But sometimes events occur that are so massive in their impact that we feel obligated to post something.

As you know, Haiti and the Dominican Republic were devastated this week by an earthquake that has all but leveled Haiti’s capital, Port au Prince, as well as all surrounding areas. As the days progress, the situation is becoming increasingly desperate. No one is sure of the estimates, but it’s clear that tens of thousands of people died and continue to die as rescue efforts are made nearly impossible. As the death count rises, bodies are piled on the sides of roads.

Not only is the country looking at a natural disaster of epic proportions, the worst lies ahead as notoriously ineffectual government infrastructure is still so damaged that the dead remain in piles and doing exactly what bodies do in the humidity and sun — threatening the safety of the water and presenting a general health hazard. Families who are lucky enough to find the bodies of their lost loved ones have no place to bury them, as the few cemeteries that are accessible are now overflowing and all land-moving equipment is trying to save any survivors under wreckage.

Please, if you have any small amount to spare, donate it to the following groups that are providing relief to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. We will only recommend legitimate organizations. Please be wary of organizations other than those known to you that say they collect for relief, as there are douchbags everywhere and they have no qualms about stealing from you.

• American Red Cross: To donate $10 to the American Red Cross, text “Haiti” to 90999, and the donation will show up on your phone bill. Or you can donate through the organization’s website.
• Doctors Without Borders (Medicins Sans Frontiers): Donate by clicking through this button.
• Heart to Heart International: Donate through its website.
• Salvation Army: Texting “Haiti” to 52000 will make a $10 donation via your phone bill. Or you can donate through its website.
• The United Way: United Way Worldwide is focusing on long-term relief in Haiti rather than short-term emergency aid through its website.
• Habitat for Humanity: The group’s goal is to provide shelter for displaced Haitians. Donate online.

Yep, two weeks in to the new year and we’re still stuck on the old one.

Fortunately you have two shows this week to keep you on track. First, Holy Goalie reviews some new XBLA indy games in the GameHounds Sanctuary, and The Rumble Pack tease you with clips from their recent interview with Roger Craig Smith, the voice of a ton of games, including Assassin’s Creed 2 and Resident Evil 5.

Enjoy.

After a couple weeks of almost nothing of note to discuss, Cooper Hawkes, Commander Tim and Edie Sellers are happy to oblige and hit their favorite stuff coming from Las Vegas.

Topics this week include:

• Microsoft announces a release schedule for Project Natal and extra details of how it will work.
• Steve Balmer also announces another Xbox Live money sink: Game Room.
• The Xbox will also become an IPTV set-top box.
• Ars Technica compiles a year in kooky gaming quotes. Some make you laugh. Others make you cry.
• Random stuff, a whole lot of release dates, and fun.

Enjoy.

The first Humpdate of the new decade! Are you excited?

This week, the SportsHounds WillG and the Rumble Pack both give retrospectives on games of the past. Just looking backwards before we start looking forward, right.

Enjoy.

Oh, and we do check IDs.

But seriously, Edie Sellers and Cooper Hawkes celebrate New Year’s Day together chatting about what happened in the game industry as the decade wrapped itself up.

Topics include:

• 2009 was berry, berry good to Nintendo, if Amazon’s top-25 list has anything to say about it.
• The Czech branch of Eurogamer finds a slip-up: A Dragon Age Origins retail expansion for the PC hits Europe on March 19.
• Bioware’s community manager gives up the deets on how your Mass Effect saves will port to Mass Effect 2.
• CORRECTION: Looks like PAX has closed its application for Enforcer as fast as they’ve opened it. Sorry guys.
• Don’t forget to vote for your LittleBigPlanet level of the year.
• Random stuff.

Enjoy.

And you have two shows this week to ring in the Christmas season and ring out the new year. Holy Goalie gets into his mailbag for the GameHounds Sanctuary, and The Rumble Pack chat about the ghosts — and games — of Christmas’ past.

Enjoy.

• Could the end of free Playstation Network be in the future?  A new survey could hint at a future premium paid service.
• Hollywood studios and electonics manufacturers agree to specifications for 3D. Expect to see it in your living room soon.
• Lots of random stuff, holiday wishes and snakebites.

Enjoy.

This week, three pods head your way: The SportsHound WillG reviews Wii Sports Resort, Holy Goalie takes you to the GameHounds Sanctuary for some Diner Dash, and The Rumble Pack talk Street Fighter tournament culture with the director of the new documentary I Got Next.

Enjoy.

Let the snickering begin.

While Hawkes talks about how he can’t wait for summer so he can get hot nuts, GamerEdie Sellers and guest host Holy Goalie discuss:

• We give away a Bad Company 2 beta code. Win it NOW!
• Spike TV hands out its Video Game Awards. Lots to chat up — not only the premiers and teasers but also the winners.
• Time Magazine proves it don’t know Jack about games… Again!
• Harmonix announces Green Day: Rock Band.
• Crackdown 2 trailer looks freakin’ awwweesome!
• Bioware releases a star-studded cast of voice talent for Mass Effect 2.
• Random stuff, fun, games… and did we mention, frozen nuts?

Enjoy.

And there’s a GameHound episode waiting for you! Huzzah!

This week Cooper Hawkes, Commander Tim and Edie Sellers bring you the very best of gaming news from the week (and all the off-color discussions you expect).

The gang discusses:

• Mass Effect 2’s producer says gamers have gotten soft and squishy by games being made too easy.
• If you’ve had fun blowing people up with the Javelin glitch in Modern Warfare 2, you better stop now or get banned from Xbox Live.
• Electronic Gaming Monthly is back as EGM Now.
• Xbox officials say they had their best week this year on Black Friday. But so did Sony and Nintendo.
• The city of Derby in the UK is running a poll to name two stretches of new road. One possibility: Lara Croft Way.
• Random stuff, emails.

Enjoy.