Topics

1

General Gaming / The morality of piracy and not buying games new

« on: October 23, 2022, 06:25:46 PM »

1. Have you ever pirated a game? If so, why?
2. How did you feel about it?
3. Do you have any moral hang ups about renting games or buying used?

I never pirate games on current platforms. I know I can, but I want to support new games when I'm able to. The reality is some slip through the cracks, and I have no choice but to buy used. My approach on PS4, for example, has been digital and under $20 only (sometimes under $10). It adds up, sure. For the most part, I didn't mind spending that money.

On retro platforms, the original developers/publishers aren't making money on those anymore. The money goes directly to the second-hand seller. For the rarer games, I try not to contribute to scalper behavior. I bought a lot of used GB/GBC/GBA games. Outside of maybe five games, I didn't think twice about spending that money.

My understanding is that retailers buy X amount of copies of a game that it expects to sell. Some publishers have policies in place so that unsold stock can be sent back or exchanged for "credit" on new games. Correct me if I'm wrong as I didn't dig that far since this isn't the main point of the thread. Outside of evergreen titles, publishers make their bread in the first few months from release. Publishers don't make any money on used games, and they only make money on a rental once upon the original purchase.

In most instances, I bought the games I wanted and I rarely rented, even when I worked at Hollywood Video. I'll resort to downloading ROMs under specific circumstances: never released in North America, no longer available, or if I already own a game. I don't feel even a little bad at all. With most games these days requiring patches, I won't feel any better about dumping a game myself and finding someone hosting the official patches than I would just finding the game with patches online.

Generally speaking, it's considered morally wrong to take something that isn't yours. Like most things when it comes to morality, there are different perspectives, gray areas etc. I'm not here to judge anyone as I'm merely curious what everyone thinks. For my specific use cases, I don't feel bad, and I don't know what that says about me.

2

General Gaming / Digitizing my entire physical game catalog

« on: October 16, 2022, 03:27:36 AM »

I have a goal to digitize my entire physical game catalog. This was spurred by the eventuality of disc rot and the degradation of flash ROM found in DS and 3DS games as I wanted to preserve things I spent a lot of time and money on. Has anyone else done this or have an interest in doing so? Also, let me know if you have any questions though up front, I won't share files or link to any ROM sites.

(You can skip the rest if you don't care about the backstory)

The process of dumping a ROM is pretty easy though it involves hacking the console to install custom firmware and installing homebrew apps. I have a lot of nostalgia for the systems I played on and cared for, most of which I bought myself. This led me to buying a DSi XL (midnight blue) and a New Nintendo 2DS XL (orange and white) earlier this year, both used yet in great condition. I've long been a proponent for the original DSi, and admittedly, DSi XL blows it out of the water. New Nintendo 2DS XL is a bit more complicated. There are a few significant design improvements over New Nintendo 3DS XL such as easier access to the micro SD card slot (rather than removing the entire bottom plate). The build quality is way worse though. The shell is apparently prone to cracking due to lower grade ABS. It definitely feels chintzier. Woof.

I'm considering buying a New Nintendo 3DS XL to hack, replace the c-stick, and use this really cool grip Hori made for Monster Hunter X. pokepal148 was (jokingly) threatened with a ban if he did the c-stick mod. Would it better if I plan to open the New Nintendo 3DS XL to remove the c-stick whole rather than tearing it out from the outside? Also, I want to install a Lenovo trackpad cap rather than the PSP stick.



(It's significantly easier to remove the c-stick on New Nintendo 3DS XL as it doesn't involve removing the entire motherboard like New Nintendo 2DS XL. Also, the recommended Lenovo trackpad cap only comes in red and will look better on the metallic blue New Nintendo 3DS XL.)

Playing the dumped ROMs also requires a hacked console. And when it comes to DS and 3DS, I'm also worried about not being able to play the games as originally intended (I'm aware that I've recently posted about a couple ROM hacks that strip out some of the DS'seses unique functionality so you know, shut up). For posterity, I have both unsullied and hacked versions on my micro SD card.

I snagged a GB Operator to dump all of my 100+ GB, GBC, and GBA games. I don't have a ROM cart so those will be going in the Analogue Pocket once the cores are more mature.

GameCube is where it gets dicey. I bought a whole bunch of mods and a second GameCube (spice) then found out a Wii or Wii U is required to dump GameCube ROMs. I'm exploring a second Wii U that I can hack so I can dump both GameCube and Wii ROMs. There are no legal quandaries with creating backups from physical copies you own as long as you don't share the file. However, downloading a ROM of a game you own a physically copy of is apparently not legal. Dubious, but I didn't make the rules.

Digitizing my Wii U catalog is very unlikely as I straight up double dipped on Switch outside of a few stragglers that will likely get ported eventually. I'll consider dumping my Switch catalog once the Switch successor releases, assuming it's backwards compatible. I have a launch Switch which has an unpatchable exploit because it's on the hardware itself. The problem here is patches. I have another thread in which I'll explore this.

I know I can simply find these ROMs online, but I actually enjoy the process of dumping them myself. If you're wondering, I'm not selling/trading any of my physical copies. I have too much nostalgia to do so, and the point was never to profit from this endeavor. It's simply really great to have access to my entire library on these consoles without switching out the optical disc/cartridge/game card. And I'm at ease that games I've spent so much time and money on are preserved. Overall, hacking these Nintendo consoles has been really fun. For many of these games, there are no patches or DLC. It's just the game warts and all. Some ROM hacks are merely bug fixes which are really cool as well.

(Probably better to leave PS Vita out of this. It is pretty cool to have access to three generations of Sony consoles. PS Vita has the best hacks out of all consoles I mentioned.)

3

General Gaming / Digital games and you

« on: February 27, 2022, 05:26:15 PM »

Every so often this comes up in other threads so I figured in my quest for a seemingly meaningless Silver medal I'd create a thread to discuss.

Here are some questions to start the conversation though no need to adhere to it:

• How do you feel about digital games?
• Do you own any digital games?
• Do you still buy physical games?
• What factors into your decision?
• Is streaming an option for you?

I'll go first:

• I was vehemently against digital games as far back as Wii Shop Channel. I preferred having something tangible to own. I have since eased up on this and even embraced digital games. I regret not buying Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth as Konami has never rereleased it. That sounds like a mark against digital games. However, there are old physical games that are so far out of my price range, I will either have to accept that I will never play it or resort to less legal alternatives. For example, Konami has also never re-released Ninja Five-O digitally or otherwise.
• The first digital game I bought was Shantae: Risky's Revenge on DSi since I couldn't play it by any other means. I dabbled here and there mostly when the download was free or absurdly cheap. I'm all digital on PS4, largely adhering to my goal of waiting for sub-$20 sales. I generally choose digital for indie games on Switch. I have a couple to double dip digitally when they're under $10.
• I still buy the physical copy of new first and third party games on Switch though I will likely go all digital on the Switch successor as larger capacity SD cards become more affordable. I recently bought a 256 GB micro SD card for ~$27. By the time a Switch successor launches, 1 TB will likely be sub-$100, maybe sub-$50.
  
