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[I don't know what this title means either. Non compos mentis.]

1

Podcast Discussion / Episode 989: Sonic Mania Is Tsundere Life

« on: August 23, 2026, 06:27:20 PM »

I don't know what this title means either. Non compos mentis.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/76874/episode-989-sonic-mania-is-tsundere-life

We wanted to officially induct Switch into the retro-eligible systems for RetroActive inclusion and opted for a game from the system's first twelve months. That's how a Nintendo podcast ends up doing a RetroActive on a Sonic game.

As you are no doubt aware, we landed on Sonic Mania. We have a diverse set of opinions on the game, but we do all agree that growing up with Sonic makes it easier to love Sonic. We have a lot to say about the blue hedgehog's 2D revival, and we'll probably make some fans unhappy along the way, but we tried. I still think even Sonic fans will find some things here to agree with.

If you don't, you can yell at us here.

We really appreciate the high level of audience participation for this RetroActive. It makes the segment better.

• (00:04:36) Retroactive - Sonic Mania.

[I'm going to N-F-see-my way into your bank account.]

2

Podcast Discussion / Episode 988: Monster Rancher Stole My Identity but I Got This Cool Kaiju

« on: August 16, 2026, 07:09:31 PM »

I'm going to N-F-see-my way into your bank account.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/76778/episode-988-monster-rancher-stole-my-identity-but-i-got-this-cool-kaiju

It is a rare treat when I get to introduce one of my co-hosts to one of the stranger stories in the gaming industry. This is particularly true if the subject involves strange use of tech and the audience is Jon.

Jon had never heard of Monster Rancher. This is completely understandable, it's a late-90s monster catching game from Tecmo. It also never really got beyond a cult following outside Japan, despite getting the full tie-in anime treatment on national television in many countries.

Networks were chasing the Pokémon dollars, and Monster Rancher was the next fifth best thing.

By now you're aware that I'm stringing this out, so let's just get to the point: Monster Rancher was a PSX game where you got monsters by opening up the system, removing the disc, and replacing it with a CD. The game read the CD and used the data to calculate what monster you got.

This isn't hugely different from things like Barcode Battler, a weird Tomy-published thing from early 90s Japan. However, the extra layer is the invention of an entire meta-narrative about the discs (CDs) being ancient artefacts from God, in which he imprisoned the troublesome monsters. Most CDs just seem to give whatever - but occasionally, like Alvin and the Chipmunks' Christmas album getting "Santa," it feels as if the list was hand-built. And the builder was unhinged.

This results in the very funny visual of kids rummaging through their parents' CD collection to find John Tesh at Red Rocks to get Raindow.

Anyway, this week James gives closing thoughts on the Pokopia Bubbly Basin expansion and Jon wraps up his thoughts on Days Gone. Guillaume is reading Yoshi and the Mysterious Book and is finally getting around to playing with the cardboard Virtual Boy shell he bought in order to gives impressions of the "new" games Dragon Hopper and Zero Racers. Greg wraps New Business with some final thoughts on Splatoon Raiders. We're concluding a lot of things this week.

After a break we tackle a bit of Listener Mail. Our first task is to make Tecmo Koei's next crossover and our second asks us to examine our feelings on the return of Western developers to Nintendo systems.

You can examine our feelings here.

Reminder: Sonic Mania RetroActive is next week. Post your comments now!

• (00:00:52) New Business - Pokopia expansion pass.
• (00:26:58) Days Gone.
• (00:37:42) Yoshi and the Mysterious Book.
• (00:50:07) Virtual Boy headset novelty.
• (00:55:16) Splatoon Raiders.
• (00:59:01) Listener Mail - Dynasty Warriors (verb) a franchise.
• (01:25:01) Western devs are back! Do we care?

[Like a Guigenerate gambler, I'm just merging all day long.]

3

Podcast Discussion / Episode 987: I Could Be Merging Things Right Now!

« on: August 09, 2026, 07:47:22 PM »

Like a Guigenerate gambler, I'm just merging all day long.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/76765/episode-987-i-could-be-merging-things-right-now

James is back from an impromptu vacation - it is unclear if the vacation is the you from him or him from you. Sadly, it has now concluded, so we are once again stuck with each other.

This also means Sonic Mania RetroActive will not be held on this episode because James has not actually, you know, been playing it.

Like, at all. Check back in a couple of weeks.

Anyway, I don't have a ton to say today, I just want to know if we can get a sponsorship deal with Merge Mansion. We will subject Guillaume to his addiction for our own financial gain.

This week it's all New Business. James is back with LEGO Voyagers, which he enjoyed for what it was, and Denshaattack!, which is a game that is literally everything at once. He also has early impressions on the Bubbly Basin DLC for Pokopia - and that town is a goddamn mess.

Jon has impressions of Days Gone, but I don't have any notes from his time talking. I'll just assume he loved it, but maybe he didn't. Who can say? You! If you listen...

Guillaume told us about Merge Mansion - which is truly a fraught topic.  He may have a problem, but it might prove a lucrative opportunity for the rest of us.

Greg has closed the book on Splatoon Raiders and has some final thoughts on progression in this single player Splatoon entry.

We wrap the show by doing some housekeeping, with particular interest given to this week's Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Direct.

We also ask you to send email and post Sonic Mania thoughts.

• (00:07:24) New Business - LEGO Voyagers.
• (00:17:26) Denshattack!
• (00:28:14) Pokopia expansion pass.
• (00:45:52) Days Gone.
• (00:59:04) Merge Mansion (what's the opposite of an intervention?).
• (01:18:21) Splatoon Raiders.
• (01:23:50) Housekeeping.

[We're out for justice, and cleaning up the whole neighborhood, paisano.]

4

Podcast Discussion / Episode 986: Give Us Willem Dafoe

« on: August 06, 2026, 10:04:54 AM »

We're out for justice, and cleaning up the whole neighborhood, paisano.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/76608/episode-986-give-us-willem-dafoe

James is out again this week, but we think he'll be back next week. As always, this is a developing situation. For now our listeners will have to still deal with Jon's impeccable professionalism.

This week's New Business has Greg still playing Splatoon Raiders, Gui with Milano's Odd Job Collection and a pinball odyssey, and Jon with the real end of Great Circle (and a crisis resolved) and further Halo thoughts.

Email has us looking at what games should be made even more 2D, who we'd have as our choice for full-game voice work (hint: Dafoe, Seagal), and one side benefit of unnecessary Switch 2 re-releases.

• (00:02:18) New Business - Splatoon Raiders
• (00:21:00) Milano's Odd Job Collection
• (00:32:47) Modern pinball games show Larry what happens
• (00:47:22) Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - The Order of Giants DLC
• (00:54:26) Halo: Campaign Evolved
• (01:02:49) Listener Mail - Make it even 2D-er
• (01:29:51) Living voice chameleon Willem Dafoe is all you need
• (01:43:56) More languages: an underrated perk

[Square-Enix continues to deny its true fans.]

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Podcast Discussion / Episode 985: Really, Square-Enix? Still No Upgrade Path For Various Daylife!?

« on: July 25, 2026, 02:28:15 PM »

Square-Enix continues to deny its true fans.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/76540/episode-985-really-square-enix-still-no-upgrade-path-for-various-daylife

James is out this week, as he decided to (in his own words) "live large, peace suckazzzz". We don't have to like it, but we maybe have to respect it. But probably not.

