Has any game console ever satisfied all kinds of gamers? If so, is it possible to repeat that success in an increasingly fractured world?

On this week’s episode of the Game|Life podcast, the usual cast of characters — Wired magazine senior editors Chris Baker and Peter Rubin, Wired.com managing editor Marty Cortinas and me — discusses all manner of new videogames, before turning our attentions to the week’s most pressing news.

Toward the end, we discuss an idea floated by Gamasutra columnist Matt Matthews in his latest analysis piece: “[Call of Duty: Black Ops and Just Dance 2] represent to me the archetypal opposites on which the industry is built: HD consoles versus the Wii, hardcore gamers versus the casuals, online focus versus local multiplayer…. When a platform finally captivates both of these groups, it will be like catching lightning in a bottle.”

Is it possible? We talk about this. Links to more information on our many, varied other topics of discussion are included below.

The Game|Life podcast is available on iTunes, is embedded below, and is available as a direct download.