  Still, my decision may depend on how Nintendo handles eShop purchases. As stated before, it locked purchases to four other consoles. Nintendo seems to be doing things differently this time. We'll see.
• For older games, I still prefer buying legitimate physical cartridges, discs, and cards. There's an intangible value in playing games on original hardware when possible (holding the old controller or handheld takes me back).
  
  The main determining factor for me is the existence of patches. For old cartridges, that's just the game, flaws and all (homebrew patches aside). I get the argument that having a physical copy means you can still play that game even after it has been pulled from a digital store. However, I have no interest in playing a pre-patched game. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, for example, is not the same game due to rebalancing.
  
  Additionally, the fragility of discs makes me weary of them. I've taken certain steps to digitize my old purchases on GameCube, a story for another thread. It isn't just discs. Eventually, cartridges/cards will fail. Old hardware will fail. Here's an article about DS/3DS cards eventually deteriorating.
• Streaming is an option for me though I will have to tailor it to my gaming habits, assuming future performance of the service does not disrupt gameplay. Depending on price, I will likely do month-to-month, play the game(s) I want then let the service lapse until I'm ready to play another game. Netflix's most recent price increase not only has me considering not canceling my subscription but also thinking about how much I need any service readily available enough to pay for it all the time. When I originally signed up, Netflix used to be like $7.99, and now, it's almost double that. I also have plenty to play in my backlog. Maybe I don't need a streaming service for games.
  
  Nintendo Switch Online appears to be an indication of where Nintendo plans to go in the future. It nixed Virtual Console in all likelihood because it's more profitable to force customers to pay for these games in perpetuity, no matter how many times they may have bought these games in the past. That rubs me the wrong way except it'll be out of our hands eventually. Just like our old games, us oldheads are going to die one day. Newer generations are already being raised with digital downloads and streaming.

4

General Gaming / Playdate by Panic - [OT] for console/games/future season(s) discussion

« on: July 24, 2021, 11:32:11 PM »

Since Playdate comes with 24 games in Season One, I wanted to create an official thread to organize discussion on the console and games. Honestly, I don't want to root through a mega thread to find comments on the various games.





Key Details:

• Pre-orders begin July 29 at 10:00 AM PDT, full payment required (cancel any time for full refund)
• Pre-orders will not sell-out as Panic will continue to accept pre-orders and will be shipped in the order they are pre-ordered
• First batch of ~20,000 units will ship late 2021 (split between 16 countries, yikes), future batches will ship in 2022
• Pre-orders are limited to two per customer
• Playdate Cover will be available on launch day; Stereo Dock will be available "later"
• Season One is included with the purchase of the console and features 24 games to be release two per week for 12 weeks

I recall reading that Panic will work with eBay to remove pre-orders (as that is against eBay's policies), but I don't remember where I read that. In case I imagined that, requiring full payment up front should deter scalpers.

Official website for Playdate

Here is the full reveal from June 8: Playdate Update — 6/8/2021

I don't think these work anymore, but in case they do for some people:

Two minute trailer if you can't be bothered to watch the 15 minute reveal: Say Hello to Playdate!!

Again, embedded video if it works for you:

5

Nintendo Gaming / Where is Nintendo today without Pokémon?

« on: May 11, 2021, 02:15:13 AM »

I have a long list of questions I wanted to ask all both of you who still post here regularly so in a fleeting effort to foster more discussion, here’s one of these new topics! 👍

Considering what old authentic Pokémon cartridges are going for these days, I wondered where Nintendo would be as a company if Pokémon never existed. Nintendo leaned hard on the handheld market during rough times, and Pokémon was a big part of Nintendo’s ability to do so. The company’s dominance in that market also allowed it to experiment more.

Hot take: I kind of feel like Nintendo would not be a hardware maker anymore without Pokémon. Nintendo wiped the floor with all pretenders to the throne in the early 90s. Tetris certainly put Game Boy on the map. However, handhelds from Sega, Atari, and NEC were bulky, battery devourers. It’s easy to see how Nintendo outsmarted everyone. Even original color choice was unique among the sea of black boxes. You always knew someone was playing a Game Boy. Furthermlre, opening up these bad Boys, it’s obvious Nintendo’s hardware design was far and away much better than the competition. Seriously, google pictures or watch video of a Game Gear tear down. It is a mess in there. I considered modding a Game Gear, and I cannot be bothered.

Once other companies figured out how to properly design a portable gaming device in the late 90s, it was too late. By then, Nintendo had Pokémon. The WonderSwan and Neo Geo Pocket Color were both really nicely designed handhelds and were designed by people who finally understood what Nintendo did like a decade before everyone else. The WonderSwan got roughly 2846826 hours of battery life on a single AA battery which shouldn’t come as a surprise considering it was famously designed by Game Boy creator, Gunpei Yokoi. As an even wilder hypothetical, if either Bandai or NEC got Pokémon instead, they could have taken a significant amount of market share from Nintendo.

Even if Nintendo survived them, I wonder if it could have survived PSP. Then again, without Pokémon, we also don’t know what Nintendo would have countered with instead. Maybe Project Atlantis actually comes out. Maybe Game Boy Color gets an exclusive Mario platformer. Maybe Nintendo fosters a different IP that ultimately died in this timeline. Lots of possibilities here.

I thought this would be a fun hypothetical. What do you think? How important has Pokémon been to Nintendo? I’d argue no other property has been more important as far as generating revenue, keeping the company in the social consciousness etc. The domino effect is pretty remarkable here. It isn’t just game sales and licensing. More people bought hardware to play Pokémon which also meant, more people bought the company’s other games.

6

General Gaming / What are your thoughts on modern games?

« on: May 11, 2021, 12:55:07 AM »

I have a long list of questions I wanted to ask all both of you who still post here regularly so in a fleeting effort to foster more discussion, here’s one of these new topics! 👍

A friend recently asked why I was delving into the Game Boy line. The short version is they were three generations of games I largely ignored, partially because I was a child with no income. Given the choice, I almost always picked a home console game for my birthday/Christmas.