This week's New Business has Greg discussing Splatoon Raiders and Goemon Collection, Gui talking Mario Tennis Fever and Absolum, and Jon finishing Great Circle and beginning Halo Campaign Evolved.

Email dives into what the next 2D-to-3D shift might be, why Square Enix can't decide if it wants to provide upgrades for old games or not, and which games might benefit from an upgrade using Switch 2 features.

• (00:02:15) New Business - Splatoon Raiders
• (00:18:19) Goemon Collection
• (00:21:29) Mario Tennis Fever
• (00:29:56) Absolum
• (00:38:00) Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Halo: Campaign Evolved
• (00:58:30) Listener Mail - The next giant leap in gaming?
• (01:26:40) Square-Enix's confounding upgrade path strategy
• (01:48:50) The Switch 2 upgrades we crave

[We are not talking about [redacted due to litigiousness].]

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Podcast Discussion / Episode 984: Iconic Ball Action

« on: July 18, 2026, 05:50:48 AM »

We are not talking about [redacted due to litigiousness].

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/76428/episode-984-iconic-ball-action

Canada is on fire and the sky here is poison.

Cause and effect.

And as a result, the final of the world's second-most Iconic Ball Action is at risk from poison air.

I don't really have a long narrative to weave this week, I just think the phrase "Iconic Ball Action" is the work of a wordplay auteur.

• Homer
• Shakespeare
• Ohshima

Mononyms earned, worthy of legacy.

We do have a reminder this week; we will be doing a RetroActive on Sonic Mania (and it's Iconic Ball... you get the idea) in a few weeks. You should consider getting on that and telling us about it.

Shorter show, shorter bullshitting in the article. We are a monotome - a word I'm pretty sure I just coined - this week. That is to say, just an email segment.

We start with a primer from "frequent listener" GX on Sonic Mania. He is something of an expert on the topic. It's a good starting point for many of our listeners who may not be as well-versed in Sonic gameplay.

The only other email we handle this week asks us to revive an old RFN classic segment and "grade" Nintendo. But in 2026 we need to grade them a bit differently: we're using XBOX management phrases that mean nothing.

Does Nintendo "Core before more," do they "Stay rebellious," and do they even "Sabotage the product to delay shipping so management can't liquidate the team." One of those was not from the list, but I would argue I did not make it up.

You can tell us if we're successfully outworking the problem by send your letter to all members of the "Radio Free Nintendo family".

• (00:02:59) Listener Mail - How to approach Sonic Mania.
• (00:12:37) Signal over ceremony.

[Episode 983: Get Back at Your First Responders With Swipe Fees]

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Podcast Discussion / Episode 983: Get Back at Your First Responders With Swipe Fees

« on: July 12, 2026, 12:21:54 PM »

Episode 983: Get Back at Your First Responders With Swipe Fees

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/76344/episode-983-get-back-at-your-first-responders-with-swipe-fees

The fun part about the RFN recording schedule is knowing you said something factually incorrect and waiting three to four days for the rest of the world to tell you about. If its a minor thing, we might be able to correct the edit. If it is a larger blunder, the options are limited.

We've been making a mistake for quite some time now. Well-over a month ago, Jonny suggested Episode 999 but a RetroActive on the DS game Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (999). This seemed perfectly apt. It also seemed far enough away that it didn't spur further research.

This was a mistake.

This week RFN kicks off with a blizzard of half-announcements: ideas that are missing central pieces of information. Usually enough to get started, but not enough to fully inform, these half-announcements deal with two RetroActives and Episode 1000. I say two RetroActives because... there are two of them, but also because 999 seemed so theoretically far away that I decided an additional RetroActive should happen before it.

It really wasn't that far away, but we started the research for the sooner RetroActive instead of confirming a basic fact about the 999 RetroActive.

You see, 999 was rereleased as "Zero Escape: The Nonary Game" on a number of platforms. This remake features some of the creature comforts from Zero Escape: Virtues Last Reward, which would greatly assist in getting through the game for a RetroActive. And, of course, it must be on Switch. We all assumed this.

You assumed this.

Nobody bothered to check.

We've spoken about it multiple times.

...999 is not on Switch.The Nonary Game release is on 3DS but, of course, 3DS is gone.

Steam, PS4, Xbox? All set.Switch? No.

So for now, let's put the 999 RetroActive on hold. DS copies of that game are expensive.Let's focus on the next RetroActive, the Switch launch year RetroActive.

Once again, something weird has happened. We're doing Sonic Mania, and I don't understand in the slightest we got here. But we did. So, we'll be doing that in early August. Radio Free Nintendo presents a Sonic game. I'm sure this will go great.

Right, last bit of news. Episode 1000 will be recorded live in a fixed-length telethon format. This will not be "James spends 14 hours of a Saturday producing an endless stream of content until his brain melts and his back screams." This will be five to six hours to raise money for [INSERT CHARITY HERE].

We're still working on that part.And the agenda.And the date.

There's a lot in flux here, but we'll get it.

Anyway, we're really bad at planning, even after 1000 episodes.

But this week is not episode 1000. This is episode 983. And this week we have additional announcements: new content for Mario Kart World, end of life for Mario Kart Tour, and Switch repair options for you. James also proves to be the bigger man by passive-aggressively responding to a passive-aggressive email about his Star Fox impressions from last week. As a reminder, he is the bigger man. Mature, enlightened, handsome, and definitely not writing this article.

Finally, after thirty minutes of preamble we get to actual New Business. James is deep into Rhythm Heaven Groove and Guillaume and Greg have... had other obligations, leaving James to awkwardly explore this very weird space on his lonesome. Guillaume did have time for $2 pea-removal game Heavy Machinery vs Shumai, which you should definitely look at. RFN is weird.

It doesn't get any less strange with Listener Mail. Our first question asks if there are Nintendo 64 games that would have been better served on the PlayStation. The second asks how Best Buy pays Nintendo for games bought with reward points. The topic does not stay there for long.

You can get financial advice here*.

* We do not offer financial advice.

• (00:07:39) New Public Service Announcements - New Mario Kart World Knockout Tours. Mario Kart Tour sunsets on mobile. Send your Switch in for repairs while you can.
• (00:17:31) Star Fox (2026).
• (00:33:41) New Business - Rhythm Heaven Groove.
• (00:55:11) Heavy Machinery vs Shumai.
• (01:03:52) Listener Mail - What N64 games should have been on PlayStation?
• (01:33:06) We have to talk about your credit card.

[I too hate Mondays.]

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Podcast Discussion / Episode 982: All We Wanted Was to Pull a Sword Out of a Man's Forehead

« on: July 05, 2026, 09:04:53 PM »

I too hate Mondays.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/76269/episode-982-all-we-wanted-was-to-pull-a-sword-out-of-a-mans-forehead

I don't have a lot to say this week, it's miserably hot and I just want to go live inside my refrigerator. To make matters worse, I'm in an endless battle with Rhythm Heaven Groove to calibrate my TV. We are not on speaking terms.

I have Jon texting me video of Sid Vicious standing on top of a freshly-crushed rental car, and I'm trying not to make WCW losing $30m in a single year doing these kinds of stunts into a metaphor for XBOX.

I'm a busy man, as you can see. I have important things going on.

I cannot be asked to entertain you in this podcast article this week. I passed my creative writing classes well-over a decade ago, there is no teaching assistant to impress by using an allusion to a Northern Semitic storm god to explain the on-going drama roiling PlayStation... PR. Ba'al would have removed the drive also.

