Topic: Episode 366: Too Cool for School

[Pandareus]

You asked for predictions, so here we go!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/36381

First off, no we didn't talk about December sales data. It was still rolling out during recording time, and maybe there's not much left to say anyway until Nintendo announces a concrete response. So instead, we kick off this packed episode with a big slug of New Business. Jon brings our first coverage for Call of Duty: Ghosts, and Jonny checks out Two Tribes' RUSH for the Wii U eShop. Gui looks back to Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth, while James peers deep into the well of Persona 3. Going back around, Jonny also tries the new Chibi-Robo demo, and Gui tries Spin Six from the current Club Nintendo download rewards.

Part Deux is a return to Listener Mail, and the first letter specifically asks for fresh 2014 predictions, so get ready for wrongness. We also discuss the history and adoration of game overworlds, get over our heads in the new Chinese console market, and ponder how Nintendo could match Sony's upcoming Playstation Now streaming service.

At the end of this episode, we announce that RetroActive Live will occur NEXT WEEKEND, on Saturday, January 25th. Specific time to come soon, but it'll be in the early/mid afternoon for our U.S. listeners -- and yes, Greg will be there to talk to YOU about F-Zero X and GX. Play either or both and bring your thoughts to this special live event! We'll have a page set up with the audio stream, chat room, and other useful info, so check back at NWR later this week for all the details.

[KDR_11k]

They said that PS Now will require 5Mbit/s. My connection only has 3. So no go for me. I wonder if that service will really get more legacy games than the virtual console considering how the PS1 and 2 libraries look on PSN.

[Pandareus]

That's something I wanted to get across in the podcast but kind of failed: I don't think we're gonna see anything on that service that we haven't already seen. Sony is not gonna go to Konami and get then to release Suikoden II on that service all of a sudden. It's gonna be games that are already PSOne Classics.

And it Nintendo's case, it would be Golf, Tennis, Balloon Fight, Super Mario Bros... nothing we don't already have. So to me, the appeal is incredibly limited.

[K-S-O]

A tip for James:


For P3's final boss, you will need an anti-charm accessory for your healer.

[Tripon]

Cool, my question on PS Now got answered. I had similar thoughts, and had to sigh on the half measure that Nintendo likely will take in response of what PS Now will provide.

[yoshi1001]

One prediction I wanted to hear is that we'd see at least one more HD remake in 2014, mainly because I'd like to hear your thoughts on what game it would be. I do think we'll get one, but I'm not sure which game I'd pick (commercially or as a prediction).

[Jonnyboy117]

Super Mario Sunshine with new Luigi Mode

[Crimm]

A tip for James:


For P3's final boss, you will need an anti-charm accessory for your healer.

I didn't.


I was level 96.

[yoshi1001]

Super Mario Sunshine with new Luigi Mode

Even though they're on different systems, they should bundle that with Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon.

[Hey Einstein!]

Just want to jump in on the cloud gaming discussion: Why all the negativity from a technical perspective? At times you guys sounded like you recorded the  podcast in 2009!
Cloud gaming works. It's not at all main stream but anybody who wants to demo Onlive or Gaikai can see for themselves, in fact I am sure I remember John speaking positively of his experience trying Gaikai on the podcast. As Sony are using Gaikai's tech there is no reason to believe it won't work just because the server was in the next room during one demo.
I played through Bioshock on Onlive a couple of years ago and it was a brilliant experience. I don't have fiber optic and my broadband is fairly standard. It's a shame Onlive turned out to be such a lousy company and I'm not convinced that their is much consumer interest in cloud gaming. But heck I'd pay to play PS3 games on my Vita, especially if there is some integration with PS +. 

[Pixelated Pixies]

I'm all for releasing DS games on the 3DS eshop, but I doubt it would be as easy as simply putting the games on eShop. For one, I actually think the backwards compatibility on the 3DS is pretty crappy. Most of the DS games I've tried on 3DS don't look so hot due to the way they're stretched to fit the top screen. Playing them in their native resolution also isn't ideal because the image size is reduced, resulting in quite a lot of squinting.

[NWR_insanolord]

I've never really minded the way DS games look on the 3DS, though I'll acknowledge it's certainly a step down from the original. As for putting them on the eShop, how simple it would be would depend on how much they want to do with them. Nintendo tends to be a bit perfectionist in this regard, as evidenced by the lengths they go with Virtual Console releases. They can clearly put GBA games on the 3DS without too much trouble, but their reluctance to expand upon those would indicate they aren't comfortable with how barebones the Ambassador games were.

