Top Secret: The Bionic Commando Podcast

Top Secret File 038: The Final File

Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

All good things must come to an end, and so too must Top Secret: The Bionic Commando Podcast. With Bionic Commando now on shop shelves, the podcast's mission is complete - so join us, and 3 very special guests, for this final look back over the development of Bionic Commando, and take a look back over the history of the podcast in this farewell episode.

Top Secret File 037: Shutaro Kobayashi, Capcom QA

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There will be bugs in this episode of Top Secret featuring the man with one of the most important jobs in Capcom - Shutaro Kobayashi, the head of Capcom's elite division of QA testers, the men and women who make sure every game works properly before it gets to your machine! We talk the life and responsibilities of working in QA, and follow-up with a triple dose of Bionic Commando news.

Top Secret File 036: Shinsaku Ohara, Producer

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We often talk about bringing Japanese games to the West on the podcast - this week we're talking about the opposite with Capcom veteran Shinsaku Ohara, the man responsible for bringing hit Western series like Grand Theft Auto and God of War to Japan. What does it take to make these most Western of games succeed in Japan? And which upcoming massive Capcom title is Ohara-san producing now? All the answers are in this week's Top Secret!

Top Secret File 035: Jun Takeuchi, Producer, Resident Evil 5

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Producer of the red-hot Resident Evil 5, Jun Takeuchi, bursts into the studio wielding a chainsaw - by which we mean a free signed RE5 soundtrack which we're giving away! Takeuchi-san answers your questions and talks a little about his other project, Lost Planet 2, in this compact but action-filled podcast!

Top Secret File 034: Norm, Chad & Dan, Backbone Entertainment

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Travellin' Ben Judd is on the road in California, where he meets with the guys from Backbone Entertainment, makers of SSFII HD Remix and other fine Capcom digital titles. Back in the Osaka studio, the team discuss a topic suggested by one of our community members - what are "hardcore" and "casual" games?

Top Secret File 033: Keiji Inafune, Dead Rising 2

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Capcom's head of R&D, the man behind Mega Man, Onimusha and Dead Rising, returns to the podcast to talk about the recently-announced Dead Rising 2, and we barricade him in a room full of zombies until he gives us the exclusive information we want to hear! Inafune-san also gives his thoughts on gaming in the current economy and lists Capcom's future plans for world domination. Meanwhile on the Lost Levels, we're talking RPGs. Get to the forums and share your thoughts!

Top Secret File 032: Yoshinori Ono and David Crislip, Street Fighter IV

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Street Fighter IV Producer Yoshinori Ono and Assistant Producer David Crislip join us to talk about the impending return of the world warriors, in advance of SFIV's impending console release! We put the questions you want to ask directly to the producers in a schizophrenic podcast that includes high-level discussion of the state of the Japanese gaming industry, as well as the answer to the eternal question of which SF lady has the better thighs. All this and two bits of SF trivia you never knew, as four users win SFIV caps signed by Ono-san!

Top Secret File 031: Minoru Nakai, Producer/Director, Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Minoru Nakai, the Producer/Director of Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop, shuffles into this zombie-themed Top Secret looking for braaaaaains. Or questions - fan questions which you've sent in, and he answers! Also on this bumper episode: Gaming Jesus Mark MacDonald joins us from Tokyo, the long list of rejected names for the original Dead Rising, and what the Top Secret team got up to over the holidays.

Top Secret File 030: The Clip Show

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Ring in the New Year... by reliving the last! That's right, it's a Top Secret Clip Show, with all the highlights, and lowlights, from the last year and more of the podcast. Enjoy the best of the Swingers Club, the Lost Levels we had to find one more time, and our goriest Exploding Heads - we'll be back with our regularly scheduled programming in two weeks.

Top Secret File 029: The Blooper Reel

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This Top Secret picks up the outtakes and bloopers from the cutting room floor and crams them into a festival special. Listen to the two "lost podcasts", laugh at our incompetent intros and check out the outtakes we never intended for you to hear in the last podcast of 2008. Happy holidays everyone!

Top Secret File 028: Seth Killian and Rey Jimenez, Street Fighter HD Remix

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

New challengers approach in the form of Seth Killian, Capcom's Community Manager, and Rey Jimenez, producer of Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix, who join the Top Secret team to discuss the latest child in the Street Fighter family. Find out what's been changed, what's stayed the same, what game it might have been, and more in this bumper fighting game-related podcast!

Top Secret File 027: Chris Kline, "Vertexguy"

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Creator of the Bionic Jam guitar remix and all-round rock legend Chris Kline, aka Vertexguy, joins the podcast to discuss videogame rock'n'roll and his work on games with Idol Minds. Elsewhere, another Lost Level unearths discussion on women and the games they love - and at some point there's actually some discussion about Bionic Commando!