James, in his infinite wisdom, did not ask his crew to help him align the New Business order. This means Jon starts us off with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Both Gui and James have been prodding him to play this game for over a year. It's time has come.

Speaking of Guillaume and appraising ancient artifacts, his long-suffering headset has finally slipped from this mortal coil, and now he is attempting to get used to a newer model. He also been playing roguelike brawler Absolum.

Just about everyone (except Jon) has been playing Rhythm Heaven Groove, but it was only released that day so impressions are early.

Just about everyone (except Gui) has been playing Star Fox, but it... released a couple of weeks ago; and is a very direct remake. We know what this game is.

There was a break somewhere in the middle of that New Business.

That said, we wrap the show with some Listener Mail: emails from the far past that are also from the present and "concerns" with the Ocarina of Time remake.

Send it.

• (00:05:51) New Business - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
• (00:26:23) Gui's new headset, please forgive the sound quality. Absolum.
• (00:33:45) Rhythm Heaven Groove.
• (00:52:41) Star Fox (2026).
• (01:32:28) Listener Mail - An attention-starved hack still wants to beat you up.
• (01:39:34) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake concerns.

[Koei stocks are through the roof.]

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Podcast Discussion / Episode 981: We're So WinBack Direct

« on: June 28, 2026, 06:19:31 PM »

Koei stocks are through the roof.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/76195/episode-981-were-so-winback-direct

Can RFN meme a WinBack Remake into happening? The Internet managed to meme XBOX into reviving Battletoads and ...a company currently wearing the skin of the long-dead Atari was allowed to revive Bubsy by an allegedly merciful God.

But not the skin of that Atari. Unless you were thinking about the correct Atari already.

In that case yes, the skin of that Atari.

Let's try to build a case for this idea. Technically the game already got remade for PS2 but let's not talk about that; it undermines the argument.

WinBack's cover mechanics were highly influential - making their way into Metal Gear Solid 2, Resident Evil, and Gears of Wa...oh right, this road leads back to XBOX. Those are dangerous waters.

New tact: This Omega Force-developed Koei title presents a chance for Nintendo to continue to foster a healthy relationship with Koei Tecmo. A WinBack remake is a business investment first, and a possible tens of thousands-seller second.

This is clearly an idea who's time has come and I thank you for consuming my clearly thought-out idea.

It's a lot of New Business this week. Greg, James, and Gui have all been playing the Rhythm Heaven Groove demo. Greg has some detailed impressions of Super Scram Kitty. Guillaume alleges he is playing something called WolfFang 空牙2001 SkullFang 空牙外伝 Saturn Tribute Boosted; this is dubious. James continues to offer New Business on two-sitting (or less) games with The Last Salvage Squad. Then, after a break, Jon and Greg take on Star Fox - which is actually Star Fox 64 but Nintendo hates numbers now. Mario Kart Not 7 was always the correct argument.

We also beg for your RetroActive ideas - assuming they comport with our rules and then attack the question: is the Neo Geo retro-console worth the price?

You can answer both pleas here.

• (00:00:58) New Business - Rhythm Heaven Groove demo.
• (00:22:05) Super Scram Kitty.
• (00:31:37) Wolffang Skullfang Saturn Tribute Boosted.
• (00:48:19) The Last Salvage Squad.
• (00:55:21) Star Fox (2026).
• (01:29:50) Send your Retroactive ideas.
• (01:36:40) Listener Mail - Does the Neo Geo spark joy?

[I've recently secured a billion dollars on behalf of an anonymous investor.]

10

Podcast Discussion / Episode 980: The Amazing Digital Blockchain

« on: June 21, 2026, 05:57:59 PM »

I've recently secured a billion dollars on behalf of an anonymous investor.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/76101/episode-980-the-amazing-digital-blockchain

We were on a schedule this week. I am also on a schedule this week.

Normally, this is how I would transition into some sophistry about schedules or similar.

Let's forego this today. Let's get right to the nature of the... THE AMAZING DIGIAL CIRCUS IS IN FORTNITE.

I cannot even begin to contemplate if this is synergistic to the brand - is Pomni trapped inside Fortnite? Does playing as her continue the psychological torture that is slowly consuming her? Or, conversely, is this deeply inappropriate... for mostly the same reasons?

Well, entirely the same reasons.

DJ Diesel and Pomni, together at last.

This concludes our weekly-mandated nonsense.

It's New Business all the way down this week. Jon is trying out Pokémon Champions, the new official way to have Pokémon tournaments. He also explores the end of Destiny 2 and more broadly the fate of Microsoft and Sony studios as their various live games die. We also talk about the blockchain. There's no reason for this.

James has the most express New Business that has ever existed: he espouses the gospel of Pikuniku - a bite-sized game with a temporarily bite-sized price. It's silly, fun, and ever so slightly transgressive.

Guillaume has finally found the canonical ending of The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. He's also a bit unimpressed by the puzzles of Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. His last piece of New Business is Beatdown City Survivors.

Greg concludes the show with his early thoughts on Mina the Hollower, which it turns out isn't great for second screen play. He compares it to Shadow Labyrinth and Metroid: Other M. Also, Wii U classic Scram Kitty is back with Super Scram Kitty. No buddy on rails these days.

Send us emails and RetroActive ideas - following our very specific criteria - here.

• (00:01:05) New Business - Pokemon Champions.
• (00:19:34) Destiny 2, its end and DLC The Final Shape. Digressions on the blockchain.
• (00:40:12) Pikuniku.
• (00:45:36) The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes.
• (01:00:37) Beatdown City Survivors.
• (01:12:35) Mina the Hollower. Shadow Labyrinth. Metroid: Other M.
• (01:23:29) Super Scram Kitty.

[I detest the Sportsmate.]

11

Podcast Discussion / Episode 979: We All Struggle Under the Giant Thumb of Sportsmate

« on: June 14, 2026, 02:29:39 PM »

I detest the Sportsmate.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/76021/episode-979-we-all-struggle-under-the-giant-thumb-of-sportsmate

There was a Direct. You know this.

You knew this even before it was announced.

It was, and remains, known.

Many details were likewise known, and presumably remain as such.

In a sense, it makes this RFN largely superfluous in the immediate window following the Direct. It weirdly becomes more informative with the passing of time and the fading of memories.

We do try to editorialize where appropriate, but the machinery of the Direct format almost demands an equally mechanical response. We try to break the cycle but the effect targets the subconsciousness.  

Anyway: You know what the Direct was about, and if I recount it here I diminish the episode's primary value. Instead, I will say the Sportsmate's thumb is not a thing I wished to see a Nintendo executive struggle against - but I will enjoy all the reaction memes that video will create.

• June 9th 2026 Nintendo Direct, in order.
• (00:02:30) Rhythm Heaven Groove. Capcom bloc. Big Walk.
• (00:21:30) Kairosoft.
• (00:29:06) Pokopia. Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. DK Challenge.
• (00:54:26) Jujutsu Kaisen Rumble: Survivaton. Cozy Darksoulslikes. Muramasa: Revenant Blades.
• (01:04:39) So much Xenoblade.
• (01:40:49) Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World. Kingdom Hearts 4.
• (01:50:11) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (2026) glimpsed.
• (02:06:34) Star Fox (2026) demo.

[Not the fiber.]

12

Podcast Discussion / Episode 978: Cotton Is Coming!

