TV-show or a computer game. A line has to be drawn, to keep tasteless, disgusting stuff, as it is delivered by games like GTA and Manhunt out of our hobby. It's overdue the gaming industry defines rules stating what is acceptable in a game for a certain age group and what's not, and communicates these rules to the developers. If they fail to do that, others, who don't have any interest in and no love for computer games, will come along and do it for them. We all know no matter how many good, non-controversial games are published every year, the one foul apple in the basket is enough. The media instantly jumps on it and covers it in the news. I'm completely fed up and pissed off that every time I mention I like games to someone who doesn't know games him/herself, but only knows the media coverage about the foul apples, I have to defend myself and my hobby. Sometimes people think I'm some kind of ill pervert because I like games. Every time a game like GTA is published, it makes the whole gaming industry and every gamer out there look bad. And every time such a game is published, it delivers ample ammunition for the anti-games activists, enabling them to argue their cause to politicians. If the gaming industry fails to regulate itself, it will sooner or later be regulated by the government.

I've been playing games for nearly 20 years now, and I'm definitely not prudish. I like mature games, games that have been developed with a mature audience in mind. But if those who hate computer games get their political will, the only games left on the market will be those which don't need an age rating at all. And games like GTA IV bring the whole industry one step closer to government controlled censorship. And all of it just because some d**kheads at Rockstar Games think their games have to be provocative. I'm still baffeled so many gamers out there are uncritical about what Rockstar does. People, in the long run, you're only cutting your own flesh.

Wish I had seen this earlier so I' be able to explain myself to my mum, who took my game away...and then to my dad who later gave it back. She was watching Glen Beck talk about how you can "beat hookers with a bat" in the game and decided to take it from me without my knowledge. Bloody annoying.

I have to say, I'm having a BLAST with the game, and I think it's fantastic. I love the TV shows, particularly the Republican Space Rangers (Rangers in Space). And "Weasel" news of course...like we don't know what that really is ;)

The only thing that I've found somewhat unsettling though is the fact that the only interaction I've had with a gay man was to assassinate him. I find that quite disturbing, not because of the act itself, but because I wonder who it is that sits behind the controller when they do it. I did it to pass a level and shooting him was no more 'fun' than shooting anyone else...but I worry about someone who would enjoy shooting him in particular because he was gay. I think it would be nice if someone within Niko's immediate friends (like Brucie) turned out to be gay in order to balance everything out. Just a thought.

Happy Birthday Angela and Happy Anniversary to you both! Thats great that you have been together that long. You seem so happy together. I hope you have many more!! 

I have a few questions for you both...

How many game titles in all do you own?

My second question is:

I have a PS2 ...I know, I know!!!  : )

I have been debating on getting a PS3 or an Xbox360. I hate to lose all my ps2 games that I have, but I have only heard good things about the Xbox360.

Should I just lose the games and jump to an Xbox 360?  What do you think?

Thanks for a great vlog!

Rangers fan here, too *waves* a good, much needed win last night against Motherwell. takes us closer to those 4 trophies!

do you get the games on TV in Oz? (probably a silly question, but not something i know, being in Scotland, so maybe not so silly after all... lol!)

i have been with GTA since the start, and am truly impressed by how far they've come, from that original top down view! i was also 18 when the first game came out (as i recently figured out) so none of the 'scandals' that have hit the series affected me, namely the young kids becoming criminals because they played GTA... i mean, wtf?! anyway, that's a whole different arguement...

anyways, on to GTA 4. i will admit i am a few episodes behind on the GGWG vlog, however i did think to myself the other day, that there would be a GTA 4 review, and here it is!

i went to my local TESCO supermarket to get the game at midnight on 29th april, and was thankfully early enough (went 20 mins before midnight) to get a copy, they only got 30-35 copies for each console.

i myself have a PS3, which i only just bought in February, and have to say the graphics are simply amazing, they blew me away! i was like, woooow! love cinematic camera view, although not so good for avoiding crashing into things...
i am playing this on a sony bravia hd lcd tv, so i'm not sure if that contributes to the better graphics or not.

although i'm not that far in mission wise, only done about 13 so far, i have been going around shooting the flying rats (pigeons to us normal people) and therefore getting used to the gameplay, car handling, and generally getting a feel for the city, and trying to find my way about (altho i think using the waypoint is not helping on that side of things).

haven't come across any hookers (only ever used one once, way back in GTA 3 on PS2) altho i did get a private dance in the strip club. that made me laugh, with the black crosses on her boobs...
also, i got drunk with cousin Roman, and the camera was all over the place, and actually made me feel sick, so i had to stop playing. the next time Roman asked me to go drinking, i politely declined, lmao!

things like this make the game funny, for me, and more enjoyable. i've yet to come up against something i don't like, although Little Jacob's accent comes close. i use subtitles, so it helps me understand what he's saying!

your political views section on the game, made me think about something i've never thought about before, so thank you for that. i've always thought of GTA as just a game, i didn't think about the way the people, both male and female, are portrayed, so yeah, made me think and now i'll probably be playing the game and thinking about what you said and what is being said in game!

agree with what was said about the sound, too, the radio stations are great. i personally listen to beat 102.7 (is it?) more, love that music, and was surprised to hear kanye west on there, and also Queen on another station.

although overall i think GTA 4 is great, and impressive etc, etc, atm GTA San Andreas is still my favourite, and i'm hoping for a San Andreas Stories on PSP. probably never happen, but i can still hope for it!

i'm proud of the fact that such an amazing gaming series has it's roots in Scotland, in fact some 20ish miles from me, although that may sound strange to some, lmao!

did you manage to get WiiFit? my sister has been going on about getting it, and having searched the net yesterday, can't find any in stock online! will have to try the shops at the weekend.

wintergreen, why get rid of the ps2?? i have a PS3 and still have my PS1 and PS2! i actually still have all the consoles i've ever owned, apart from the NES, and have never entertained the x-box. just my preference.

Firstly: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGI :D:D:D:D:D:D

and of course happy anniversary to u both ^^ hope u have a great time!

Secondly: i'd like to say sorry for not leaving any comments/feedback last week, but i've been very busy since i just got a new girlfriend :)

what was that MMORPG you were talking about? couldnt understand what u said :P lol wtb Subtitles ;)

btw Being geeky is GOOD :D

awesome review girls :D as always really enjoyed watching it, you've clearly gone deep in to it to make such a detailed review :) ill be playing it when i get a new computer/TV + PS3 to play it on :(

btw can u play as a girl in GTA4? O_o

Because Mortal Kombat is my favorite game franchise, I was wondering what your opinions on the upcoming Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe are.  I realize that you don't generally talk about fighting games, but I wonder if it is in part because of the lack of fighting games that come out each year.  However, the prospect that Wonder Woman might show up in a fighting game is quite nice to me.

Ave Messer, 66, B24, GO SHASTA!!!