Top Secret File 026: Working in Japan

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Top Secret team share their collective years of wisdom and offer some advice to listeners looking to work in the land of the rising sun. Elsewhere there's a belated Halloween-related Lost Levels. and Ben Judd reports on videogame rating systems.

Top Secret File 025: The Return of Ben Judd

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Top Secret returns with its 25th episode, and to celebrate we've brought Producer Ben Judd back from the frozen tundras of Sweden to discuss BC's rapidly approaching release date, the rapidly fading memories of Tokyo Game Show, and his rapidly deteriorating health. Elsewhere, the Top Secret team tackle another Lost Level and discuss the crazy things they've done to get games.

Top Secret File 024: Rearmed Post Mortem, Part 2

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Ben continues in Sweden with the Rearmed team figuring out what went magnificently right and what crashed and burned in Rearmed, while in Japan, the Top Secret team are running their mouths about another gaming theme.

Top Secret File 023: Rearmed Post Mortem

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Direct from Sweden, Ben talks to Simon Viklund, the BCR Director, as well as the Lead Programmer and Art Director, to find out how Rearmed was made, what went right - and what could have been done better. Meanwhile back in the studio, the crew introduce a new section to the podcast. Tell us what you think!

Top Secret File 022: Everything Changes

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Top Secret team says a temporary goodbye to one member, welcomes a new member, christens another "Iceboy" and talks about the issue of controls in games and gives an update on next-gen Bionic Commando. Also: in case you haven't bought a copy of Rearmed on 360 yet, we're giving copies away! Listen in to find out how.

Top Secret File 021: The Bionic Commando Story

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Jon and Miguel take the reins of the podcast to turn the tables on on the usual hosts and put them in the hot seat! Story is the name of the game in this podcast as we talk about our favorite game stories, the development of the story in the BC games, and how comics tie it all together.

Top Secret File 020: CheapyD, Cheap Ass Gamer

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

CheapyD from Cheap Ass Gamer joins the podcast to discuss his love of bargains, being a podcast legend and the madness that is being a Westerner living in Japan. Where in the world can you get the best videogame bargains? CheapyD joins us from Tokyo to find out, on the 20th episode of Top Secret!

Top Secret File 019: Steve Blum, the Voice of Super Joe

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Cowboy Bebop's Spike Spiegel, Naruto's Orochimaru, X-Men's Wolverine - voice actor Steve Blum has played them all, and now he's adding Capcom's legendary hero Super Joe to the list! Steve joins us from California for this podcast to discuss what it's like to play pop culture's coolest characters, and what it was like becoming a videogames legend.

Top Secret File 018: The World's Biggest Capcom Fans

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We're joined by five fans from Capcom's official Capcom-Unity forums, who were lucky enough to attend the Captivate08 event and see Bionic Commando in action (along with other minor Capcom titles Resident Evil 5 and Street Fighter 4). With Billy Berghammer returning as special guest host, this is a Top Secret for the Capcom fanboy in all of us!

Top Secret File 017: Shane Bettenhausen, Garnett Lee and Jeff Gerstmann

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Giants of the gaming media join us direct from Capcom's Captivate08 event in Las Vegas! Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter 4 and Ben Judd’s dirty laundry are all laid bare, and with a special guest host in Billy Berghammer, and a surprise appearance by a mystery Capcom producer, it’s the most star-studded, profanity-laden, ill-advised podcast we’ve ever produced!

Top Secret File 016: The Top Secret Team

Tue, 27 May 2008 09:18:00 GMT

The Top Secret team arrange a hastily-convened podcast, where matters such as sex in games, gaming violence, and the release date of Bionic Commando Rearmed are laid bare. Who needs guests with this level of discussion?!

Top Secret File 015: Lars Bonde, Lead Animator

Tue, 13 May 2008 21:44:37 GMT

We talk animation and Danish bacon with Lars Bonde, the lead animator at Grin. Find out what turns a mass of polygons into a living character and how cut scenes get made - and in a special update, we'll tell you when you can expect to be playing BCR.

Top Secret File 014: IGN's Anoop Gantayat and Destructoid's Brad Rice

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:28:09 GMT

In a change to our scheduled programming, IGN's Anoop Gantayat and Destructoid's Brad Rice join us on the podcast after taking part in our Three Days of the Commando multiplayer event. We talk Japan with these Oriental experts, as well as answering a small mountain of reader mail and playing the Bionic 1980s Game. It's a special leg warmers and chest hair Top Secret!