« on: June 07, 2026, 04:36:53 PM »

Not the fiber.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/75837/episode-978-cotton-is-coming

It's the end of the Summer Games Flogging, where everyone in the industry creates their own Direct, making the entire marketing thing lose almost all of its juice just due to over-exposure.

I guess it's sheer opportunism that resulted in Geoff's Games Guzzler ending up in the E3 slot, following the show's dual-death from a pandemic and the failure of the industry to maintain its own plaything.

I've seen people blame the ESA for "killing" E3, and this is a very odd take. The companies themselves are the ESA. The ESA is E3. These are all the same thing. Nobody failed anyone, everyone failed everyone else.

The short story is that being "on the floor" of E3 got too expensive for the ROI - particularly if you were buying up huge real estate. Activision, then Microsoft (still separate at this point), and eventually even Sony decided the juice was not worth the squeeze. Sony never got to see their exfil come to light, due to... you know... but Microsoft was well-positioned to just move across the plaza to a building already bearing their name.

I don't know where I'm going with this, except to say that the current format of one to two hour blocks of trailers feels like a slog where everything blends into a slurry. The Game Awards Enterprises was just fueled by enough self-importance and material resources to attempt to seize the mantle themselves. The imitation is pale.

I still would have gone with the cruise ships.

We don't have any news from the Hot Fun Fiesta not because it hadn't happened yet, some of the video presentations had already run. We just didn't cover them.

We only have New Business this week.

The returning Jon kicks the show off with an update on Saros and Outlast. He also explores eFootball just in time for the REDACTED Cup and then gives an update on Pokopia. Guillaume spends a little time on Hundred Line but then devotes most of his time to Panorama Cotton - his second-most recommend Cotton game.

After a break, James has thoughts on Mina the Hollower. They are not positive. After his lengthy examination of the game's design, Greg closes the show with Yoshi and the Mysterious Book.

Email us.

• (00:03:40) New Business - Saros. Outlast.
• (00:09:27) eFootball.
• (00:21:53) Pokopia.
• (00:42:12) The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. Panorama Cotton.
• (00:58:35) James on Mina the Hollower.
• (01:41:51) Greg on Mina the Hollower. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book.
• (01:58:08) Listener Mail kinda - When the Red Arremer underwhelmed.

[In retrospect, I wasn't getting paid for any of this... wait a minute.]

13

Podcast Discussion / Episode 974: When I Was Getting Scraped for Horace Showpony, I Wasn't Getting Paid

« on: May 09, 2026, 06:47:29 PM »

In retrospect, I wasn't getting paid for any of this... wait a minute.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/75492/episode-974-when-i-was-getting-scraped-for-horace-showpony-i-wasnt-getting-paid

This week we recorded before Nintendo announced their quarterly numbers. This means we were two hours too early to hear about the price increase for Switch 2.

I want you all to applaud me for fitting in every possible homonym for "to" in a single sentence.

Business James, who for the purposes of ongoing litigation is a distinct person from James Jones RFN Host, was eating this week. The suddenly announced and released Star Fox Direct was an adoption of his FOMO on the News technique. It called for a Nintendo communication strategy requiring eternal vigilance from consumers. If a Direct could descend upon us at any time, then eyes must stay fixed to the skies. Nintendo lists YouTube and other video services as their competitors - attention is the currency of Nintendo's realm - and the price of this patrol is your Twitch Watch Streak.

There is a particularly perverse series of thoughts that RFN worked through when we first confronted the future of Star Fox, following his featured role in the most recent Mario cinematic content - I dare not say "movie." We explicitly identified a city upon the metaphorical map that we would regard as least interesting to visit, which Nintendo seems to have likewise identified as most affordable location for their mercenary business convention.

We will struggle to spend our entire per diem, given the recently instituted two drink limit. Technically, the policy does not proscribe the meal the drinks should accompany.

Ever the unpredictable, RFN starts this week with the big news of Wednesday - which as we noted was still the most recent news. And, of course, the news of the week (at least as of that moment) was Atari's acquisition of the Wizardry franchise. Except perhaps they didn't. I am utterly unable to tell you what Atari is at this moment, and I suspect they could not either. What separates us is I am aware of this weakness; evidence suggests they are not.

After this deliberate attempt to avoid the elephant in the room, we then pivot to the actual news of Wednesday - which again, was still the most recent news at this juncture: the new boot-up screen for Xbox Series consoles. Team Xbox is resurgent, what with their new @xbox email addresses and boot screens. The leaks have been patched, the bilge is pumped, and we are now upon the open seas of success. This is a lie.

Alright, assuredly the dilettantes hosting this show have run out of things to talk about that are not the big news. In a sense, no. This is where we talk about Star Fox 64 remake (#2) unhelpfully named Star Fox, which is the title of a different game entirely. At the time, as I painfully remind you, this was the big news story of the week. Obviously that is not the case anymore, assuming you are not in a very specific demographic. As can likewise be surmised from this article, the overwhelming response of our hosts is largely "why?" But hey, now I can bother people playing any piece of Switch or Switch 2 software, while wearing the face of a space pig. Sadly, vtubing as RFN favorite Panther Caroso is not an option.

After a break, we answer two emails. The first advises us on where someone - say a Nintendo podcast host - could find advice for playing Pokémon games. The second asks us to replace infinite remakes with infinite demakes. You can demake our inbox here.

• (00:00:31) News - Atari be bussin'.
• (00:15:25) Xbox be flailin'.
• (00:27:27) Starfox be loopin'.
• (01:24:22) Listener Mail - Pokemon strategies and where to find them.
• (01:32:43) Enough with remakes, time for demakes. And more remakes.

[Not a one of those fronts are actual progress.]

14

Podcast Discussion / Episode 973: Progress is Being Made on Multiple Fronts

« on: May 03, 2026, 04:51:00 PM »

Not a one of those fronts are actual progress.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/75410/episode-973-progress-is-being-made-on-multiple-fronts

I tried to write this article as a choose your own adventure, no intention to violate trademarks, podcast article. This absolute folly required I write the article asynchronously, and then make sure that I can weave it together in various paths so that all sections can be hit and that from every segment it is possible to reach all other segments - short of the introduction.

This took a remarkable amount of time for a joke that was near-instantly threadbare. As an example:

Section 2
Reunions are upon us. Guillaume and Greg both return this week. For Greg it was a single absence that gave us the depressing state of the industry episode last week. For Guillaume, he's been gone a solid five episodes - ignoring the fact one of those episodes did not actually happen. He may be unaware of this, and James can continue to leverage his spotless hosting record.

This is already very weird. Are you:
A: Already sick of this joke and just want to get on with it? Go to Section 4
B: Curious if the title had something to do with this elaborate exercise that surely wasted half an hour to write. Go to Section 1
C: Desire the infinite reassurance of a loop without end. Go to Section 2

Why would I do this? Well, you see I am suddenly freed up this week as I do not need to also edit the podcast because Guillaume is back! Not only is... well I guess you saw that in the example text above. I hope you picked Option A.

Greg and James have both set out to escape the Moon and embrace paternal obligations with Pragmata. Both have finished the game, and James has completed the postgame content as well. This turns into a fairly lengthy discussion that takes up just under half the episode. It is as spoiler-free as possible, though contents from the demo are largely fair game.

After a break, Guillaume tell us about his trip to Japan. This includes a stop at the odd Nintendo Museum and a look at the sad state of the Japanese arcade ecosystem.

