Topic: Episode 356: Real Money Pokémon Auction House

[Pandareus]

We've got hands-on reports for the newest 3DS releases and even some upcoming Wii U games!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/35812

We have a very packed episode for you this week, with both Listener Mail and a special report from Guillaume's recent Nintendo preview event in Montreal. But New Business is no slouch either! Jonny's first up with early impressions for Pokémon Y (why ask Y?), which brings to the series a modern presentation but is otherwise extremely familiar. Gui stirs up controversy with his harsh criticism of beloved Secret of Mana -- but it's based on his intense love of another game that few of us have played. Lindy just downloaded PS3's The Last of Us and finds it surprisingly conventional... And James presents white-hot evidence of the new Phoenix Wright game, released to the eShop just barely in time for recording! Before we snap it up, Jonny also shares a few thoughts on Steam's Volgarr the Viking, which reminds him so much of a certain SNES game...

We lost Jon during the break but soldier on for a meaty segment featuring Gui, who recently took a group of friends to Nintendo of Canada's holiday preview event. He played Super Mario 3D World, Wii Fit U, Wii Party U, Sonic Lost World, and even the new Mario Party (demoed on a 2DS)! James and Jonny grill him about each one, and we're left with new answers and even more questions about Nintendo's holiday lineup. There was time left for just a few emails after that, so we tackle your questions about the future of Off-TV play, the best way to handle Pokémon DLC, and the best time to play downloaded missions in Fire Emblem Awakening.

More emails equal more podcast! Please send in yours today.

[ClexYoshi]

What are you on about, Jon?!? I'm ready to admit that I've really only played friend's copies of Uncharted and The Last of Us (Hilariously enough, the only Naughty Dog game I own is Way of the Warrior), but I'm pretty fairly certain that The Last of Us not only lacks much of the platforming trappings that characterize Nathan Drake's adventures, but it also doesn't sport the wipe the red jelly off the camera regenerating health thing and instead has medkits, as well as a higher emphasis on stealth and resource management, considering that the game particularly sports a very survivor horror-esque inventory and limited pickups. combine this with the real time crafting that often times you have to try and do while being chased leads to something that feels very different then the platform n' gun action serial feel of uncharted. I also feel that the Last of Us tries to tell a much more visceral and gritty tale and that you really did the game a disservice on this episode of Radio Free Nintendo.

[NWR_Lindy]

Aside from the fresh coat of paint and different setting, how are the environments in TLOU any different than those in Uncharted? You're still moving through ruins in the same fashion, only this time you're slowed down by needing to hide from things and sneak up on enemies. Both of which were in Uncharted, but there wasn't an emphasis on that part of gameplay in the Uncharted series.

I find the story gritty so far (1/3 way through) but nothing earth-shattering. Zombies have taken over, gotta get to point A, then to point B, banter back and forth between characters...what I'm saying is that I don't understand the adulation that this game has received. It's good, probably even great, but not original enough to merit any sort of "Best of Generation" moniker in my eyes.  It's like a dark take on Uncharted with some crafting added to it.

I'm waiting for the story to pick up, but so far I'm not seeing it. I keep hearing that it gets better, but I shouldn't have to wait to be impressed.
 
 

[Oblivion]

Jon's section on TLOU is so stupid its hilarious. There is NO platforming elements similar to Uncharted whatsoever. Try and jump forward with Joel and then do the same with Drake in any UC game and you'll tell the difference. Actually picking up a plank and strategically moving it doesn't not equal jumping 20 feet with no start jog over a huge fucking pit.


Zombies have not taken over. In fact, after 20 years, people are fairly well off. Stay within the cities and the camps and people (whether the police in the city or the people surviving in the wild) can very easily fight them off. However, fighting them how Joal does in the game (by himself) is the problem.


You are derping incredibly hardcore, dude. And that's saying it nicely.


Johnny, don't let his awful explanation and "preview" of TLOS disuade you from playing the game.

[Oblivion]

Jon's section on TLOU is so stupid its hilarious. There is NO platforming elements similar to Uncharted whatsoever. Try and jump forward with Joel and then do the same with Drake in any UC game and you'll tell the difference. Actually picking up a plank and strategically moving it doesn't not equal jumping 20 feet with no start jog over a huge fucking pit.


The Infected (they are undead, they aren't zombies. They can suffocate and drown like a real person) have not taken over. In fact, after 20 years, people are fairly well off. Stay within the cities and the camps and people (whether the police in the city or the people surviving in the wild) can very easily fight them off. However, fighting them how Joal does in the game (by himself) is the problem. Also, the Infected are only 40% of the game's enemies. The AI and the combat really shines with the people. Also, what level of difficulty are you playing on? TLOU vets (like myself, I love multiplayer) recommend playing on Hard difficulty or Survivor.


You are derping incredibly hardcore, dude. And that's saying it nicely.


Johnny, don't let his awful explanation and "preview" of TLOU disuade you from playing the game.

[happyastoria]

Jon, what on earth are you smoking?! The Last of Us is nothing like the Uncharted games. Speaking as someone who absolutely hates the Uncharted games, The Last of Us was a pleasant surprise. The game also has a great and unexpected ending! Ugh, you had me screaming at my iPod.

[Enner]

Nice show.


Regarding The Last of Us, I've only played a section of the beginning before you are tasked with Ellie before a friends launch PS3 overheated and died with a yellow light. From the little I've played, I lean towards Jon's assessment. So far, all I've played is a refinement of the lessons Naughty Dog learned making the Uncharted games and a address to the combat complaints of the Uncharted series. Also, one guy watched that one Planet Earth episode and wanted to make not-zombie zombies. (All of that is fine.) Hopefully, I will find a way to play more of the game.

On the concerns of Pokemon DLC:
http://www.polygon.com/2013/10/23/4947278/paid-dlc-would-ruin-the-worldview-of-pokemon-say-creators

"When it comes to business, the one thing I've always said no to is the act of buying Pokemon with money,'" he (Ken Sugimori) said. "That is something that has been said since the days [Game Freak founder Satoshi] Tajiri was completely involved in everything."

...

"The reason being, is because it's one of things that could ruin the worldview of Pokemon," he said. "I believe the reason we don't simply commercialize [Pokemon], is that it's a way of protecting the brand, and for this purpose, we have the specialty company called The Pokemon Company. Therefore, suppose we sell a Pokemon for 100 yen, then we must prepare something that is worthy of that 100 yen, along with a reasonable consent for doing so."

Sugimori explained that the company gives away legendary Pokemon to players who watch Pokemon movies in theaters because having the creatures "appear out of the big screen" sounded fun. However, should the company choose to sell Pokemon with real currency in the future, it would have to embody that same "fun" experience Game Freak strives to create.

"If we ever get the idea of, 'This could be fun if we could sell it for real-life money,' or something similar during the planning of a future game, then perhaps we could sell [Pokemon] for 100 yen," he said.

There is odd reasoning in Game Freak's and The Pokemon Company's motions, but they seem to not want to be outright devious with Pokemon DLC and microtransactions. Given the rest of Nintendo's approach to DLC (Streetpass Games, Fire Emblem: Awakening, that baseball sports game), I think any Pokemon DLC will be a fair transaction or at least an interesting one. I know some are contemptuous of Pokemon Bank's $5 annual fee, but I assume that keeping data servers running and connected costs more money than I think it would.

[Pixelated Pixies]

As someone who played Secret of Mana for the first time when it was released on Wii Virtual Console, I would like to say that I adore that game (in other words my enthusiasm for the game is not based in any nostalgia or because I'm European). I can't really sympathise with Gui's criticisms because they simply don't reflect my experience of the game. I'm not saying the game is perfect, but those things which it did well (the sense of progression as you level-up, the charge moves which offered an interesting take on the ATB system, the lush graphics, the exceptional music, the inclusion of Multiplayer), far outshone any negatives for me.

[Traveller]

For anyone interested, Pokémon Crystal actually had quite a lot of changes made. Including things like animating the Pokémon to a degree.


http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pokémon_Crystal_Version

[daverhodus]

The title of this episode should have been "So Many Analogies!" from the 3D World discussion.

[azeke]

The title of this episode should have been "So Many Analogies!" from the 3D World discussion.

All these analogies to make up for lack of full analog control in that game!



Thank you, thank you very much!.. I'm here all week!

i am so stoked for Mario 3D World like you wouldn't believe

[Jonnyboy117]

SMW3D has analog control if you play with the GamePad. After that NSMBU patch, they'll probably allow Pro controllers too for discerning multiplayer partners.

[azeke]

I meant that controls are gonna be 8-way (or 16-32 way) just like it was in 3D Land. I personally have no problem with it. In fact i think it made 3D Land better, if anything.

We will see how it goes with 3d World.

[Enner]

SMW3D has analog control if you play with the GamePad. After that NSMBU patch, they'll probably allow Pro controllers too for discerning multiplayer partners.

In recent videos, the Wii U Pro Controller is displayed below the Wii Remote on the player select screen. It was nice to see that!

Also, concerning the loss of the Streetpass Games, I do hope you follow up on that. The Streetpass Games are DLC like extra songs in Theatrhythm and extra chapters for Fire Emblem: Awakening. It would be sad if Nintendo has no way to restore DLC licenses in cases of 3DS loss or breakage.

[azeke]

In recent videos, the Wii U Pro Controller is displayed below the Wii Remote on the player select screen. It was nice to see that!

Official site that opened up even earlier, had controls page that has shown that you can even use Wiimote+Nunchucks.

Now i can't find how to access that page (it's probably my internet on work restricting access) but the page was there.

[Pandareus]

I'll be honest, I was disappointed the title didn't end up being "Compact Herd of Marios".

[azeke]

Official site that opened up even earlier, had controls page that has shown that you can even use Wiimote+Nunchucks.

Found it:

[magicpixie]

What's the general opinion about Nintendo supporting so many different control schemes(some legacy)?  I would think most would view it positively, but I would imagine some people lamenting how confusing it could be.  I think it'd be great if this was the case for all consoles going forward(assuming input devices don't change drastically in the future).  I'm having a hard time remembering if buttons were added from OG Xbox -> Xbox 360 and PS2 -> PS3.  All I can think of is clickable thumbsticks, but I don't know when those were added.

[KDR_11k]

I don't get why James always goes "it's just numbers" when it comes to Pokemon cloud storage. All data stored by computers is numbers, pokemons may not take up much space but they're still data.

[azeke]

Official site that opened up even earlier, had controls page that has shown that you can even use Wiimote+Nunchucks.

Yet another update:

European site for the game also says you can also use Classic controller.

The only thing they're missing now is balance board and zapper support.

[NWR_Lindy]

Regarding The Last of Us, I've only played a section of the beginning before you are tasked with Ellie before a friends launch PS3 overheated and died with a yellow light. From the little I've played, I lean towards Jon's assessment. So far, all I've played is a refinement of the lessons Naughty Dog learned making the Uncharted games and a address to the combat complaints of the Uncharted series. Also, one guy watched that one Planet Earth episode and wanted to make not-zombie zombies. (All of that is fine.)

Yup.