Temperatures may be dropping outside, but Turks, Billy and Chris turn up the heat on Episode 63 of the Avault Podcast. This week’s guest is Jools Watsham from Renegade Kid, and Jools dropped by to talk about his history as a game designer, how games have evolved, and his fascination with the entire process of creating our favorite pastime.

In addition to the interview, the guys explore Mass Effect 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum and there’s much conversation about playing big games with big stories. Did EA’s purchase of Bioware affect the final product? There’s also a lively discussion about the new Apple iPad.

Tune in now.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

(click to play the video)As Rico Rodriguez, the Agency’s most powerful weapon, players must take on the island of Panau and its military regime in order to track down Rico’s former boss and mentor, Tom Sheldon, who has gone rogue with millions in Agency cash and intel. Using a unique grapple and parachute combination, there is no vertical limit as the air becomes your playground: grapple a passing plane in flight, hijack helicopters, BASE jump from the tallest buildings or mountains and leave a trail of chaos and destruction in your wake. Just Cause 2 offers players the freedom to attack missions any way they choose and, with over 100 vehicles and countless upgrades and collectibles, the choices for relentless adrenaline-fuelled action are limitless.

The video showcases the items offered as pre-order bonuses for Just Cause 2. These items include the Agency Hovercraft, Rico’s Signature Gun, Bull’s Eye Assault Rifle, Chevalier Parachute and the Chaos Parachute.

Sony has announced that the official release date for God of War III, will be March 16. The official box art for the game has also been revealed, and it features a big angry Kratos face.

As Athena dies in his arms, Kratos shouts a damning promise towards the gods of Olympus. Knowing he cannot defeat all the remaining gods alone, he uses the Loom of Fate to go back in time to recruit the Titans. God of War II ends as Kratos and the Titans scale Mount Olympus, leaving a burning and destroyed world in their wake. It is in this burning wake that God of War III begins.

Now is your opportunity to be a part to the development of Command & Conquer 4 by participating in their exclusive beta program. Choose your class and command more units than ever in a C&C game, as you team up and take on your opponents in 5-on-5 online battles. Strategize with your teammates or talk smack to your opponents over VOIP. For more details, or to sign up, visit the official site for Command & Conquer 4, or become a fan on Facebook.

Cryptic has revealed that it’s working on an expansion for Champions Online, as well as detailing the contents of a “kitchen sink” patch that has just been applied to the superhero MMO. The yet unnamed expansion will add a new city, Vibora Bay, which will be an adventuring zone for levels 37 to 40. The patch, meanwhile, includes power and item balancing, is intended to fix the lag issues in the Lemuria zone, and has additions and changes to the Nemesis, crafting and loot systems.

THQ has announced the release date for Metro 2033. Their first person shooter for the Xbox 360 and PC is scheduled to reach North American stores on March 16, and European stores on March 19.

A Limited Edition will be available for both formats, including an exclusive in-game weapon, and four art cards by the Russian painter Anton Grechko, who was commissioned to create a range of artwork inspired by the universe of Metro 2033. Standard and Limited Edition versions of Metro 2033 are available to pre-order now, with selected retailers offering free Metro 2033 themed Xbox LIVE Avatar items with every pre-order.

Front Mission Evolved, developed by Double Helix Games, will be available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows PC this spring. The game is an action-oriented Third-Person Shooter and the next installment in the Front Mission franchise. Players will take full control of the Wanzer, a massive humanoid, fully customizable war machine, in both the single player campaign and online multi-player. Choose from dozens of weapons and Wanzer parts to customize your unit, and blast your way to victory.

In the future, the world is a changed place. Technology has advanced. Countries have merged into massive geopolitical blocks. But one thing, sadly, remains the same – humanity’s appetite for war. When a terrorist attack destroys one of the U.C.S.’s prized orbital elevators, the military is mobilized to eliminate the threat. Dylan Ramsey, a young engineer, finds himself quickly caught in a swirl of destruction, conspiracies and crumbling alliances.

(click to play the video)Recruit the finest group of Heroes to rise up and take on the treacherous Villains of Majesty 2. In the sequel to the original Majesty, humor and charm merge with a fantasy landscape. But beware! Grabbing control of your Heroes is not the easiest task, for they are just as likely to stop in for a beer at the local tavern as they are to fight monsters and undertake heroic quests. The video showcases the brand new “Return of Grum-Gog” campaign. Majesty 2: Kingmaker will be available soon through all major digital distribution portals.

The news on the street was quiet. Like a pride of dead lions, nothing stirred. I had to get a lead from somewhere. An empty wallet and a mission of mercy escorting a case of liquor into the swirl of foreboding back alleys eventually got me my tip.

Rockstar Games has suggested the wall of silence surrounding its new game LA Noire will shortly be lifted. “There will be something great to see soon“, a Rockstar spokesperson revealed. “A proper in-depth look at the game and why it is so ground breaking and innovative, both in terms of the game’s design and the amazing new technology to support it. Expect to see a long-awaited reveal via a big cover story next month.”

The game is based on a perfectly re-created Los Angeles of the late 1940s, with players being given an open-ended challenge to solve a series of murders. As the title suggests, the game draws heavily from both plot and aesthetic elements of film noir. Take a peek at the website.

Dr. Ray Muzyka (who sounds like he should be a character in one of his company’s games), Bioware’s co-founder and CEO, has confirmed that the Mass Effect Trilogy will respond to player choices throughout the game series. Some of the players’ actions and decisions taken during Mass Effect won’t actually come to fruition until Mass Effect 3, he stated. He added that the third game planned for the series will reflect decisions made in the first two games. Players will be encouraged to import saved games, being rewarded when they do this to develop story continuity. Don’t tell me – that heavy armor I wore throughout Mass Effect has given me blisters, the blisters are going to get infected in Mass Effect 2 and go gangrenous by Mass Effect 3. Doh!