Jon is on some weird stuff. Note, that this stuff does not include Oblivion. He's playing Housemarque's newest game Saros, some pay-to-win Tecmo Bowl-likes, and Pokémon with the assistance of AI. Oblivion is his enemy and my ally.

• (00:01:28) New Business - Pragmata.
• (00:54:22) Guillaume's trip in Japan.
• (01:44:31) Saros.
• (01:48:15) Retro Bowl.
• (01:53:19) Pokopia. Playing Pokémon Sword with Claude riding shotgun.

[The ultimate guide to fully healthy industries like: gaming, carriage building, and commercial whaling.]

15

Podcast Discussion / Episode 972: Jean Ubisoft's Business Travels

« on: April 26, 2026, 05:07:00 PM »

The ultimate guide to fully healthy industries like: gaming, carriage building, and commercial whaling.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/75333/episode-972-jean-ubisofts-business-travels

I want to be rich.

Not morally "wealthy," capable of taking care of my family and giving them a shot at achieving their dreams.

I want to be rich.

I want my banker to pay house calls, just to see how I'm doing.I want parking for my yachts to be a chief concern to my company. Plural.

I cannot be caught dead on Mr. Jones Wednesday Whirlwind on a Thursday.

I want to exploit my way to generational wealth. I want to create a Roblox game.

Here's the pitch: we are going to steal a bunch of 12 year old's phones, and pull up their TikTok feed. Let's be honest, they shouldn't have a phone anyway - this is a societal service we are providing.

We are going to craft Roblox items based on whatever trending memes we find. Nobody owns them - allegedly - so by Internet law they're free. Then we are going to make a very basic game where you can win those items. Everyone playing is competing against every other player - and it is expressly pay to win.

Not a "pay for advantage."

Victory is expressly conditioned on outspending your opponents.

We are going to reproduce this game every three months with new memes from freshly-stolen iPhones.

And by we, I mean you. I am an ideas man - here to collect the wealth. You are the one at risk of a theft charge. We are not the same. I have to supervise the cleaning staff while they wax the deck of Monday's Elysium

Anyway, Greg is out this week but we're joined by Syrenne. We talk about... oh.

Uh...

Well you see, kids have a seat. We have some news. It's going to be difficult for you to hear.

Okay, we talk about the state of the industry.

It's... not great.

Hopefully you learn something. The house isn't on fire, but someone is building a remarkable amount of the non-load bearing walls exclusively out of matchsticks and oil soaked rags.

[It's legally distinct and even if it isn't Congo Bongo doesn't give them a lot of leg to stand on.]

16

Podcast Discussion / Episode 971: Professor E. Gadd's Mean Bean Machine

« on: April 19, 2026, 06:17:34 PM »

It's legally distinct and even if it isn't Congo Bongo doesn't give them a lot of leg to stand on.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/75209/episode-971-professor-e-gadds-mean-bean-machine

Getting stranded on an island seems to be a literature trope in all seafaring societies.

I doubt much of Western Liao's Khitan-language literature dealt with the struggles of sailors - not that we'll ever know; we can't read it.

Go look at ancient Greek literature. The sea-fairing people of the Aegean, Black, and Mediterranean Seas included the idea in some of their most cherished works. Both Odysseus and his predecessor Jason each suffered numerous shipwrecks in their respective stories.

It was really the Age of Sail, mass literacy, and the printing press that made dramatic stores of stranded sailors part of mainstream fiction. This tread continues to this day in literature, film, and TV.

It also shows up in video game formats, both literally and also as an architype. Think of Samus, or Olimar. They're not stranded on an island, but they may as well be. So it's not surprising that all these names come up with the RFN crew is tasked to construct their island survival team.

It might be more surprising that Jon is the one who really leaned into a team of former marooned space mariners. He constructed a team of experience, focus, and ingenuity.

Greg accepted the conditions as they were; we are told the island cannot be escaped and he accepted this. He opted for comfort and companionship. He drafted a team of man's best friends. Horses, cats, and dogs. This is about staying sane and saving his body.  

James challenged the world. James challenged himself. Jon wanted experience escaping the island. Greg opted to make the island home. James wanted a warzone. Tyrants, malcontents, adrenalin junkies. People who look nature in the face and don't just challenge - they demand it bend the knee. They each have immense power, skill, and strength but their temperaments are toxic. He believes he can channel this and he is wrong. His island will erupt. Escape is declared impossible but this crew fears no god. They should. It is a lesson Odysseus could teach them, but I'm not sure Raymond Bryce can read.

This week James channeled his inner Saw puppet  and asked his colleagues to play a game. He grabbed three Nintendo characters who have never starred in their own games and who have known personality traits to draw from. The goal is to design a game that fits this character. He had a list in the dozens and he used random chance to whittle it down to three. You tell me how to make a game about Groose!

Two Point Elementary School w/ Principal Groose has a ring to it.

After a break, we tackle two email. The first is the aforementioned desert island problem. The other asks us what events from gaming history we'd like to see someone research. You can ask us to research your island here.

That sounds lewd.

• (00:02:04) A silly game about Nintendo characters: James and Groose, together at last.
• (00:29:59) Jon and E. Gadd and some coffee.
• (00:43:08) Greg and General Pepper: ruthless accounting.
• (00:59:03) Listener Mail: A silly game about being stranded on an island with Nintendo characters.
• (01:34:03) Industry stories we would love to read about.

[I am going to fill this TSI with Greek philosophers and force Jon to ID them.]

17

Podcast Discussion / Episode 969: Plato's Allegory of the Electro-Thermostatic Refrigerator

« on: March 28, 2026, 05:35:01 PM »

I am going to fill this TSI with Greek philosophers and force Jon to ID them.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/74943/episode-969-platos-allegory-of-the-electro-thermostatic-refrigerator

Let's talk about merchandise. This week we talk about the fact Nintendo of America will no longer have price parity between eShop and retail prices.

This makes a logical sense, a digital product can't be resold and costs zero to produce. From Nintendo's perspective, they also don't have to cut in a retailer. Even for third party games, the pie is split two ways - not three. There's no risk of unsold stock rotting on the shelf, there's no manufacturing lines to maintain. It's a huge win to sell digitally. Using pricing to incentivize consumer behavior is wise.

However, the other half of this transaction - the retailers - are obviously going to be concerned by this trend. They are now the more expensive way to acquire a game, and the transition to digital had already been moving against them.

We know Nintendo values the relationship with retailers - the fact they had clung to the pricing parity for as long as they did speaks volumes. Retailers take the brunt of console launches, they provide co-marketing for major releases, they keep your brand in the eyes of consumers who aren't following the gaming industry all that closely.

I've spoken about the proliferation of Nintendo stuff on the Target shelves. While I'm not a frequent shopper, I'm there enough to have watched them creep across the electronics department and jump the firewall of the main aisle into the toy section. The upcoming movie has been a powerful catalyst for additional spreading of Mario merch. I suspect that this is part of the larger peace offering - more product for shelves tied to valuable brands, even as Nintendo starts to cut the retail market out of their core business.

As such, I decided to look into the 5" figurines available at my local Target location specifically for the The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - and rate them.

