Puns, puns, puns. This show is full of all kinds of quality jokes. Not only that, but we talk about video games too. With Micah out to some sort of real-life activity, we call in Mr. Steve Conger from thegamesmen.com to help us out. After this show is over you can expect to be smarter about Xenoblade Chronicles, Kid Icarus: Uprising and Zen Pinball 3D. And as always, you will get the latest in our obsession with the Uprising AR cards.
episode-113
Starring – Tony, Shannon, Steve, Shelby
Run time – 1:43:52
If you want to get in touch with us, send an email to podcast@nintendo-okie.com. You can also follow us on Twitter, join our Facebook group, subscribe to our YouTube channel and talk on our forums. Hi, Shannon.
Keiji Inafune has been in the news a lot regarding his thoughts on the Japanese game industry and how he thinks they’re falling well behind the west in terms of popularity. He’s been making these comments for a long time before his departure from Capcom. He thinks Japanese game developers need to be faced with humility or they will never change and they will continue to fall behind. He’s not alone in his thoughts as Canadian game designer Phil Fish said at GDC this year during a Q&A that Japanese games “suck.” Our question this week is this, “Do you think they’re right and if so what can Japanese developers do to change the direction their segment of the industry is going?”
Shelby Says: I wouldn’t say Japanese games “suck” and I’m not sure being faced with humility is how I would word it but I do feel Japanese game development could learn a few things from western developers. Let’s get one thing straight right now; I don’t think Japan needs to copy everything western developers are doing. I don’t want Call Of Japan Duty or Gears Of Japanese Wars. Japanese developer make some really unique games; Deadly Premonition, No More Heroes, Captain★Rainbow, Chibi-Robo!, Ouendan, etc. I don’t want those games to stop. Keep’em coming, Japan. However, when you look at something like Lost Planet 2, it’s clear some Japanese developers haven’t quite grasped the idea of online games. I think I understand why. It’s just a different culture over there. Japan is an island with a lot of people on it. So in big cities like Tokyo, they all live on top of each other. If you ride the bus with your PSP, there are dozens waiting to play Monster Hunter with you. The need for online gaming isn’t as strong, or at least it’s different. I see the same thing here in America. Several games now come with online co-op but no couch co-op. On the east and west coast this works out fine since those areas play more games online. But here in Oklahoma, we want to be in the same room as we play together – at least in my circles. Read more…
E3 is coming. How can I tell? One, I own a calendar. Two, there has been a flood of rumors about new systems, new games and people seen talking to other people. Lately it’s hard to look at any games journalism and not see headlines labeled rumor. Likewise a lot of stories seem to cite some anonymous informant or insider source. I hate it! Rumors drive me crazy and I avoid them when I can. However, I am a fan of speculating and talking about what announcements companies may make. It’s a weird clash, I know. The difference is one is a lie which nobody wants to admit while the other is false and people are up front about it. I say all that because all the E3 rumors has me thinking about the Wii U; more specifically what will be in the box when I buy one. Before I go any further note this, I am basing this on no insider information nor did some secret person tell me something in a whisper. This is just me thinking things through.
First off, the system. We know it’s going to be in the box. It has to be. If it says Wii U on the outside, there has to be a Wii U inside. There will have to be some sort of voltage adapter as well. I say “voltage adapter” specifically over “power cord” since I’m pretty sure Nintendo will not but the power conversion parts in the system itself. They never have. Think about your Nintendo systems; NES, SNES, N64, GameCube and Wii. They all have a box that’s in line between the wall and the console. Next is the AV cord. Will it be component or composite? Read more…
Back in the late 80s and the early 90s there was this war going on in the video game industry. You were either a fan of Nintendo or you were a fan of Sega. You placed your allegiance with Mario or Sonic. Over the last few years, since Sega got out of the console business, the two companies have been good buddies and today they’re getting even closer.
Nintendo has announced that Hirokazu Yasuhara has been hired by Nintendo. The man was at one time a part of Sonic Team and worked as a director, game planner, and designer on many of the early Sonic the Hedgehog games. In 2002 he worked on Jak & Daxter as well as the Uncharted franchise. Most recently he was working with Namco Bandai and helped create Pac-Man Party, which came out in 2010.
He is joining Nintendo Software Technology (NST), which has been responsible for a number of titles over the years such as Wave Race: Blue Storm (GCN), Pokemon Puzzle League (N64), the Mario vs Donkey Kong franchise and Metroid Prime Hunters (DS). Neither he, nor Nintendo has commented on what he’ll be doing for the company.
Not since the failure of ESWAT has there been a Go Round we struggled to finish. Well, there was that Gundam thing. Anyway, this week you can watch Will and myself struggle with a mission from God as we play The Blues Brothers for the NES. I’m not sure what the point of this game is; something about a goggled shark and some giant birds. I don’t remember that from the movie at all. Maybe I should watch it again.