I also like the simplicity they offer. A lot of those old handheld games can be completed fairly quickly which is great for me because it’s hard to make time for a long sprawling adventure (though I did pick up a few RPGs recently). Furthermore, they’re a lot easier to get into. Alternatively, I bought Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition months ago, but I haven’t started it because I remember not really understanding the battle system the first time I tried as well as how many words, numbers, and indicators are displayed simultaneously. I felt overwhelmed even though I know I just need to give it a few hours. I don’t remember the last time I was super excited about a new release. Maybe Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

Additionally, I miss pixel art. Realistic graphics with shaders and particle effects look great. However, I think I’ll always have a soft spot for sprites. It’s partially why I’ve embraced indie games. They scratch that old school fix for me.

Where do y’all stand? Are you getting what you want from new releases? What upcoming games are you excited about?

7

General Gaming / How do you feel about $69.99 MSRP for standard, non-special edition games?

« on: May 11, 2021, 12:36:20 AM »

I have a long list of questions I wanted to ask all both of you who still post here regularly so in a fleeting effort to foster more discussion, here’s one of these new topics! 👍

This is not a timely thread because Sony announced that some PS5 games will be $69.99 last year. Looking over my PS4 library, I have a personal goal to not spend more than $20 on any PS4 game. I’ve largely adhered to that, only going over slightly twice for optional DLC like costumes in Resident Evil 2 and 3.

On Switch, I often buy Nintendo published games at full price since they don’t go on sale often. I have occasionally patiently waited for sales because hey, $20 is $20. Both Super Mario Maker 2 and Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition were bought on sale. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, Clubhouse Games, and Astral Chain are still sitting in my Amazon “Save For Later” list.

Back in the 90s, consoles games were like $49.99. Plugging that into an inflation calculator, that’s ~$87 in 2021. This at least partially explains why my parents generally only bought me games on my birthday and Christmas. They also never really liked me playing video games. Jokes on you, mom!

Is the price hike problematic for you? Will you wait for sales? Or is the entire thing a non-starter?

8

Nintendo Gaming / Game Boy: Finally time to Play It Loud!®

« on: April 10, 2021, 07:42:51 PM »

I mostly missed the boat on the Game Boy line. I've never really liked playing games on portable game systems, and the non-lit screens didn't help. When given the choice in 1994, I chose Game Gear. Woof... Then, in 1998, I finally convinced my mommy to buy me a Game Boy Pocket because I just had to have the limited edition Ice Blue color. Unfortunately, that was like four months before Game Boy Color was announced at E3 that year. For nearly three years, I had no access to Game Boy Color games until I bought a Game Boy Advance. Even then, I only had Oracle of Ages/Seasons.

Regardless, when I started looking into modding last year, I picked up a few games I missed out on. Recently, I really dug my heels in and started rounding out my library. I missed a ton of games. I've gained a new appreciation for this simpler, pre-patch era of gaming. Issues such as this one discussed in the General Gaming forum only serve to reinforce that appreciation.

Anyway, here's what I have so far, separated by system. I managed to snag a Game Boy Advance Link Cable and a Game Boy Game Link with DMG adapter (Fun fact: DMG models have a larger link port). I'm primarily using this thread for cataloging and recommendation purposes. I doubt I'll beat all of these games, but I'll definitely play them.

Also, despite what Nintendo says; I'm separating Game Boy Color because it had a lot of exclusive games, and I think I've done a decent job of building that library so it's easier for me to keep track of as a separate list.

OG Game Boy

• Donkey Kong
• Final Fantasy Adventure
• Game Boy Camera
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
• Metroid II: The Return of Samus
• Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition
• Super Mario Land
• Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
• Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land
• Tetris (I have two copies because my sister's ex just gave me his DMG Game Boy hella years ago, and everyone had this)

Game Boy Color

• Bionic Commando: Elite Forces
• Bomberman Quest
• Crystalis
• Donkey Kong Country
• Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX (black cartridge, playable on OG Game Boy)
• The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
• The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
• Mario Tennis
• Metal Gear Solid (Metal Gear: Ghost Babel)
• Perfect Dark
• Pokémon Crystal
• R-Type DX (black cartridge, playable on OG Game Boy)
• Sabrina: The Animated Series - Zapped!
• Shadowgate Classic
• V-Rally: Edition 99
• Wario Land II (black cartridge, playable on OG Game Boy)
• Wario Land 3
• Wendy: Every Witch Way

Game Boy Advance

• Astro Boy: Omega Factor
• Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge
• Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand
• Bomberman Tournament
• Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
• Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
• Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
• DK: King of Swing
• Donkey Kong Country (yes, for GBA too)
• Drill Dozer
• Driv3r (Driver 3)
• Final Fantasy IV: Advance
• Final Fantasy V: Advance
• Final Fantasy VI: Advance
• Golden Sun
• Golden Sun: The Lost Age
• Gunstar Super Heroes
• Klonoa: Empire of Dreams
• Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - Four Swords
• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
• Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga
• Mario Kart: Super Circuit
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong
• Metal Slug Advance
• Metroid Fusion
• Metroid: Zero Mission
• Mother 3 (this is a reproduction cartridge with the English fan translation because Nintendo gonna Nintendo)
• Sigma Star Saga (This is still shrinkwrapped)
• The Simpsons: Road Rage
• Stuntman
• Sword of Mana
• Tales of Phantasia
• Top Gear Rally
• V-Rally 3
• Wario Land 4
• WarioWare: Twisted!

I'm sure a few of these games might seem like odd choices. Feel free to ask. I only wanted The Simpson's Road Rage because it's a 3D GBA game. It was bundled with Donkey Kong Country for GBA and almost as much as just one of them individually. Might as well, right? Driv3r and V-Rally were both developed by VD-Dev (AKA Velez & Dubail Dev. Team), two dudes from France who made some of the most impressive 3D GBA games ever made. Stop Skeletons From Fighting on The YouTube has a great video on these guys (RIP Fernando Velez).