[Pixelated Pixies]

As for putting them on the eShop, how simple it would be would depend on how much they want to do with them. Nintendo tends to be a bit perfectionist in this regard, as evidenced by the lengths they go with Virtual Console releases.

Being from Europe I would have to disagree that Nintendo is perfectionist when it comes to virtual console. The 50hz debacle was completely avoidable and would have required a minimal amount of work.

Still, I hope you're correct and that the reason we aren't seeing GBA and DS games on eShop is because Nintendo wants to ensure quality. Unfortunately the history of the Virtual Console leads me to believe that Nintendo is merely incompetent when it comes to managing their back catalogue.

[NWR_insanolord]

The 50hz thing is a fair point; I was referring to the fact that they insist upon tweaking the emulator and putting time into testing every game before release. The GBA Ambassador games work fine, in fact I was just playing Metroid Fusion earlier today, but I think at least part of the reason we haven't seen more of those, or the ones we already got put on sale for everyone else, is Nintendo wasn't happy with how barebones they were, and that they believe improving upon that would be more work than they feel would be worth it.

[Ceric]

Super Mario Sunshine with new Luigi Mode

Even though they're on different systems, they should bundle that with Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon.

Seriously enough if Your going to do that just go for the Mind Screw.  Mario Mansion and Super Luigi Sunshine.  Luigi is on vacation and Mario is house sitting when the ghosts come out to play...

Luigi on a tropical vacation has to impress women...

[eggface123]

Whoa! What  a bad ass!! Mista Jones! Mista Jones!

[Crimm]

uh...

[NWR_Lindy]

The only real drawback I mentioned in regards to cloud gaming is one that has already been touched on: data caps. All-you-can-eat streaming is great if you have unlimited data, but not so great if you're metered or capped.
 
I played Gaikai a few years back and was pretty impressed. There was the odd hitch, but I played Crysis and it was completely playable even on my crappy desktop PC.  With better hardware it would run even more smoothly. I think people will be pleasantly surprised once they get a hands-on with PS Now.
 
Note: I apologize for my crappy audio in this episode. I didn't realize until afterwards that Audacity arbitrarily decided to use my laptop's microphone instead of the headset that I was wearing for the entire show.

[Tween20]

I haven't reached the prediction portion of the podcast yet, but I did want to comment on the (brief) discussion of Bravely Default--can the completion time really be 30 hours when the demo takes almost ten to fully complete?  If the full game is only 3x as long as the demo, I might be disappointed (as much as I am anticipating this game).

[HairyChest]

What do you guys think iwata will say during the investment meeting? I have a wii u that i can return to the store and mow im debating if i should even though im enjoying the few games i have. Especially since i heard a rumor that watch dogs is cancelled for the wii u.  Should i return the system and put it towards the ps4?

[azeke]

What do you guys think iwata will say during the investment meeting? I have a wii u that i can return to the store and mow im debating if i should even though im enjoying the few games i have. Especially since i heard a rumor that watch dogs is cancelled for the wii u.  Should i return the system and put it towards the ps4?

Obviously, you should.


Game consoles are not about enjoying games, no sir.


They're all about what Iwata (thanks) will say on investor meeting.

[HairyChest]

What do you guys think iwata will say during the investment meeting? I have a wii u that i can return to the store and mow im debating if i should even though im enjoying the few games i have. Especially since i heard a rumor that watch dogs is cancelled for the wii u.  Should i return the system and put it towards the ps4?

Obviously, you should.


Game consoles are not about enjoying games, no sir.


They're all about what Iwata (thanks) will say on investor meeting.

Yea im leaning towards that decision. I dont think $300 is worth a console with a few good games and a 3 year life span vs a 400$ more powerful console with the promise of hundreds of games and 5+ years of support.


The problem is i love zelda!!!

[Pandareus]

I haven't reached the prediction portion of the podcast yet, but I did want to comment on the (brief) discussion of Bravely Default--can the completion time really be 30 hours when the demo takes almost ten to fully complete?  If the full game is only 3x as long as the demo, I might be disappointed (as much as I am anticipating this game).

Well, I dunno. Maybe I misheard or misunderstood the "30 hours" figure. I just know that the game gives you a lot of freedom as to how you're going to tackle it. You can even do a "no random encounters" run.

The demo took me 5.5 hours to complete, not ten, so I'm hoping I can get through the full game relatively quickly. That doesn't mean that there is only 30 hours of content in the game, though. I'm SURE there are plenty of things to do in the game that can make it longer.