After a long two-week absence, Shane Patterson rejoins the crew just in time to celebrate TalkRadar’s 18th birthday. With our podcast finally old enough to vote, buy cigarettes and go to the mall by itself, we briefly put aside our usual yammering for a weirdly serious talk about the ethics of software piracy. ...

The Olympic games have been over for a week now and you may feel like it's left a big space in your life. In fact, it's now a bit weird to turn on the TV and not see someone rowing or running (or crying). But don't worry – you don't have to wait until 2012 to fill that void again. Why, you can do it all again with the wonder of gaming! ...

It’s no surprise Nintendo would alter Mario and Bowser as time wears on, especially when their first appearances are crude sprites that barely convey what they’re supposed to be. If you study the duo’s evolution over the course of 23 years, it’s just plain funny how much Bowser has shifted sizes, from roughly comparable to Mario to Godzilla-sized beast of fury. ...

If there’s one thing us gamers love to do, it’s sit on our asses. And rarely are we ever tempted away from blowing the crap out of zombies and Nazis to partake in the sportsman-like area of gaming. Hell, anything involving increased blood flow, stretching or rapid movement is a waste of time if there’s no cutscene for our rewards. Even sports games can be our kryptonite (your older brother who buys nothing but Madden and ...

Nothing's perfect. Stare closely enough at anything - even a masterpiece - and you're bound to find flaws sooner or later. They might be small. They might be insignificant. They might not detract from the overall quality of the piece at all...

Except when they really, really do. With these seven games, in fact, you don't need to stare. Their flaws are so huge, so obvious, so frustrating and so effing obnoxious that you can't help but ...

So. Did you get a load of our maddeningly expansive Mega Man Retrospective? What can we say? We love the guy. But if you’re part of the Mega uninitiated, we offer you education. Haven’t spent quality time with the little blue bastard since the NES days? Here’s your chance to get reconnected.

Listen: We’ve got a total of NINE PRIZE PACKS to give away! Here’s what’s up for grabs: ...