Here's a list of items I'm interested in:

• Final Fantasy Adventure (GB): It's the prequel to Secret of Mana, and according to some, the better version between it and Sword of Mana. I know this is included in Collection of Mana, but the point of this entire endeavor is to play Game Boy games on original albeit modded hardware. Update 04/21/2021: Got it.
• Bomberman Quest (GBC): The Adventure mode is like Link's Awakening with Bomberman. So is Bomberman Tournament's Adventure mode except Quest is supposedly better. Unfortuntely, Quest is hella expensive.Update 10/02/2021: Got it.
• Daikatana (GBC): It's kind of a Link's Awakening clone and apparently pretty good. The problem is it was never released in North America so it hasn't been easy to snag. It's currently going for like $80 loose with shipping, and I don't think I can justify that for what is supposedly a two to three hour campaign. This will probably drop, but prices for retro games have seen an uptick semi-recently.
• Dragon Warrior III (GBC): It's apparently a pretty great port of the NES original. I've whiffed on buying this a few times so I probably won't unless someone here is like super passionate about Dragon Quest and wants to make a pitch.
• Pokémon Crystal (GBC): I recently bought Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition to try to get back into the series. I heard there are some quality of life updates in the later games, but they also seem daunting with the Shiny Pokémon (whatever that means) and the absurd amount of Pokémon now. I figure if I like Yellow, I'll move on to Crystal. Unfortunately, prices for Pokémon games have become insane in the membrane over the past six months or so.Update 05/04/2021: Got it.
• Star Ocean: Blue Sphere (GBC): It was never released outside of Japan so like Mother 3, I would have to buy a reproduction cartridge which I only do in unique circumstances.
• Wendy: Every Witch Way (GBC): It's a late GBC WayForward title that isn't Shantae, meant as a tie-in to a cartoon that was ultimately not picked up. The publisher, TDK Mediactive, Inc. (now known as Take-Two Licensing, Inc.), wanted to cancel the game but WayForward Technologies convinced them not to and included three GBA exclusive levels. This is pretty rare so I don't think snagging an actual cartridge is going to happen.Update 10/02/2021: Got it.
• DK: King of Swing (GBA): Looks unique; literally that's it. I'm modding one of the GBAs to have clicky shoulder buttons so this would be a good game to show that off.Update 10/02/2021: Got it.
• Metal Slug Advance (GBA): I could have picked this up on several occasions. However, I've never played a Metal Slug game, and this was going for over $75.Update 10/02/2021: Got it.
• Warioware Twisted (GBA): I never got into the Warioware series. Twisted is a special cartridge with an accelerometer and rumble.Update 10/02/2021: Got it.
• Shrek 1 and 2 (GBA Video): 🤷‍♀️

I intentionally left Shantae (GBC) and Ninja Five-O (GBA) off that list. Those cartridges go for hundreds of dollars so nope, not going to happen. I missed the Limited Run Games re-print of Shantae last year. My preference for all these retro games is to have the physical cartridge. Failing that, my plan is to buy an Everdrive eventually for games that are mostly inaccessible for me due to price or availability as well as for rare instances of multiplayer. Unfortunately, the Everdrive sometimes does not to play nice with the IPS LCD kits in modded Game Boys. It's something to do with the power draw. I think you can get around it by installing a voltage regulator. I need to do more research on it.

Also, people are still making new games and not merely fan-made ROM hacks. A nearly finished Game Boy Color RPG from 2001, Infinity, is being completed and released on a physical cartridge (!). The Kickstarter will launch in June. I haven't pledged to a Kickstarter in a while. I will be contributing to whichever tier nets me the game.

I'm taking any and all recommendations. Please post your favorites/hidden gems and why you like them.

9

NWR Forums Discord / TIL: On non-Leap-Years MAR10 is the 69th day of the year

« on: March 10, 2021, 09:16:30 PM »

Nice.

10

Nintendo Gaming / Game Boy modding/restoring (first GBA mod completed, check a look)

« on: July 06, 2020, 02:04:15 PM »

I’ve been working from home since March 18 due to quarantine. After several weeks of mostly putzing around, I wanted to make better use of all this additional free time. YouTube started recommending furniture restoration videos because why not? This was of particular interest to me except I have few tools and no woodworking skills/experience.

I decided to mod/restore old consoles instead. I figured I’d start with Game Boy because once you remove the back, you pretty much have access to the motherboard. I looked into modding the GameCube to, for example, add an HDMI port. Turns out, the kit is hella expensive ($165) and almost never in stock. The actual mod is pretty invasive since you have to remove the digital AV out and file down the shell to make room for the port. F that noise. The EON GCHD MK-II is $150 and does not require modding. GameCube also has a ton of screws and tightly integrated parts so I don't feel especially comfortable modding it. I plan on cleaning out my old consoles at some point so that's as far as I'd go. For modding, I'm probably sticking exclusively with handhelds.

I had none of the tools or supplies, but they’re still cheaper than what I'd need for furniture restoration. I did an egregious amount of research so I added links below if anyone is interested in getting into this as a hobby. Here's what I've purchased so far:

• Insulated repair mat (~$7)
• Tech toolkit (~$70, probably would have been fine with the ~$35 one)
• Micro cutter (~$9)
• Precision knife set (~$20, can apparently also be used for pumpkin carving)
• Safety goggles (~$7)
• Soldering iron station ($60)
• Rosen flux pens (~$15, helps with soldering)
• Rosin core solder (~$9)
• Wire cutters (~$7)
• Electrical wire (~$21)
• Solder wick (~$7, for removing solder)
• Kapton tape (~$11, for electrostatic insulation)
• 99% isopropyl alcohol (~$20, apparently good for cleaning PCB, not to be used as an anti-septic, even 91% burns terribly)
• Cleaning swabs (~$13)
• Multimeter (~$30, for measuring voltage, current, and resistance)
• Solder sucker (yes, that's what it's called) (~$25, for easily removing solder)
• Air duster (~$50)
• Solder fume extractor (~$35, don't breathe in the lead fumes)
• File set (~$35, a lot of mods require shell modifications, this smooths out the plastic)
• Finger cots (~$6, gloves for fingers only, allows for better range of motion for hands, they look like mini-condoms)
• Magnetic work surface ($20, for keeping track of screws)

2021 Update: With the additional items I added, I've spent about $475. I'm still considering a third hand/PCB holder to help with soldering (~$30) and a rotary tool to help with cutting the plastic shell where needed (ranges from $40 to $90) which would bring the total to around $facepalm.

Here's my current tally of handhelds:

• OG Game Boy: 0
• Game Boy Pocket: 2
• Game Boy Color: 5
• Game Boy Advance: 7
• Game Boy Advance SP: 1

I still plan on buying the Analogue Pocket and dock, but for now, I wanted to learn a new skill (soldering) and start a new hobby (game system restoration). I also wanted to replace the batteries in all of my old cartridges. This is the first time I actually added everything up and while I let out an audible "Yikes" when I saw the totals, I'm okay with it. The pricier tools are high upfront costs and once you have them, they'll last a while (for me, likely a decade or more). Has anyone here ever modded game consoles before? I'd love to hear stories and any advice.

I removed the collection/recommendation part and created a new thread: Game Boy: Finally time to Play It Loud!®

11

General Gaming / I got a PS4 Pro for free

« on: March 08, 2020, 07:29:39 PM »

I was visiting my mom on Friday and I noticed a PlayStation 4 Pro in the TV stand. I asked her why she has a game console. My mom bought a Sony HDTV during a Best Buy promotion a while back which included a PS4 Pro. She doesn't play video games. I've only seen her attempt a video game once in 1997. She tried Mario Kart 64 for maybe two minutes in which she held the control stick with her thumb and index finger. My mom didn't really want the PS4 Pro but won't ever turn down a free gift of any kind. She told me to just take it because no one else was using it.