Once again we talk about Kid Icarus: Uprising since that seems to be the only thing we have played. If that isn’t your thing you don’t need to worry. I tell a tale of my late-night adventure to Walmart. Sounds exciting doesn’t it? If that doesn’t make you want to listen then get this. Halfway through the news the show crashes due to multiple programs failing at the same time. Things never quite recover as the show is anarchy from there. Now do you want to listen? Thought so.
episode-110
Starring – Tony, Micah, Shelby
Run time – 1:42:43
If you want to chat with us, send an email to podcast@nintendo-okie.com or head over to our forum. You can also join our Facebook group or follow us on Twitter. Watch our YouTube channel too. Good stuff that. Here is the article about Super Mario Bros. we talked about on the show.
Kid Icarus: Uprising is here after a more than 20 year wait. Masahiro Sakurai, the brain behind Smash Bros., Kirby and The Adventures of Lolo is trying his hand at reviving the long dormant franchise. Since the announcement of the game more than two years ago fans have been wondering exactly how Pit would make his triumphant return. The game was announced early on as a launch title for the Nintendo 3DS, but delays pushed it back to the one year anniversary of the system’s launch. Time will tell if the wait was worth it, but regardless, Pit is sorry that he’s kept you waiting and it’s time to take the fight to Medusa and her minions.
What You Need To Know
Kid Icarus: Uprising is the first game in the franchise since the release of Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters for the Game Boy back in 1991. Medusa is back after more than 25 years of banishment and she’s not happy. Pit and Palutena (the Goddess of Light) must unite and stop her. You’ll guide Pit through 25 chapters of gameplay broken up between two sections; five minutes of flight that play similar to games like Sin & Punishment or Panzer Dragoon, and ground based battles which combine melee and ranged attacks. Once you’ve finished with the game’s eight to ten hour campaign you have the option of going online in fast paced multiplayer action.
Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir is a game coming out next month and being published by Nintendo. If you don’t know it’s a spin-off of the Fatal Frame series and is developed by Tecmo Koei. The game uses the 3DS AR functionality to make it appear as if there are ghosts, spirits and other creepy things inhabiting the world around you. It looks like a really interesting game, but I don’t think I could stay in my house after playing it. Here’s a full, five minute long mini-movie showing what happens to a couple of kids after they play the game.
The Mario Party franchise has seen better days. The last couple of entries into the franchise have been lackluster at best. Mario Party 7 came as the GameCube was on its way out. Mario Party 8 came at a time when developers were still relying too heavily on motion gimmicks to make the game fun. For a while it seemed like there was a new entry into the franchise every year and it was beginning to stagnate. Nintendo took some time off with the series, deviated into the Wii Party game for a while and has come back with Mario Party 9. Will this game continue down the path towards mediocrity or will it be the beginning of a possible fresh new start for the franchise?
What You Need to Know
Mario Party 9 is the latest entry into the popular mini-game franchise. You play as one of the denizens of the Mushroom Kingdom and along with three friends have fun trying to take down Bowser in a board game style party. You’ll take turns moving around a board, occasionally playing mini-games and trying to collect mini-stars. The person with the most mini-stars at the end of the game is declared the Superstar and will have bragging rights over there friends. If you’ve played a game in the Mario Party franchise before you probably know what to expect, but there are some things that are different about the party this time around.
The tower defense genre grew from one small game type to encompass a number of different ideas across a number of titles. It can range from something as simple as just placing towers to defend small paths from invading creatures, to using flora to defend your home from invading zombie hordes, or you can even get crazy and defend dungeons from enemy armies with full control over where you can move. You can take large tanks into battle or you can build your defenses and watch them mow down enemies. Nintendo hasn’t really gotten into that type of gameplay, until now with Dillon’s Rolling Western for the 3DS eShop.
What You Need to Know
Dillon’s Rolling Western is a mix of tower defense and an action game. You star as Dillon, the titular character who also happens to be an armadillo. You go around 10 different towns protecting helpless villagers from nightly invasions of beings called Grocks. To do so you’ll mix tower building with traditional action controls. You’ll spend the daytime hours gathering resources, money and food to protect the town, but at night things get serious and it’s up to you to make sure the villagers make it through the night. Scrogs are a precious commodity and the invading Grocks like to eat them. If you lose all of the village’s Scrogs then it’s game over and you replay the day. As long as one Scrog survives you, and the villagers, will live to see another day.
The Question Block has returned! Click here to listen to the latest episode. Not only will you be able to win prizes but now you can be on the show live! You will be asked to answer three questions of the category of your choosing. Listen to the show to learn more.
Puns, puns, puns. This show is full of all kinds of quality jokes. Not only that, but we talk about video games too. With Micah out to some sort of real-life activity, we call in Mr. Steve Conger from thegamesmen.com to help us out. After this show is over you can expect to be smarter about Xenoblade Chronicles, Kid Icarus: Uprising and Zen Pinball 3D. And as always, you will get the latest in our obsession with the Uprising AR cards.
The Great Friend Code Exchange
