Another excellent show. Let's see ...
1. Greg, the best edits are the ones the audience doesn't notice. As a god of both gaming and editing, all power and glory be unto you.
... poor Bills =(
2. As KDR correctly identified above, as of now, there are not really any tangible benefits for consumers in download-only gaming. But, there are benefits for companies in terms of screwing us! So, I for one am very content to see Nintendo continue "lagging woefully behind" in this regard. Plus, as Greg said, right now Nintendo's business model does not need any revamping from their end. If consumers still feel first party games are worth the $50 price tag after years on the market? Guess what? That is Nintendo's reward for delivering on QUALITY.
Other companies who are trumpeting disposable, annual, releases and DLC up the whazoo are going to have to keep treading that water and seeing how far they can nickel and dime consumers to recoup their bloated budgets. As Lindy acknowledged, those map packs ain't never gonna be free again, people! And how long do you think it will take before we start seeing "Platinum Editions" released AFTER some "Gold Edition"?
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The fact that the conversation eventually lead down the path of "well, hypothetically they could do away with NDS functionality on the 3DS," yea, I guess that would help them get on board with downloading full NDS games.... it would also be a rip-off! And not Nintendo's style.
"But NinSage," some might already be typing feverishly, "the new Wii remodel took away GCN support!" Yea, it did, but that's not because it is going to try and sell you downloadable GCN titles. In other words, the business model is saving on hardware costs, not trying to squeeze you for digital transactions. Also worth remembering, this comes on the heels of being a full console generation removed. I am content with the industry-wide standard of having one previous generation of backwards-compatibility.
Thus, lag on, Nintendo!! .... oh... and keep making hardware your competition needs to imitate
3. Only Nintendo could inspire so much talk of closing up shop in the wake of 100+ years of success, and 7 years of unprecedented success. Let me know when Sony and MS actually make profits on their games divisions and we'll continue this conversation.
Jonny, thank you! The people who think like that simply do not understand the company. Nintendo may be unique to a fault, but they know what they're doing in terms of video games and I don't see that changing any time soon.
Jonny, thanks AGAIN! The "game media's judge of success," is perfect way to put it. Nintendo is successful at making hardware/software that the majority of gamers enjoy. Nintendo is happy to profit off of this simple model. Meanwhile, the gaming media is too busy handing out kudos for most-polygons and biggest dude-bro shooter of the season. I'll never forget when Adam Sessler did a soapbox about how the gaming industry could be financially successful and he didn't even acknowledge Nintendo's existence. Talk about a double standard.
4. Ain't no podcast like the RFN crew. End of story, bitches.
PS - to echo jimwood's sentiments, I really thought Greg was going to announce something awful like the cancelation of RFN or his resignation. To further echo jimwood, don't do that to us!! =P