The PS4 Pro was caked in dust. My mom never turned it on herself. The technician who installed the TV mount set up the PS4 Pro for her which is apparently the last time it was powered on. My mom didn't remember exactly when that was. She thought she bought the HDTV in 2018. I plugged the PS4 Pro in when I got home and the firmware was Version 4.73, dated 08/07/2017. Calling this "gently used" would be an overstatement.

I just ordered a second PS4 controller from Amazon (electric purple). I don't have any games yet. I've considered starting with Resident Evil 3 (for Jill) though I may wait for a sale since I have an entire generation to catch up on. I decided this will be my first digital only console. My understanding is PS4 discs are largely a means of installing data onto the HDD so it doesn't make much sense to me to have a bunch of additional discs and cases in my life. I recently closed on a house so I just don't want that clutter anymore. Switch will most likely be the last console I putz with physical media.

I am strongly considering replacing the PS4 Pro 1 TB HDD with a 1 TB SSD (EDIT: the HDD is 1 TB, not 500 GB). Has anyone done this? Is an SSD the investment? It seems pretty easy from some cursory googling. An SSD appears to save a few seconds, but those add up.

I originally planned to get a PlayStation 5 at launch since I kept kicking the can down the road on a PS4. For anyone who wants to laugh at my continued indecision and procrastination, I believe I've stated a few times on NWR that my plan was to get a PS4 in 2015. This delays those plans by at least three years. I mostly play games on Switch, and plan to get the Switch version of games whenever possible.

If anyone previously added me on PSN, I'm not using thesuperamazing anymore. My PSN Online ID is Catsylvania. I created it years ago but never really did an anything with it. I'm going to start using that from now on.

12

General Gaming / Next Generation Xbox (Project Scarlet) Officially Named “Xbox Series X”

« on: December 13, 2019, 12:27:16 AM »

For BlackNWild

Well, that’s confusing especially considering Microsoft’s “Pro” Xbox was named “Xbox One X”. I guess it’s just banking on people referring to their consoles as “Xbox”. I don’t hate the name; I don’t particularly like it either.

I rather like the design. It’s simple, angular, and literally just a box. I’ve seen it compared to a PC tower, and yeah, that’s fair.

13

Nintendo Gaming / Mario Kart Tour is gonna be a no from me, dawg

« on: September 25, 2019, 08:27:24 AM »

Mario Kart Tour has a subscription service that costs more per year than Nintendo Switch Online.

I don’t believe the Gold Pass is required to play the game. However, its existence is a major red flag, and I was already put off by the gatcha stuff. I’m getting Disney+ for less than that. Get the hell out of here with another subscription especially when I have a perfectly good Mario Kart 8 Deluxe I’m not playing.

14

Nintendo Gaming / The Next Console Generation Will Be The Last...... Except For Nintendo

« on: June 08, 2018, 10:39:43 AM »

Ubisoft’s Yves Guillemot Says The Next Console Generation Will Be The Last

I saw this article last night then saw The Perm’s post, but I thought it deserved its own thread instead of being tucked into the Switch Port Begging thread.

Basically, Guillemot believes we’re headed into a streaming only future after the next generation of consoles. Despite being the CEO of a major publisher, it’s too early for him to know any concrete plans. Guillemot may be basing this on moves and statements Sony and Microsoft have made.

PlayStation CEO, John Kodera, recently said PS4 is “entering the end of its lifecycle” and the next generation of PlayStation is three years away. To me, three years is still a long time. It would put the end of next generation around 2029-2030. Kodera also said, “We need to depart from the traditional way of looking at the console cycle. We’re no longer in a time when you can think just about the console or just about the network like they’re two different things.” Kodera said this around the same time Sony CEO, Kenichiro Yoshida, implied that content, software, services, and subscriptions are a path forward for the company. Hmm.

And Microsoft? It hasn’t been acting like a company that wants to focus on hardware anymore. Microsoft no longer releases Xbox One sales numbers (probably because PS4 is trouncing it), said Xbox One X is “not for everyone,” allows Xbox games to stream to a PC, and introduced Xbox Play Anywhere, an Xbox One/PC crossbuy program. Microsoft supports Xbox One because it’s already out and bailing on the console now would interfere with what it wants to do in the future: transition Xbox into a software-based platform. This isn’t an original idea. People have been talking about it for years.

Nintendo has put itself in a position to not give up hardware even if merging its console and handheld into one device might suggest it will eventually downsize to no hardware. It wants one Switch per person, not household. The path to getting there is dropping the cost of entry. While I personally prefer to use Switch as a home console, lurking through ResetEra and comment sections suggests the opposite for other people. I often read comments like “I hope [Game X] is released on Switch so I can play it on the go.” Nintendo finally released hardware that people can hope a game releases on the platform without it sounding crazy.

For me, Switch is almost good enough to be “good enough.” It gets a ton of indie games and some current generation games thanks to scaling. “Good enough” is when we don’t question whether a game will come to a platform; it will abeit with worse graphics except we won’t care. In 2004, Satoru Iwata famously said technical specs don’t matter. Whenever Nintendo releases the successor to Switch, those words may finally hold some weight for developers. Better specs will yield diminishing returns. What people will want is convenience.

If Sony is hinting at eventually moving forward as a services and content provider and Microsoft is practically already doing that, Nintendo may be the last hardware manufacturer which would be weird because after Sega, a lot of people thought Nintendo would be the next to withdraw. No matter how good streaming gets in 10 to 12 years, will it ever be consistent enough to move away from the current model? I think there will always be a niche of people who want dedicated gaming hardware because it’s easy, tangible, and reliable. And that’s where the successors of Switch fit in.

TLDR:
1. Microsoft will never release a true successor to Xbox One meant to compete with Sony and Nintendo.
2. Sony will release a successor because PlayStation is too popular not to. However, it wants to transition out of hardware because even back in 1999, Sony’s former CEO, Nobuyuki Idei, warned that “The hardware business is peanuts.”
3. Nintendo will never stop releasing dedicated gaming hardware because it’s happy with its niche, and Switch is the company’s path to being successful there.

15

Nintendo Gaming / Bayonetta 3 - Obligatory "Nintendo's Witch" Subject Edit

« on: December 07, 2017, 10:40:47 PM »

Just a teaser, no release date. Probably 2019.

Bayonetta 1 and 2 bundle are also coming to Switch in February, only Bayonetta 2 is physical. I'm getting really tired of that. Yay Bayonetta. Boo/hiss split physical/digital release. I'd buy them separately if I could get both physical.