Top Secret File 013: Insomniac Games' Full Moon Show

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:58:30 GMT

James and Ryan from Insomniac Games, the makers of Resistance and Ratchet & Clank, join us for a special podcast crossover. We compare Western and Japanese gaming philosophies, and wax philosophical about you guys, the fans! Plus, we explain everything you need to know to learn Japanese. Check out the next Full Moon Show on April 17th to hear the Top Secret team in action!

Top Secret File 012: Christian Svensson, VP of Strategic Planning & Business Development, Capcom USA

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:58:49 GMT

Christian Svensson joins us from across the Pacific to talk about the rebirth of Okami on the Wii, as well as the challenges of bringing Japanese games to the West and the future of Capcom! Christian also talks about Capcom's other downloadable titles, including Super Street Fighter II HD Remix!

Top Secret File 011: Kris Zimmerman, Voice Director, & Chip Beaman, Voiceover Manager

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:33:37 GMT

Top Secret goes on location at the voice recording session of Bionic Commando in Hollywood, California, as we talk to Soundelux VO manager Chip Beaman, and the Voice Director of Bionic Commando, Kris Zimmerman. We find out what it takes to make a game sound great, and explore the mixed past of Capcom voiceovers.

Top Secret File 010: Minae Matsukawa, Producer, Ace Attorney series

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:32:39 GMT

There can be no objections to this week's special guest - the producer of the Ace Attorney series, Minae Matsukawa! To coincide with the release of Ace Attorney: Apollo Justice, Matsukawa-san will be talking about the development of the popular handheld series, being a female producer in Japan, and the future of the series. She'll also be deciding which lucky listener will win signed AA goods taken straight from the evidence locker.

Top Secret File 009: Mark MacDonald and John Ricciardi, Games Industry Veterans

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:45:08 GMT

It's two gaming media veterans for the price of one: podcast legend and "Gaming Jesus" Mark MacDonald, and the co-founder of localization company 8-4 and longtime Japan resident John Ricciardi, join us on the show, discussing the games industry in Japan and abroad. We'll also be talking about the Alpha version of Bionic Commando, and debating the price point for Bionic Commando Rearmed. Have your say!

Top Secret File 008: Ryan Payton, Assistant Producer, Kojima Productions

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:58:59 GMT

Two podcasts collide as Capcom's Top Secret goes up against Konami's Kojima Productions Report! The assistant producer at Kojima Productions, Ryan Payton, tells us about Metal Gear Solid 4 and working with Hideo Kojima, while we choose the worst and hardest classic games to play through this year, and deliver the official response to the petition calling for Bionic Commando on Wii!

Top Secret File 007: Simon Viklund, Director 'Bionic Commando Rearmed'

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:38:48 GMT

Simon Viklund, the Director of Bionic Commando Rearmed, joins the podcast today to tell us all about this fantastic return to side-scrolling action. Everything you want to know about Rearmed is right here. The multi-talented Simon also makes all of us feel worthless in comparison, as he discusses the music in Bionic Commando, where he is the Sound Director.

Top Secret File 006: Brian Ashcraft, Kotaku

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:26:54 GMT

Kotaku's Brian Ashcraft joins us for the first Top Secret of 2008, with a heated discussion about the importance of games journalism, Kotaku and their opinion of Bionic Commando, and the state of gaming in Japan. Ring in the New Year with this frank discussion of gaming today.

Top Secret File 005: Keiji Inafune, Capcom Head of R&D

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:20:37 GMT

Keiji Inafune, the creator of Mega Man, Onimusha, Dead Rising and many more, joins us on this special festive podcast to answer listener questions about his work at Capcom, the future of Mega Man, and the best game he's played this year.

Top Secret File 004: Hironobu Takeshita, Producer 'Zack and Wiki'

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:00:00 GMT

Takeshita-san drops by to discuss the performance of the acclaimed Wii game, as well as the Breath of Fire series, We Love Golf, why he wants to kill all monkeys - and sings us a very strange Bionic Commando song...

Top Secret File 003: Ulf Andersson, Creative Director

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:00:00 GMT

This week's guest is Director Ulf Andersson, joining the team live from the home of Swedish developers GRIN, discussing story changes, character design and if we'll see colors in the final game! Ben Judd and the team also respond to your questions.

Top Secret File 002: Motohide Eshiro, Creative Advisor

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:00:00 GMT

Capcom Japan's Creative Advisor Motohide Eshiro joins Producer Ben Judd to discuss his role on Bionic Commando, how Capcom Japan are involved, and his thoughts on Swedish girls. The team also responds directly to your questions on Bionic Commando.

Top Secret File 001: Ben Judd, Producer

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:00:00 GMT

Bionic Commando Producer Ben Judd joins us for the first episode of Top Secret, talking about the production of the next-gen Bionic Commando, memories of the original, and if a game can make you cry.