• Bowser Jr.: C+ Very nice texturing to create lizard-like skin. Messily painted bandana around his neck is accurate to source material. His paintbrush - used to frame Mario in a society filled with the dumbest species to ever wear shoes - can be held by his articulated hands. Points deducted for forcing me to spend time on Isle Delfino
• Rosalina: C- Ten points of articulation creates a lot of elegant-looking poses. I think this design hasn't aged well since the release of Galaxy; the half-covered face needs to go away. It strikes me as an emo signed up for cotillion. Accurate to her design but her single visible eye is open far too wide, as if she's been spooked by Isle Delfino's utter failure as a society
• Mario: B Extremely accurate to his movie model, though I don't love that he's been made a bit less round for his movie role. The articulation could be better blended into the model. Hair and moustache don't match, meaning he's dying somewhere. Presumably due to the stress of having been illegally detained on Isle Delfino
• Yoshi: B+ Yoshi is Yoshi. He also has the nicely textured skin, though the mold marks on his broad nose are too obvious considering the other detail. He has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to accessories: a New Donk City hat and satchel. Thankfully not on Delfino, because he would spontaneously explode.

Right, this week we talk about Nintendo's pricing changes. James is also mad about popcorn, or something. It's best to think about it. Then we have an argument about pedantry, nose removal and facial spite, and finally a break. God help us.

After this break we tackle some New Business. Guillaume is still at The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy but spends most of his New Business teaching his father to swear in the demo for Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. Greg has some time with new Super Mario Bros. Wonder DLC, Meetup in Bellabel Park. Lastly, Jon has forsaken Oblivion for the siren song that is Pokémon Pokopia. James is villainously rubbing his palms together. "Get f***ed, Oblivion."

No Listener Mail this week, but it is the priority for next week. So get them in!

• (00:01:33) News - The End of Price Parity.
• (00:39:53) News - Popcorn Scams.
• (00:49:34) New Business - Getting Nintendo Museum tickets.
• (01:03:45) The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream demo.
• (01:13:09) Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Meetup in Bellabel Park.
• (01:29:32) Pokémon Pokopia.

[This title under protest.]

18

Podcast Discussion / Episode 968: Now Not Offensively Poor!

« on: March 22, 2026, 06:03:36 PM »

This title under protest.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/74813/episode-968-now-not-offensively-poor

Nintendo pushed an update to Switch and Switch 2 that created a new handheld mode of Switch 2 to test. Gui seems to be hitting the end of The Hundred Line. We now get a new look at Final Fantasy VII Remake from Jon. James gives coherent impressions of Pokopia this week.

This might seem like a weirdly slight article - and you're right. Normally it's the host's responsibility to write the article and I was not hosting this week. I was out binging basketball and observing my team mount a seemingly-impossible comeback, followed by me doing a seemingly-impossible amount of drinking.

That means it's a Jon-hosted episode, where I parachute in 40 minutes late and 2.5 sheets to the wind. I could have just sat this one out but I'm nothing if not a trooper. Also, I wasn't sleeping that night anyway.

We'll be having a bunch of weird line-ups in the next few weeks; people are going to be in and out for an extended window.

I do not believe there is a title too irresponsible for RFN, but I may not represent the majoritarian view on this front. I shall return to my Pokémon world, where I am both God and Tyrant. Do attempt to ignore the fact the image this week seems to reflect nothing of relevance to the title. I am too lazy to make a new one and I liked this one quite a bit.

Despite the reluctance of the interim host to request them, we do want your email.

• (00:01:45) New Business - Handheld Boost Mode.
• (01:09:05) The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy.
• (01:27:34) FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE.
• (01:50:32) Pokemon Pokopia.

[Bricks of clay? Who can say!]

19

Podcast Discussion / Episode 967: Charmander Is Smuggling Bricks

« on: March 15, 2026, 03:42:31 PM »

Bricks of clay? Who can say!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/74724/episode-967-charmander-is-smuggling-bricks

Yes, bricks.

There's a fun disconnect when I talk about Pokopia with my girlfriend. She is presently unable to play it, so most of the interactions have been questions about things she's seen online, or asking if I've encountered certain favorites of hers. Most of the time this is a fine and wholesome interaction.

I sent her a picture of a snoozing Mosslax and it seemed to bring her much joy. The other side of the coin is when I describe the highly transactional relationships I've formed with the other residents of my various towns.

Ditto needs bricks. This is the singular impediment to building this house that will allow me to finally put Rotom in a house. Rotom's homelessness is the single impediment to leveling up the town and getting access to the store item I need one town over. This should be a simple task - I can craft all kinds of things with ease. But no, I need bricks. And needing bricks means I need Charmander.

Hours earlier I had handed this little orange bastard a bunch of clay, and he happily promised to turn them into the bricks I desired. But now he has vanished. To me, this is a problem. I'm trying to ask other Pokémon where I can find him, and they unhelpfully gesture towards a cave system. Unhelpful is the name of the word - I've spent all my time restoring the buildings, clearing debris, and throwing a party for these ingrates. Meanwhile Bulbasaur is running up to thank me with a stick.

This stick is not special, it is indistinguishable from the 98 other sticks already in my inventory.

I see this as the machine in rebellion. "Just stay near your house so I can get these bricks!" The girlfriend sees this as charming. They're doing their best, and helping so hard.

We cannot play these sorts of games together.

So yes, James has Pokopia, and it's really hard to talk about. Guillaume has impressions of Zelda-shooter Minishoot' Adventures and and weird horror game Indika. Jon is playing Returnal and the long-promised Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Greg has an update on Resident Evil Requiem and has caught the Mario Tennis Fever.

New Business is a single topic this week: we got a Simpsons' image macro asking about reinvigorating amiibo. It goes in a dark direction.

• (00:10:00) New Business - Pokemon Pokopia.
• (00:45:43) Indika.
• (00:59:23) Minishoot' Adventures.
• (01:11:10) Returnal. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition.
• (01:29:11) Resident Evil Requiem. Mario Tennis Fever.
• (01:52:51) Listener Mail - Our mission: reinvigorate amiibo.

[You can be the true Sneak King!]

20

Podcast Discussion / Episode 966: Increase Your Sneak With This One Weird Trick

« on: March 08, 2026, 05:07:27 PM »

You can be the true Sneak King!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/74631/episode-966-increase-your-sneak-with-this-one-weird-trick

I spent about thirty minutes this week performing a soliloquy on the market conditions governing the Pokémon Trading Card Game. I remember this conversation feeling long at the time, but I was earnestly distressed listening to it. I kept saying to myself "Shut up, man! Let someone else talk or change the subject!"

I would hear the past me attempt to get someone to jump in, fail, and resume speaking.

We occasionally run into emails in which I have a lot of ideas that I want to get out into the world. In the case of Pokémon TCG, most of the ideas are the various threads that lead to the chaotic marketplace we currently occupy. This is fine when my co-hosts likewise have things to say, but when they're blanked - either due to lack of opinions or by the unrelenting machine that is my mouth - we get a segment like this.

And here's the silliest part: I have no idea how to play Pokémon TCG. None.

So to write this article I went and read the 2026 rulebook. I expected this to be a short exercise; I could read the rules and digest them at a high level.

I was not prepared for a 44 page document with 28 distinct appendices.

As an example, there are multiple paragraphs covering how to enforce the rules around having multiples of a card in your deck. By rule, you can only have four cards of a Pokémon in your deck - but this is based on the name of the card, not the species. "Trainer" Pokémon, such as Rocket's Meowth, do not count the same as a regular Meowth. Likewise, some Pokémon have their level in the name, these all count the same as the base with no level. Even more, some symbols follow the Pokémon's name and make them "distinct" while the delta symbol does not.

