Gamer Perversions: Manual Huffer

I've been slow to warm up to Destructoid's podcast, Podtoid for any number of reasons. I love the blog and most days appreciate its irreverent and caustic take on gaming. The podcast has been a little trickier to enjoy and much of it was based on the first episode I ever listened to. It was their first show following the Game Developers Conference this winter and the hosts were killing me with their in-joke ridden blather. Among the nearly 90 minutes of that episode, probably only 30 minutes of talk was related to gaming news. Talk about losing your focus!

The most recent Podtoid has been a lot more pleasant. The strong opinions, swearing, camaraderie and in-jokes were all there but I this time I actually had fun listening to it. I actually lawled at one point when the hosts went on another tangent and talked about huffing game manuals.

Oh my god, you don't know how much I relate to that. I used to sniff manuals to new games all the time. It was a ritual. I also agree with one of the Podtoid'ers about how manuals nowadays have been losing that special scent they all used to have.

Gamers and non-gamers alike may wonder what the attraction is to smelling the pages of a crisp, new game manual. I would justify it by comparing it to enjoying the smell of a new car or the comforting aroma of fresh, homemade bakery.

I'm curious if the Podtoid cast and I are the only manual huffers out there. Raise your hands out there if you do this too. You know who you are.

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Mad Crackdown Linkage Today

The anticipation is mounting.

8 more days until Crackdown drops down upon our Boxes. The Team Xbox forums are a'buzzin' today about the new IGN review, which scored the game a respectable 8.0. The actual review itself is quite detailed but would have you believe that the score would come out lower to reflect some of their complaints:

- Game can be finished in about 6 hours (on Easy difficulty)
- Low replay value
- Poor sound production and music
- Lack of story and side missions

The folks at Planet Xbox 360 recorded a special roundtable discussion on Crackdown for this week's podcast. The general consensus pretty much mirrors the sentiments expressed in the IGN review. Jump on that action here.

Edit: I just got back from le gym and lo, another Crackdown review! This one is from the fellers at Team Xbox. Check it

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