16

Nintendo Gaming / Six months in, thoughts on Switch?

« on: September 06, 2017, 09:26:49 AM »

Personally, I'm impressed. I already have four games, three of which were full price $60 games (minus Amazon Prime pre-order discounts).

Games I own:
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Cave Story+
Splatoon 2

Games I've pre-ordered:
Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
Axiom Verge: Multiverse Edition (2017)
Fire Emblem Warriors (2017)
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (2017)
Indivisible (2018)
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (2018)

That's potentially 10 non-used games within roughly a single year. I don't think I've ever done that with any console or handheld. Even more impressive is that these are launch year releases and only one is a double dip.

Otherwise, the hardware is mostly great. I haven't run into the Joy-Con connectivity issues, but I have encountered the Pro Controller D-Pad problem. Switch feels good in handheld mode. The screen looks great though the bezels are a bit large and Nintendo should have opted for glass. It would have been nice if Nintendo managed to get Nvidia's Parker SOC, but I think Nintendo gets there eventually. Switch's operating system is very clean and responsive.

The only major negatives I have: the peripheral prices are insane in the membrane and the Nintendo Switch Online app is so utterly asinine. Semi-related: I had some local multiplayer connectivity drops sitting like four feet away from a friend.

Thus far, Switch is a strong system. It's nice to see Nintendo get so many things right though frustrating to see it continually get other things wrong. Still, what's most important is the release lineup, and Nintendo has done a great job of getting content (first and third party, including indies) on the system.

17

Nintendo Gaming / Which unannounced Wii U port would you buy on Switch, and why is it Bayonetta 2?

« on: August 12, 2017, 02:51:15 PM »

In all seriousness, this is just your basic port-begging thread. Yeah, we all want new games. I'm just curious what Wii U ports you'd buy because you missed it the first time around or you just want it on Switch for whatever reason.

Here's my Top 3:
1. Bayonetta 1 and 2 because of the value, and Bayonetta is a fun character.
2. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD because it's gorgeous and my favorite pre-Breath of the Wild 3D Zelda.
3. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze because I didn't play it on Wii U and would be more likely to in handheld mode with a friend.

Super Mario Maker on Switch would be better as a sequel that introduced slopes, additional art styles (e.g. Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Mario Land), and all power-ups added to all art styles.

There's an opportunity to add so much content to Super Smash Bros. that it would seem unfair to call it a port.

18

Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo Switch headset chat is typical Nintendo LOL-Fail™

« on: June 01, 2017, 11:19:03 AM »

Because Nintendo.

Nintendo Switch headset chat looks like a mess



At least the headset looks cool.

19

NWR Forums Discord / I've been posting on NWR for 10 years

« on: August 23, 2016, 08:22:55 PM »

I need to reevaluate my life.

20

Nintendo Gaming / Let's Talk About That "Brand-New Concept"

« on: July 08, 2015, 11:33:05 PM »

This is one of a few threads I've been thinking about starting for a few months now, but as usual, I've been lazy busy. What I'd like to accomplish here is a discussion about what Nintendo's vague "brand new concept" may be. I considered posting this in Soren's "NX Rumors and Speculation Thread" but I didn't want to disrupt/derail it. This is an "ideas" thread rather than anything based on internet rumors, a place we can post drawings, mock-ups, and ideas/thoughts without it descending into negative clusterfuckery. I mean it. If you want to say, "It'll be some gimmicky bullshit controller for rubes," fine, duly noted, but there are dozens of ruined threads for that.

I'll start, but I'd really like to hear everyone else's suggestions, and what you think of mine. Please no name-calling. Cat-calling is not only accepted but encouraged. Seriously, put your thinking cap on and post some suggestions.

Before I get into the idea I've been kicking around since Nintendo passively announced NX in March, I want to run through a few important and related quotes. My suggestion is based on things Nintendo has been hinting at for years now.

In terms of our platform integration, as I explained to you a short while ago, we are not saying that we are planning to integrate our platforms into one. What we are saying is that we would like to integrate software development methods, operating systems, and built-in software and software assets for each platform so that we can use them across different machines.¹

Previously, our handheld video game devices and home video game consoles had to be developed separately as the technological requirements of each system, whether it was battery-powered or connected to a power supply, differed greatly, leading to completely different architectures and, hence, divergent methods of software development. However, because of vast technological advances, it became possible to achieve a fair degree of architectural integration.² We discussed this point, and we ultimately concluded that it was the right time to integrate the two teams.

For example, currently it requires a huge amount of effort to port Wii software to Nintendo 3DS because not only their resolutions but also the methods of software development are entirely different. The same thing happens when we try to port Nintendo 3DS software to Wii U. If the transition of software from platform to platform can be made simpler, this will help solve the problem of game shortages in the launch periods of new platforms.³

In this perspective, while we are only going to be able to start this with the next system, it will become important for us to accurately take advantage of what we have done with the Wii U architecture. It of course does not mean that we are going to use exactly the same architecture as Wii U, but we are going to create a system that can absorb the Wii U architecture adequately.⁴ When this happens, home consoles and handheld devices will no longer be completely different, and they will become like brothers in a family of systems.⁵

Still, I am not sure if the form factor (the size and configuration of the hardware) will be integrated.⁶ In contrast, the number of form factors might increase. Currently, we can only provide two form factors because if we had three or four different architectures, we would face serious shortages of software on every platform. To cite a specific case, Apple is able to release smart devices with various form factors one after another because there is one way of programming adopted by all platforms. Apple has a common platform called iOS. Another example is Android. Though there are various models, Android does not face software shortages because there is one common way of programming on the Android platform that works with various models.⁷ The point is, Nintendo platforms should be like those two examples. Whether we will ultimately need just one device will be determined by what consumers demand in the future, and that is not something we know at the moment. However, we are hoping to change and correct the situation in which we develop games for different platforms individually and sometimes disappoint consumers with game shortages⁸ as we attempt to move from one platform to another, and we believe that we will be able to deliver tangible results in the future.

Though I cannot confirm when it will be launched or any other details of the system, since I have confirmed that it will be "a dedicated video game platform with a brand new concept," it should mean that we do not intend it to become a simple "replacement" for Nintendo 3DS or Wii U.⁹

Interpretations:
1. Not a hybrid. Also, unifying the console and handheld divisions was done in order to simplify development.
2. Iwata suggests console and handheld sharing the same architecture, could mean both go x86-64 or both go ARM. Back in December 2014, AMD announced that it won a semi-custom design contract for a game console without revealing which company is employing AMD's services. The logical conclusion is Nintendo since it's the hardware maker with an aging handheld and an ailing home console.
3. Porting has sucked for a number of reasons. Simplifying this processes will alleviate shortages.
4. "Absorb" could mean "port," or it could mean "emulate" without giving too much away. It's doubtful Nintendo uses PowerPC again, but what it is using must be able to run Wii U. My understanding of software emulation (which may be wrong) is that the hardware must be able to simulate the legacy hardware through "brute force." It sounds like Nintendo is making Wii U software emulation a priority, and with good reason. It released a lot of quality games this generation that many people didn't play due to Wii U's poor sales.
5. Console and handheld will be closer than ever. I'll delve further into this later.
6. Not a hybrid.
7. Nintendo recently denied a rumor that NX would run Android. Then again, Nintendo denied DS Lite rumors, DSi rumors, 3DS XL rumors etc. I'd advocate Nintendo creating its own Android fork (and just playing nice with since Google generally dislikes when companies fork Android) since it wouldn't have to start from scratch.
8. Again, Nintendo is concerned about software shortages as it should.
9. Hmm, maybe because it's replacing both.

As I've stated before, I'm not a fan of a hybrid system. I mentioned this a few months ago:

A hybrid paints Nintendo into a corner and forces it to make compromises it may not want to make. A console and a handheld that play the same games makes the most sense for Nintendo and solves a big problem: supporting two platforms. Scalable engines and DLC make this much easier for the company to go down this route. I think Nintendo would still prefer to sell two Mario Karts or two Super Smash Bros. to people, but it's getting harder to justify from both a development and consumer perspective. With the blurring of console and handheld games over the past 10 years or so, I feel like this is the best case scenario.

That's essentially the crux of my idea, but I'll discuss it a bit further. NX is both a console and a handheld yet separate. I don't know how feasible this is from a hardware standpoint so I'll ignore that. There was a recent rumor about NX being less powerful than PS4. The handheld, let's call it HDS because I doubt Nintendo is passing up that opportunity (no, I'm not taking credit for coining that either), most certainly would be. Based on note 4 above, it'll be more powerful than Wii U if Nintendo plans on a Wii U virtual console. Failing that, the hardware has to be powerful enough to port. Emulation is a cheaper and easier option though. The reason VC support has been so sporadic on 3DS and Wii U could be because Nintendo shifted its focus on a universal emulator for NX, one that can work on both console and handheld.

Cost is certainly a concern, and I don't usually advocate taking a loss, but if Nintendo takes a bath on hardware, HDS would be the better choice. Nintendo's handhelds are just more popular. Make it as powerful as possible while keeping the price of at least the non-XL model at $199.99. When it comes to hardware, I've been of the mindset that Nintendo should either aim high or aim low though I favored the latter for personal monetary reasons. In this scenario, it can do both. HDS is the lower end. The console is the higher end. While it would be amazing if Nintendo, of all companies, launched a 4K gaming capable console, I don't know how feasible a "Nintendo4K" would be at a reasonable MSRP. The magic number seems to be $399.99. Let's call it "Nintendo 7/N7" from here on out.

Why even release a console? Different markets favor different kinds of hardware. Some people prefer consoles (like myself), some people prefer handhelds (weirdos), some buy both anyway. HDS would be geared toward Japan; N7 would be geared toward the West. If Nintendo launches a console at $399.99, the hardware better reflect that. I think $200 is a wide enough margin between HDS and N7. You get a lot for that money. It's essentially like a SNES with a Super Gameboy built-in on day one. Besides Streetpass stuff, it can play every HDS game. If you have both HDS and N7, you can take your save file with you.

A more powerful console than PS4 isn't automatically going to bring in third parties though the upside is that's one less hurdle in the way. Nintendo could always go the SteamOS route, but I discussed that at length in an older thread (that may not be the best solution anyway considering how poor certain PC ports have been lately). One problem I think people might have is that Nintendo would be mostly developing slightly above Wii U-level games for an entire generation. Yeah, the games would be upscaled and whatnot on N7, but to me, that's easier to live with than software droughts. This is better for Nintendo's internal teams and people like Masahiro Sakurai who would only need to make one Super Smash Bros. again. In this scenario, Nintendo is pooling together all of its talent to support one platform, except on the rare occasion that HDS hardware couldn't handle a game like how Xenoblade Chronicles 3DS needed a hardware boost of New 3DS. Put a tab on the N7 game card so it physically can't fit in HDS, like how 3DS games can't fit into  regular DS. This also brings up the problem of file sizes and the cost of physical media/solid state memory. I don't have a solution for that.

Here's the really interesting part: cross-play between N7 and HDS. That has never been done before on this scale. Every multiplayer HDS game is compatible. That's a brand new concept. I thought it was silly that there was no cross play option between Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS. Hyrule Warriors is coming to 3DS and carries the same problem. I mean, I understand due to hardware limitations and so forth, but if Nintendo made a point of unifying its console and handheld divisions, this is the first thing that needs to be addressed. Additionally, I think this is how the GamePad concept can finally realize its potential. Both N7 and HDS use an updated version of Broadcom's low-latency transmission connectivity technology. On N7, four GamePads can be supported at the same time (720p/60fps). On HDS, single card multiplayer, up to four players, one HDS (60fps). Handheld multiplayer at a fraction of the cost.

I made that in MS Paint. It isn't to scale. I know it isn't a great picture. And of course, I think there should an updated Pro Controller.

Ultimately, this is just a culmination of Hiroshi Yamauchi's own words: "The hardware is just a box you buy only because you want to play Mario games." My suggestion for this "brand new concept" is based on a very old idea. Nintendo's bread and butter is its software which is the entire point here. Make a box that's most appealing to the market your going for, the games will be there. Develop one Mario Kart engine and use it for post-release DLC. Same with Super Smash Bros. minus Sakurai undergoing an existential crisis. Nintendo has handled DLC fairly well on Wii U. Perhaps it can use DLC to make up the revenue of not selling two versions of something.

21

General Gaming / Resident Evil Revelaitons 2

« on: September 06, 2014, 11:54:01 PM »

Here are some early details on the game, copied and pasted from one of the first links on The Google: Resident Evil: Revelations 2 – New Details Revealed, First Screenshots, Claire Redfield, Burton & More! There are also some magazine scans I didn't want to hotlink and am too lazy to save and upload to imgur. Okay, fine, here's one of Claire and Ellen Page Moira:

- Claire Redfield will return as the playable lead and it is said that “In the time since we last saw her (Claire), she’s grown to be a seasoned veteran.”

- Claire will be joined throughout the campaign with Moira Burton, daughter of the legendary Barry Burton.
The campaign will be playable in co-op or singleplayer.

- When playing as Claire, her style will be more combat focused.  Whereas Moira will be supplying Claire with health herbs, provided the flashlight and general support.

- Claire will be the only player death that will result in a Game Over, one of Moira’s key roles will be to help keep Claire alive (though Claire can obviously heal herself).

- The story will take place on an abandoned island detention facility.

- The campaign will begin with Claire and Moira awakening after being abducted.

- The events will take place between the events of Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6.

- Gameplay will be much more Survival Horror orientated (much like the first Resident Evil: Revelations), bringing the series back to its roots with less over the top action, unlike Resident Evil 5 and 6.

- Fan feedback has played a part in the development of Resident Evil: Revelations 2.  Producer Okabe said that “The project has been finding the line between listening to fan feedback and also doing something different to confound expectations.”

- Okabe also said that “I want this to be both a game that doesn’t lose what made its predecessor great, while also bringing something new and exciting to the Resident Evil series.”  He also added that “Achieving that lofty goal by bringing together past and future will make this an itchy-tasty prospect indeed.”

- Resident Evil: Revelations 2 will feature a new “Afflicted” enemy type, which “may look like zombies, but are in fact something quite different.”

- The Afflicted enemy will be both fast and able to deal heavy damage to the player.  It is also said that they will force the player to decide whether to take them head-on, sneak up using stealth and applying a take-down or the player can run for the hills and “preserve ammo”.

- Resident Evil: Revelations 2 will run at 1080p and 60fps (for the PC and new gen versions at least).

I really liked the first Revelaitons. I put a ton of time into the 3DS version then got to the middle of Trench difficulty (Normal) in Raid Mode in the Wii U version before stopping. I haven't had the urge to pick it up again. I think oohhboy once referred to Raid Mode as a "bullet sponge simulator" which is pretty accurate. I really enjoyed it in the beginning then it just got old. Anyway, I think co-op will help the sequel tremendously in the campaign. The lack of local multiplayer in the console versions of original was total ass.

Revelaitons 2 is announced for every current platform except Wii U and 3DS (boo-urns). Since that's the case, I'll probably just end up waiting until I eventually buy a PS4. It'll definitely be $20 by then. It's nice to see Claire back even though I prefer Jill. I still find it odd that this series keeps introducing new characters without catching up on so many of the old ones, namely Rebecca and Barry for that matter (though I really wouldn't be surprised if he shows up here). Hopefully, Moira isn't an annoying douche like Wesker's son, Jake.

22

Nintendo Gaming / Bayonetta 2, now with twice as much Bayonetta

« on: June 10, 2014, 01:59:46 PM »

Many of us were hoping for a port of the first Bayonetta, but getting it for free is awesome. What value!

The game looks amazing. I only played the PS3 version of the original. Yikes. I'm glad I now get a second chance with a port presumably handled by Platinum Games themselves.

23

Nintendo Gaming / The Legend of Zelda Wii U

« on: June 10, 2014, 12:47:31 PM »

Can we talk about how awesome that was?

24

Nintendo Gaming / The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

« on: March 10, 2014, 10:17:07 AM »

I was for going to post this in "What are you playing?" thread, but it was getting lengthy so I decided to start a new thread.

I made some significant progression this weekend. I have two more Sages to free then Lorule castle. There's also the optional Treacherous Tower (it's this game's Cave of Ordeals). I bought all the weapons and upgraded them. The Maimai hunt was surprisingly not awful. Finding a golden bee was totally impossible so I ended up just buying it to give to the dude then I found out that the prize was silliness. I have so many rupees that it didn't matter. One bottle cost 3000 rupees. I originally thought the whole rent then buy items thing might be annoying, but it wasn't. I never had to farm for money. It's nice that you actually use Rupees in this game. Most Zelda games, I barely used them at all.

Calling this a sequel to A Link to the Past is both a mostly incorrect description and an insult to A Link Between Worlds itself. Besides some familiar screens played up by Nintendo in trailers, it isn't really like its so-called predecessor at all. A Link Between Worlds holds its own pretty well as a Zelda title that it doesn't to stand on a Link to the Past's shoulders. In fact, I think Nintendo's insistence on connecting the game to A Link to the Past hurt the game initially. I went in with certain expectations and the beginning does try to adhere to A Link to the Past. Once A Link Between Worlds breaks free from its faux direct sequel bonds, it becomes a much stronger experience. It's a really fun game that starts off very slowly, but picks up immensely once you get to Lorule. The second half of the Theives' Hideout dungeon was especially enjoyable. The turning-into-a-painting mechanic is something I didn't think I'd enjoy as much as I actually did. It adds a lot to the game and there are some pretty clever puzzles.

Like I said in a previous post, the game is directionless, but that's only a problem in the beginning. Once you have all the items and can do anything and go anywhere, it becomes really fun to just explore the world. This happens much earlier than in other Zelda games. In Lorule, you have to do two dungeons in order, one of the items has to be returned to Ravio. Otherwise, you have free reign to go nuts. Speaking of Ravio, he has to be Lorule's Link. That's just my guess. He just happens to have a bracelet that protects you and allows you to turn into a painting. Convenient. Then, Princess Hilda specifically mentions that Lorule has no hero like Link. Instead, they have this weirdo who randomly takes over your house and sells you all the items needed to finish your quest. That sounds like the opposite of Link to me. The only thing that would make that more obvious is if there was a scene of Ravio gluing broken pots back together.

Anyway, the remixed music is great and I'll have to check youtube for the dungeon tracks because a few of then were quite excellent. I just don't remember which dungeon had which track.

I still don't like the art style though that only registers when I stop to think about it. The game got so engrossing in Lorule that I didn't notice it for long periods.

The plot is pretty weak. No surprises there. It also skips a lot of exposition. Many of the Sages are turned into paintings off-screen. I didn't realize they were Sages until I rescued them. I suppose it doesn't matter in a Zelda game that treats plot as an afterthought, but it's still poor storytelling.

I tried the Streetpass battle. Meh... I'm borrowing this game from a friend, but I won't miss the Streetpassing stuff much.

So far, it's a strong game that I got to play for free. It's probably my favorite handheld Zelda since Link's Awakening. I'll update when I finish the game.

25

Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo making mini-games for smartphones

« on: January 27, 2014, 10:46:42 PM »

Nintendo making mini-games for smartphones: Nikkei

Posting this since I haven't seen it posted here yet.

Two things:

1. The games are free
2. Nintendo is using them to advertise their games and hopefully drive people to Wii U and 3DS

I'd prefer Nintendo didn't feel they need to do this, but it's not the worst idea as long as the games remain free so they can force ads onto people. I don't think they should use Mario, Zelda etc. in these games, but they're probably going to.