I hope you have a lot of time.

My favorite rule deals with mulligans. At the start of the game, each player draws their opening hand and puts down a base Pokémon. If one of the players does not have one, they reshuffle and draw again. The penalty: their opponent gets to draw one more card into their hand. This goes on until the offending player manages to get a hand with a base Pokémon. If you don't care about winning, you could be a real jackass.

It is possible to simultaneously win the game - requiring a tie-breaker game, unless one player won under more rules than the other.

Did you know the Mega Evolutions set does not have Fairy Type energy? Previous generations did, but not this one. Weird.

Anyway, I now know more than anyone selling booster packs online about Pokémon TCG.

This week we kick the show off with Lister Mail. I mentioned the first email above, but we also get an email from a genie! They offer to change the past so that a cancelled game actually comes out. They also ask us to rub their "magical dev kit" so I have my concerns.

You might find this bewildering, but that segment took over an hour - so a break was in order. After the break we talk about more Pokémon, breaking down the news from the Presents.

Finally, we reach New Business. Greg has impressions from the Denshattack! demo, and we talk a bit about the Indie World presentation. He also finished Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. Lastly, he has some early impressions of Resident Evil Requiem. Jon has begun his promised playthrough of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, finding ways to not play the game. Lastly, Guillaume is watching Blippo+. I... cannot help you with Blippo+ using words. Interdimensional Public Access Television is the best I can do for you.

Email us, or I'll be sad.

• (00:07:17) Listener Mail - The Pokemon TCG supply problem.
• (00:50:06) The Cutting Room Genie writes in.
• (01:26:24) News - Pokemon Presents.
• (01:35:20) Denshattack! demo. Indie World.
• (01:45:47) FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE. Resident Evil Requiem.
• (01:58:46) Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition.
• (02:15:18) Blippo+.

[Watchin' studs.]

21

Podcast Discussion / Episode 965: LEGO Voyeurs

« on: March 01, 2026, 07:01:07 AM »

Watchin' studs.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/74529/episode-965-lego-voyeurs

You see, Radio Free Nintendo runs on the March to February fiscal year - but ours trail the calendar year by three months, rather than leading it by nine. As such, our Top 5 Games of 2025 is precisely on time for a year that contained the launch of Nintendo's newest console.

This is an impossible lie to maintain. I do not know why I evented attempt it. We're just late. Arguments can be made that we are fashionable in our tardiness, but given the show's membership I suspect this like will likewise implode under the most cursory scrutiny.

I much prefer this "Top Five" approach to attempting either consensus or categorization. It does create tremendous variability in how we approach the activity - person to person and year to year. We talk about last year's selections to kick the show off - and it is deeply amusing to me that I did not even recall that my #1 last year was a 2024 game. I can confirm, it is - and it was a justified selection.

I'd be curious what the exercise for a consensus game would look like - but I suspect the answer is probably just a very bland answer. It largely just becomes "what game did the most people play?"

Category winners is an equally dubious exercise: are there often enough RPGs to make a category? What of sports games? Platformers? It would just push out some of the smaller or stranger titles that leak into our lists because of their oddity.

Without spoiling our selections, I can offer the following observations:

1. No host shared #1 selection
2. In fact, no two hosts shared 2, 3, 4, or 5
3. Every host had two games that only they mentioned

Trying to reach an agreed outcome would never give us such variety.

I can't say much else, so enjoy the Top Five of 2025.

And no, we didn't talk about the Pokémon Presents, it happened after recording. Just know that the extremely stupid Game Boy music player would have created all kinds of disruption this episode did not require.

If you crave this disruption, you can ask about it.

• (00:02:23) What were our Top Fives of last year, again?
• (00:10:47) Our Top Five-to-two of 2025.
• (01:40:03) Honorable mentions.
• (01:50:04) Discover our four Top one games of twenty-twenty-five.

[The only thing direct is our broadcast to QVC.]

22

Podcast Discussion / Episode 963: Bending Time and Space to Market Donkey Konga

« on: February 15, 2026, 02:37:31 PM »

The only thing direct is our broadcast to QVC.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/74316/episode-963-bending-time-and-space-to-market-donkey-konga

Marketing is a complex, expensive, and bewildering exercise. We joke on RFN that it runs on cash and cocaine.

This isn't actually fair. It's not the 1980s anymore - these days they use electronic fund transfers.

It's easy to think the hardest part of building a Direct is just figuring out what games to feature and maybe where to slot them. This misses the more interesting challenge: how do you feature each piece of content in its best light?

It's very easy for one game to potentially overwhelm similar products. You could also create too many trailers that feel too similar - they being to blur. Pairing a quiet game with a loud one could over or under stimulate. A game with a huge budget next to one that was less-so could create an unpleasant contrast.

Simply put, you have to think about not just the product but how they're being presented. They are gears in a complex mechanism. If the teeth gnash against each other the entire machine grinds until the gnarled teeth pass.

The great solution: the single product Direct. One game, one movie, one resort. You can let a single creator run wild. It is in fact both their circus and their monkeys.

Today we are the ringmaster, and in the center ring is Jane Goodall and what I hope is just a man in a Donkey Kong costume.

This week, Jon is playing Animal Crossing: New Horizon. We must investigate. By the time you read this James will have played the Pragmata demo at least three times. Guillaume is playing what he considers a "James Game," The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. He's also playing the very memorably named Battle Axe. Lastly, Greg is escaping Midgar in FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE.

After the break we attack a single email: make a Sakurai-style marathon Direct. Any game. Any host. The only challenge is to make it take a long time.

Email me.

• (00:01:42) New Business - Animal Crossing: New Horizon DLC.
• (00:11:55) Pragmata demo.
• (00:30:44) The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy.
• (00:51:39) Battle Axe.
• (00:59:09) FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE.
• (01:09:54) The Virtual Boy shell has shipped.
• (01:18:10) Listener Mail - Overproduce your own Direct.
• (01:56:36) MGS4: Guns of the Patriots coming to a Switch 2 near you.

[We're building a better sports game.]

23

Podcast Discussion / Episode 962: Flat Earther: Y/N?

« on: February 07, 2026, 03:34:00 PM »

We're building a better sports game.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/74222/episode-962-flat-earther-yn

Jon and I got horribly off target this week. I understand that this is not news, but hear me out.

While mocking Konami and their eFootball, and recent attempts at being an Olympic eSport with eBaseball, we contemplated what a a sports game could be if they were unconcerned with getting any licenses. It's true that Metalhead Software did this with Super Mega Baseball, but we figure you could push the envelope much further than they did.

What if your roster was checkered with personality traits like "Just can't live without rageahol", Bets on baseball, or Flat Earther?

Enjoy your retirement, AJ.

Now, how would a game use such "unique" attributes? If you follow the current way we cover sports, it's all Insta Stories, YouTube videos shot on phones, rumored beefs, and hard-nosed reporting via X The Everything App. Our in-game social media, blogs, and generic-Reddit would be full of stories generated about these players. Imagine our rageaholic, fresh off a four hour YouTube video on Hollow Earth Theory, getting in an argument with our resident flat earther.

Now its in the news feed on your home screen, you suspend one of them. It turns out, you made the wrong choice: the vertical-aligned video comes after the next game. This is a Draymond Green situation. No not that situation, the other one. The other-other one.

Oh, and its the All-Star break. It just came out on the in-game TMZ-like that the FBI just arrested your Hall of Fame player turned first base coach for running a crooked poker game with someone named "Albanian Bruce."

The owner still expects a deep playoff run.

Who cares about baseball, I want The Sims but with subpoenas.

I guess we should talk about the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase that happened on Thursday.

There was a Partner Direct on Thursday. We talked about it. There. Happy? No? Fine.

We got to see Leon be bad at fighting in Resident Evil Requiem. We got to watch a very confusing trailer about dinosaurs under Tokyo in Tokyo Scramble, not be confused with Kyoto Xanadu. Different capitals of Japan.

We also got to see some extended coverage of Pragmata, and we now know that they're going to make us like Diana and then break our hearts.

More Bethesda games are coming to Nintendo. Indiana Jones is great, Jon is pledging to beat Elder Scrolls IV. I don't believe him.

We're getting a lot of Bomberman, a sequel to Paranormalsight - a single word, and a soccer game about kicking dragons at people with less AI but also less kids getting their **** ABSOLUTELY WRECKED.

• Follow along as we tackle every game in the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase 2.5.2026 in order!
• (00:00:50) Orbitals.
• (00:10:45) Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse. Captain Tsubasa: World Fighters.
• (00:20:20) Tokyo Scramble. Valheim. eFootball Kick-Off!
• (00:52:07) The Adventures of Elliott: The Millenium Tales. Super Bomberman Collection. Goemon Collection.
• (01:02:58) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Pragmata. Turok: Origins.
• (01:19:46) Kyoto Xanadu and other Anime-zing games.
• (01:27:40) Hamster can't keep getting away with this.
• (01:37:19) Sizzle reel.
• (01:42:31) Resident Evil Requiem.
• (02:00:03) Microsoft's (Bethesda's) gaming products are subject to a boycott.
• (02:11:00) Final thoughts.

[I'm not asking for much; I'm simply asking that you declare me correct from a 15 year old argument.]

24

Podcast Discussion / Episode 960: Thunderstruck for Some Striped Bass

« on: January 25, 2026, 03:41:07 PM »

I'm not asking for much; I'm simply asking that you declare me correct from a 15 year old argument.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/74020/episode-960-thunderstruck-for-some-striped-bass

I'm spending a lot of time thinking about Episode 1,000. It sounds far off. It's 40 weeks. In fact, if we release on Saturday it will be October 31, 2026.

Halloween.

Can you imagine, Radio Free Nintendo releasing Episode 1,000 on on Halloween? I cannot fathom a bigger collection of curse-triggers. This does give me all sorts of ideas for this milestone episode.

We talk a little bit about the telethon format at the start of the show. This in no way constitutes a promise of a telethon. I cannot explain how much work that thing took to do.

The day of running the technical call was a chore, but getting the green rooms ready and making sure guests were available was also part of the day-of activities. The bigger challenge was the month or more of planning segments and making sure hosts knew their responsibilities and timing.

Then came the edit...another 12 hours of parsing the files and republishing them.

The telethon is hell.

But I do miss it. When I think about it, I only think about the bad parts. The reality is there were a ton of fun moments that just don't happen without the audience or the chaos of "we'll do it live."

1,000 episodes is an unreal accomplishment for a podcast. And that accomplishment belongs to everyone who ever was a cast member equally. Figuring out how to honor that is going to be a tough process.

Anyway, last week's New Business show did not expend the full supply of RFN New Business. James gives an update on the latest Donkey Kong Bananza DLC challenge, before transitioning into a conversation on the recent news on Talking Flower and Wonder's amiibo. Greg took a look at the demo of Final Fantasy VII Remake, now on Switch 2. Guillaume has impressions of Elechead and Stray Children. Jon wraps New Business with Yars: Recharged.

After the break we have two Listener Mail: What potential Switch 2 versions keep us from playing the actual Switch game and fishing for the best fishing minigames.

Email here.

• (00:08:53) New Business - Donkey Kong Bananza Emerald Rush.
• (00:16:59) Talking Flower and LTTP Super Mario Bros Wonder amiibos.
• (00:28:06) Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade demo.
• (00:36:09) ElecHead.
• (00:42:46) Stray Children.
• (00:55:50) Yars: Recharged.
• (01:04:09) Listener Mail - Schrodinger's Switch 2 ports keeping us away from the backlog?
• (01:39:11) Fishing minigames.

[Philadelphia is more than just the city that boo'd Santa Claus.]

25

Podcast Discussion / Episode 959: Clip and Clop Are the New Horace

« on: January 18, 2026, 11:59:00 AM »

Philadelphia is more than just the city that boo'd Santa Claus.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/73918/episode-959-clip-and-clop-are-the-new-horace

I originally planned to use this space to write yet another piece expressing the general confusion the Metroid Prime 4 commentary continues to inflict upon me.

I've had a change of heart.

I've felt love. Horace, a nightmare anthro, is out. Clip-Clop, an icon of philia, is in.

I think horses are great. This is not material to why I've found myself fascinated by two mysterious horse-costumed gaming figures, I just wanted to point out that we've crafted a companion species so thoroughly that they can literally smell our fear.

Horace must bask in the scents of the scared. A reverse-centaur, clad in a sequined purple tuxedo, he shines; sparkles; and sickens. A self-described master of ceremonies, his obvious self-absorption creates a terrible attraction.

Clip-Clop are a rejection of this masked man. While no-less costumed, they have not eschewed the physical characteristics of a horse so that they can fit into some fancy duds. They do not employ showy attire to elevate themselves, their simple brown coloration is enough. Nor do they hide their faces, they have a modest pride in who they are and face the world head-on. Indeed, they do not adopt self-congratulatory titles. In fact, they have become such paragons of cooperation that The King himself refers to them as if they are a single entity: "Cousin Clip-Clop."

Granted, the King is apparently a deeply stupid individual - he may be completely unaware that they are two brothers in a horse costume.

This is not a Kenta situation, an actual The Prince centaur but with four "normal" legs. Kenta was born a nightmare. He is a being that should not be. His locomotion is an abomination.

We do not subscribe to his newsletter.

In a world where everyone wants to be a Horace, be a Clip-Clop.

We're finally back this week, and its been basically a month since our last New Business segment was recorded - so we have quite a lot to get through.

Jon kicks the show off with yet more DLC for Atari 50 - now covering the Atari/Namco relationship from the 70s and 80s. We also accidentally uncover Namco's terrible secret.

He and James then tag-team Metroid Prime 4. Jon has some final thoughts on the elements that got under his skin, but James has literally never spoken about the game, so gives a full retrospective on playing it. It takes a minute.

James has also played the majority of Is This Seat Taken, a game about seating arrangements.

He and Guillaume then move onto Once Upon a Katamari. This was James' first Katamari game, spurred on by his partner requesting they tag-team the game. Guillaume is a series expert, and is better able to put this game in context.

Guillaume concludes his New Business with some shorter thoughts on BALLxPIT and Marvel Cosmic Invasion.

Lastly, Greg has finished up Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment and has moved onto recent addition to the NSO's Gamecube library: Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance.

Emails go here.

• (00:04:17) New Business - Atari 50 Namco DLC.
• (00:27:54) Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
• (01:14:18) Is This Seat Taken?
• (01:26:44) Once Upon a Katamari.
• (01:53:08) BALLxPIT.
• (02:00:43) Marvel Cosmic Invasion.
• (02:05:36) Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.
• (02:11:25) Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance.