Post by: Jonnyboy117 on April 18, 2010, 10:27:00 AM
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/podcastArt.cfm?artid=22921
Episode 191: Strange Days Indeed
Download in AAC Format Subscribe to AAC Feed
Download in MP3 Format Subscribe to MP3 Feed
Subscribe via iTunes (Please rate and review, too!)
We start with a couple of program notes: the next RetroActive game will be Metroid II: Return of Samus, so dig up your old copy or check it out for the first time! Also, we'll be off next week, but look forward to a special bonus podcast instead.
New Business rockets into orbit with Final Fight, the Zelda-clone Darksiders, Cave Story, a Castlevania comparison, and the stark weirdness of Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. Oh, and cooking.
The latest batch of stellar questions in Listener Mail begin with a reference to The 7th Guest and an exploration of live-action video in gaming. Could this 90s fad still be alive? Next up, we take bets on Metroid: Other M having selectable difficulty levels and partially revisit Episode 167's feature discussion on gaming difficulty. Then, it's time for dancing as we comment on Wii Fit's step program and recommended alternatives. The final email is in fact three separate questions, but we focus on a request to go down the list of Nintendo's "internal" development teams, noting what each is making now and what we expect from them in the near future. This is surely one of the longest email answers we've ever had on RFN!
We're always looking for great Listener Mail to read and discuss on the show, so please send your questions or comments! (We really love seeing your praise and feedback regarding the show itself; however, in the interest of time, we may edit your letter to be read on the podcast.) Credits:
This podcast was edited by Greg Leahy.
Music for this episode of Radio Free Nintendo is used with permission from Jason Ricci & New Blood. You can purchase their newest album, Done with the Devil, directly from the record label, Amazon.com, or iTunes, or call your local record store and ask for it!
Additional music for this episode of Radio Free Nintendo is copyrighted to Nintendo, and is included under fair use protection.
Post by: Shaymin on April 18, 2010, 10:59:37 PM
Post by: Derekkrawr on April 18, 2010, 11:33:41 PM
Post by: AV on April 19, 2010, 12:07:55 AM
Anywhere near the University of North Texas in Denton ?
Post by: greybrick on April 19, 2010, 12:20:56 AM
where in texas are you going jonnny ?
Anywhere near the University of North Texas in Denton ?
I would be interested to know that as well, since I am moving down to Texas next year to do my graduate work in transportation engineering.
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on April 19, 2010, 12:28:13 AM
Post by: greybrick on April 19, 2010, 01:10:36 AM
I'm going to do some research at NASA for six weeks. It's on the southeast side of Houston.
Wow! That is a great opportunity, best of luck. Space and flight has always interested me, but I was discouraged from going into aerospace when signing up for school. I just remember being floored when I got to go see how massive their research tools were at Boeing here in California. The things they can do to simulate space is incredible, especially considering the scale at which it is being done.
Post by: Kytim89 on April 19, 2010, 02:00:47 AM
I'm going to do some research at NASA for six weeks. It's on the southeast side of Houston.
I heared you are an engineer, what kind are you? I can not help but imagine you playing the DS in space since you are dealing with NASA.
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on April 19, 2010, 02:36:23 AM
http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/2009-01-2570
Post by: ShyGuy on April 19, 2010, 02:36:44 AM
Post by: KDR_11k on April 19, 2010, 04:57:49 AM
I felt really bad playing MW2 multiplayer because if your k/d < 1 you're a drag on your team. In domination mode it didn't matter how much you kill but when and where.
Post by: NWR_Karl on April 19, 2010, 05:36:14 AM
Might as well give you guys the details now. Reset Button: a hybrid text/audio column coming to you monthly. Check out the site this Thursday to see the text column, then hit up Radio Free Nintendo on Sunday to hear the full, uncensored interview.
Post by: Yoshidious on April 19, 2010, 07:59:48 AM
OK, why did the ingredients for poutine get censored in the stinger? Poutine is awesome!
Jonny can be heard describing poutine in all its artery-clogging glory during the America's Test Kitchen discussion in the episode proper. The stinger is a "remix" based on James' observation/suggestion from earlier on.
Post by: Halbred on April 19, 2010, 01:38:50 PM
*goes back to playing NyxQuest and Retro Game Challenge*
Great episode, as always. I've actually fallen out of love with Modern Warfare 2. Can't bring myself to beat the campaign. There are just too many instances where it's just unclear whether you're supposed to pick dudes off or run for it. Meanwhile, I'm pretty sure Infinity Ward did NOT eliminate endless enemy spawns, and because of that, there are way too many bottleneck areas.
I did enjoy the co-op, though. I'll have to play more of that. Straight multiplayer is totally out of my league, though.
Post by: Yoshidious on April 19, 2010, 02:24:25 PM
Hey now, I don't review games that are 8-12 months old all the time! Cave Story just came out, and I plan on reviewing Mega Man 10 after I download the interesting DLC. Screw you guys!
*goes back to playing NyxQuest and Retro Game Challenge*
That part of the stinger was actually culled from a Now Playing segment that aired weeks ago (around the time you reviewed RGC), but it wasn't included due to an abundance of stinger material in that particular week. I was looking through my old podcast files during editing and found the excerpt again, and I thought it was worth including here before I forgot about it altogether, which would have deprived the listeners of Jon's expert self-trolling skills.
Post by: Kytim89 on April 19, 2010, 07:53:59 PM
As for the star fox series dying, there are rumors that Platnium Games are interested in doing a star fox game and I would not mind seeing that happen.
Post by: greybrick on April 19, 2010, 07:57:01 PM
Hey now, I don't review games that are 8-12 months old all the time! Cave Story just came out, and I plan on reviewing Mega Man 10 after I download the interesting DLC. Screw you guys!
*goes back to playing NyxQuest and Retro Game Challenge*
In all fairness Cave Story is a port of an old game, and Mega Man 10 can be mistaken for an NES game. I suppose it is your affinity for dinosaurs that has been reflected in your gaming habits. (where is the next dinorama, btw?)
Post by: yoshi1001 on April 19, 2010, 08:28:39 PM
Post by: Halbred on April 19, 2010, 08:35:21 PM
(where is the next dinorama, btw?)
It's coming. We're recorded it. From what I hear, the production was marred by technical problems (again, but different ones) because my co-host, Scott, who is also the editor and tech guy, still doesn't know what he's doing. I haven't heard any of it yet, but Scott is re-recording his and Raven's news segments, and Scott tells me that he gave me the wrong mic accidentally, so I sound like I'm speaking through a muffled tube. Wonderful.
A part of my just wants to Skype in like I do for the Newscast, even though Scott lives ten minutes away. I'd rather use my own headset mic that his equipment. Just between you 'n' me, of course.
Post by: NWR_insanolord on April 19, 2010, 08:45:05 PM
Post by: greybrick on April 19, 2010, 09:46:22 PM
(where is the next dinorama, btw?)
It's coming. We're recorded it. From what I hear, the production was marred by technical problems (again, but different ones) because my co-host, Scott, who is also the editor and tech guy, still doesn't know what he's doing. I haven't heard any of it yet, but Scott is re-recording his and Raven's news segments, and Scott tells me that he gave me the wrong mic accidentally, so I sound like I'm speaking through a muffled tube. Wonderful.
A part of my just wants to Skype in like I do for the Newscast, even though Scott lives ten minutes away. I'd rather use my own headset mic that his equipment. Just between you 'n' me, of course.
I will try not to bring it up during my daily conversations with Scott. :P:
Post by: noname2200 on April 19, 2010, 10:13:17 PM
On the subject of the Wii version of Jungle Beat, the game uses the analog stick instead of making you shake the Wiimote/Nunchuk. I'm still not sure how I feel about that: the controls are generally tighter now, and it seems like the level design was modified to accomodate, but the change removed some of what made the original so fun.
I'm surprised no one thought anyone (perhaps Retro) was working on a 3DS port of Metroid Prime (unless I missed it in the Hunters discussion). It probably wouldn't take an entire team, but it seems like a fairly obvious choice for a launch/early 3DS game that would use the technology well.
Retro might rebel at that point: while their Metroid games are fantastic, I'm sure they really don't want to keep working on the same IP ad nauseam.
Besides, their talents are needed to make Mario Football.
Post by: Killer_Man_Jaro on April 20, 2010, 01:59:01 AM
AlphaDream - Of course, their most recent output was Bowser's Inside Story. Their repertoire seems to cover Mario & Luigi games and (unfortunately) Hamtaro stuff for Japan. I wouldn't expect another Mario and Luigi for a while, so they've probably gone back to churning out Hamtaro on DS.
Camelot Software - We know these guys are working on Golden Sun DS, though they appear to have their lips sealed on that matter. Assuming that the entire staff of Camelot isn't focused on this one DS title, I would estimate a golf game. To state the obvious, maybe a Mario Golf utilizing Wii MotionPlus.
Game Freak - Small correction: these guys are the Pokémon A team, not Creatures Inc. They've made all three main games each generation, and they're making Black and White. You may have gotten confused as Creatures Inc do have their hand in the Pokémon franchise.
Good-Feel Incorporated - This lot has little to show for their past work, but they did develop Wario Land: The Shake Dimension (Shake It! in the US), which is fantastic. Wishful thinking therefore dictates they would do a Yoshi's Island game for Wii using a beautiful hand-drawn art style like Wario Land. I'd love to believe they were given a project like that. Very improbable though.
Indieszero - Who knows with this studio? Their early work was extremely Japanese-centric and while they've had forays into the Western market, it was still obscure stuff. I'm afraid I'll have to be predictable and say they are either considering or attempting a localization for Game Center CX 2, or more likely they will continue to make everyday activity software.
Monster Games - Apparently, all this company has ever done is racing games, so it would be safe to bet on them working on something in that genre. Not necessarily in the Excite franchise; I don't think it's revival has been particularly successful.
Next Level Games - As far as I'm aware, Next Level aren't actually tied to Nintendo platforms in any way, although the development of the Mario Strikers series and Punch-Out!! suggests they have some sort of business partnership. They've expressed interest in a Punch-Out sequel with all new characters, so it remains to be seen if that was greenlit and there's a rumour about a Donkey Kong game...
Noise - I think you did mention Noise very briefly. Then again, there's not much to say about them. It's hard to believe they have been around since the Nintendo 64 days and only have a handful of games to their name. I'll be unimaginative and guess Custom Robo on Wii, unless the company has disbanded, which wouldn't surprise me given that they have said nothing for years.
Paon - If there is a Donkey Kong game in the pipeline, this developer is the other team I could potentially see behind it. They've made good and bad DK titles in the past, so if they are in charge of a new one, let's hope it's something creative and well-executed in the vein of Donkey Kong Jungle Climber.
That's most of the teams listed as a partner of Nintendo on Wikipedia. I just have one last thing to say about Project Sora. I don't think Masahiro Sakurai had in mind what he wanted to do when he formed his own development house. The fact that it's funded by Nintendo and the phrase "A new experiment for Mr Sakurai" tells me that he is receiving money just to try things and see if they work.
Post by: broodwars on April 20, 2010, 02:10:10 AM
Post by: greybrick on April 20, 2010, 02:22:01 AM
I had to smile at James' mini-rant about the random wierdness and...well...just plain randomness of Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journeys, because for the most part you can apply those comments to just about every MegaTen game (especially the bit about Demon Negotiation being completely random). I've played quite a few of the MegaTen games now (Personas 3-4, Digital Devil Saga, and Devil Summoner 2), and to be honest the two PS2 Persona games are the only ones I'd actually consider good (and not just "good", but "amazing") with consistent logic and rules. I keep trying each new MegaTen title in the hopes that they would recapture the magic of the Persona games, but they just seem to be weird for weirdness' sake with an emphasis on grinding and repetition.
For a while I was a bit down on Devil Survivor but at the moment I am really enjoying it. The game allows you to simply purchase your demons from an auction that can be accessed at any time, and each demon has a "buy now" price. Devil Survivor has a fusion search that makes what monsters fuse to create which incredibly simple to see and understand. In fact, I am surprised that Strange Journey eliminates this, since J Parish noted that demon fusion is easier in Strange Journey.
Post by: Pandareus on April 20, 2010, 11:25:52 AM
Post by: NWR_Neal on April 20, 2010, 11:56:49 AM
I think the quote was something about how SMG2 is 90% new material, and originally it was translated as 90% leftovers from SMG or something.
Post by: NWR_Lindy on April 20, 2010, 10:15:29 PM
Haha, I live in Montreal, and I was listening to your podcast while walking home from work. Your mention of poutine inspired me to get a smoked meat poutine on the way, for optimal clogging of the arteries.
This is awesome.
Also, Mario Football would be amazing, as long as they let you do mean-spirited things after the play. Am I the only one here that misses the NFL Blitz series? Seriously people, after NBA Jam comes out they need to start working on Blitz 2012, ASAP.
I thought MW2's single-player was good, but fairly short and incredibly hard to follow. That's not the draw of the game for me, though...I'm all about that butter-smooth online multiplayer.
In case you guys didn't know, NWR always has to have at least 2 PhD candidates on staff at all times. Aaron and Jonny fill the quota, and when they leave we'll have to find some more.
Post by: Kytim89 on April 20, 2010, 11:02:59 PM
Post by: NWR_insanolord on April 20, 2010, 11:17:41 PM
Haha, I live in Montreal, and I was listening to your podcast while walking home from work. Your mention of poutine inspired me to get a smoked meat poutine on the way, for optimal clogging of the arteries.
This is awesome.
Also, Mario Football would be amazing, as long as they let you do mean-spirited things after the play. Am I the only one here that misses the NFL Blitz series? Seriously people, after NBA Jam comes out they need to start working on Blitz 2012, ASAP.
I thought MW2's single-player was good, but fairly short and incredibly hard to follow. That's not the draw of the game for me, though...I'm all about that butter-smooth online multiplayer.
In case you guys didn't know, NWR always has to have at least 2 PhD candidates on staff at all times. Aaron and Jonny fill the quota, and when they leave we'll have to find some more.
The NFL hated Blitz, though; their negative feelings about it were one of the bigger reasons they offered EA exclusivity in the first place. There just isn't a market for a non-licensed football game. All Pro Football didn't sell, the DS Tecmo Bowl didn't sell and they canceled the Wii one, and the upcoming Backbreaker, despite promising technical advances, will not sell.
The exception to this, though, would be a Mario Football game, and I don't think it would work with any other franchise. Mario Football in the style of Strikers is probably as close to Blitz as we could get.
Post by: KDR_11k on April 21, 2010, 03:10:41 AM
That's not the draw of the game for me, though...I'm all about that butter-smooth online multiplayer.
You're talking about coop, right? The competitive multiplayer is anything but "butter smooth".
Post by: adadad on April 21, 2010, 02:27:07 PM
RFN is apparently a great podcast to clean to. I needed to do some major cleaning of my dorm room, and last night I turned on RFN and put on my wireless headphones and cleaned for the full 2 hours. Now that I think of it, I did the same thing last time I did major cleaning. Thanks, guys; I don't know if I would have been able to buckle down and do it if not for you distracting me.
Ha ha, this is typical for me too. Generally not so much with cleaning, but for big loads of washing up RFN is a lifesaver.
Post by: NWR_Lindy on April 21, 2010, 06:09:40 PM
You're talking about coop, right? The competitive multiplayer is anything but "butter smooth".
It's super-fast for me.
Post by: KDR_11k on April 22, 2010, 02:31:12 AM
Post by: NWR_insanolord on April 24, 2010, 01:14:50 AM
Post by: Yoshidious on April 24, 2010, 09:38:49 AM
Also, due to me being a fan of the NFL from afar who couldn't see Bills games live until relatively recently, I'm very much a fan of the league as a whole--I'm always very interested in what everyone else is doing, where the really heralded prospects end up, and then how their careers pan out down the line. I don't get to see much college football over here so the draft process is my way of getting familiar with all these guys who I'll be watching for the next 10 years or so.
Post by: ShyGuy on April 24, 2010, 01:55:34 PM
Post by: TJ Spyke on April 24, 2010, 02:31:35 PM
The NFL draft is always boring to me, especially when they get to the second round and stop announcing who the picks are (you only see the announcement scrolling on the bottom of the screen. Part of it is that there are rarely any surprises, the commentators on ESPN correctly predicted almost every pick in the first round.
Post by: vudu on April 24, 2010, 03:03:41 PM
As someone who lives in western New York (about 1 hour from Orchard Park), I don't think Bills owner Ralph Wilson, Jr. would sell the team unless the new owner promised to keep them in Buffalo.
What are you--a robot? It was a joke.
Post by: TJ Spyke on April 24, 2010, 03:24:03 PM
Post by: ShyGuy on April 24, 2010, 03:29:43 PM
Post by: broodwars on April 24, 2010, 03:37:15 PM
All these people knashing teeth over the frickin' NFL draft when we have the entire NBA Playoffs going on right now (and so far, it's been a good one...with the exception of the Eastern Conference, of course. But the Eastern Conference has been a joke for years).
Post by: ShyGuy on April 24, 2010, 04:00:55 PM
Post by: broodwars on April 24, 2010, 04:50:00 PM
What's the deal with the Utah Jazz? They're not Utah and they're not Jazz.
New Orleans (as it always has been) was a horrendous town for actually supporting professional basketball, so the Jazz left the city and moved to Utah (taking the Jazz name with them). The team didn't have the money to pay for new jerseys when they changed cities, so the name stuck. Now it's an institution (I grew up with the Stockton-Malone Jazz), so it's never going to change and all the people whining about the name can STFU.
Post by: TJ Spyke on April 24, 2010, 05:02:54 PM
What is Greg going to do? Move the team to Manchester?
After the NFL Europe failed, I doubt they are eager to bring football back on a weekly basis (before you say anything Vudu, I know he was probably joking).
I like the Jazz name, I like that most sports actually have team name (soccer teams, outside of the US, tend to not have team names and are just referred to by their city like "Manchester United" and "Real Madrid"). Speaking of basketball, I want a console Mario basketball game.
Post by: noname2200 on April 24, 2010, 07:36:24 PM
Personally, I find the NFL draft to be a fascinating and fun occasion (especially coming as it does in the middle of the excruciatingly long NFL offseason), but I try not to get overly excited/deflated over the outcome, because you never know with the draft. Two years ago, Chris Johnson was a reach at a position the Titans didn't really need; now he's a 2000 yard rusher and the key to their offense. Yes the Bills need help on the offensive line very badly as well as a QB for the future, so the round 1-3 picks were a little surprising, but believe me when I say that the Bills' problems can't be solved in a single draft/offseason in any event.
Fully granted, but this year's crop was pretty thick with quality offensive linemen and some good QBs, which could have done a lot. On the other hand, y'all also need a defense...
Post by: Shaymin on April 24, 2010, 08:17:52 PM
What's the deal with the Utah Jazz? They're not Utah and they're not Jazz.
New Orleans (as it always has been) was a horrendous town for actually supporting professional basketball, so the Jazz left the city and moved to Utah (taking the Jazz name with them). The team didn't have the money to pay for new jerseys when they changed cities, so the name stuck. Now it's an institution (I grew up with the Stockton-Malone Jazz), so it's never going to change and all the people whining about the name can STFU.
So you're not down with the "Jazz" name being on the line when Utah and New Orleans have their first playoff series against each other?
Post by: broodwars on April 24, 2010, 10:23:07 PM
What's the deal with the Utah Jazz? They're not Utah and they're not Jazz.
New Orleans (as it always has been) was a horrendous town for actually supporting professional basketball, so the Jazz left the city and moved to Utah (taking the Jazz name with them). The team didn't have the money to pay for new jerseys when they changed cities, so the name stuck. Now it's an institution (I grew up with the Stockton-Malone Jazz), so it's never going to change and all the people whining about the name can STFU.
So you're not down with the "Jazz" name being on the line when Utah and New Orleans have their first playoff series against each other?
What would be the point? The Jazz routinely own the Hornets year after year, especially Williams vs. Paul. Besides, the Hornets can't even get themselves to the playoffs these days, let alone compose a team that can actually favorably match up against mine. New Orleans had their chance to keep the name, and they threw it away so they can keep their ***** new one and be grateful they get even that.
Post by: NWR_Lindy on April 26, 2010, 07:52:26 PM
My opinion of the NBA is that in general, it's a bunch of clowns.
Post by: NWR_insanolord on April 26, 2010, 08:01:26 PM
Post by: NWR_Neal on April 26, 2010, 10:47:59 PM
Post by: broodwars on April 26, 2010, 10:49:44 PM
You know what I loved? The year Carmelo was with Syracuse and they won the NCAA Championship. Then he up and left and became a douche.
Well, take heart: My Jazz are kicking his team's behind in our First Round Playoff series right now 3-1, despite not having 2 of our starters (which really made us the underdog). ;D
Post by: KDR_11k on April 27, 2010, 02:45:32 AM
Post by: Crimm on April 28, 2010, 03:14:31 PM
Post by: NWR_Karl on April 28, 2010, 03:25:43 PM
Post by: broodwars on April 28, 2010, 03:40:05 PM
No sports fans have anything on Philly fans. Those people are mentally unstable.
Never been to a Jazz home game, have you? Walk into the Delta Center (sorry, I'm not dignifying the idiotic name that stadium currently has by typing it) during a home playoff game, and (to paraphrase Ernie Hudson in Ghostbusters) "you'll see things that would turn you white!" ;) Seriously, that place gets so legendarily loud and crazy that ear plugs are pretty much required if you ever want to hear again.
Post by: NWR_Karl on April 28, 2010, 03:52:17 PM
Post by: Hero_of_time113 on April 28, 2010, 05:26:10 PM
I had never even heard of Poutine, but thanks to Masters Lindemann and Metts I have seen the light! Thank you so much! haha
Post by: Kytim89 on April 28, 2010, 11:45:07 PM
Post by: KDR_11k on April 29, 2010, 02:44:09 AM
No sports fans have anything on Philly fans. Those people are mentally unstable.
Do they perform night raids on trains at small stations because they suspect fans of a different club are in there? Do they get the whole city saturated with police and people stuffed into trains like prisoners when they're in town?
Post by: TJ Spyke on April 29, 2010, 11:41:31 AM
A Phillies fan recently made himself vomit on a small child (and her off-duty cop father) because she was a Mets fan.
There is a little more to the story. Basically the guy was part of a group that was getting drunk, annoying the hell out of everybody around them, and just being pains in the ass. The dad/cop got security and had the troublemakers thrown out. This guy was friends with the people who were thrown out and apparently did this to get back at him.
Anyways, European soccer fans are nuts (in a bad way). I don't see any other sport where the fans riot because one of their players gets a penalty.
Post by: Halbred on May 02, 2010, 09:06:09 PM
Post by: Jet Pilot on May 02, 2010, 09:11:33 PM
No RFN this week? I know ya'll took last week off, but this week too?
I was wondering the same thing. :)
Post by: Yoshidious on May 02, 2010, 09:20:29 PM
No RFN this week? I know ya'll took last week off, but this week too?
Never fear - the new episode has been uploaded in the past few minutes. It's a big 'un, which meant a long edit and long upload times, so it was a few hours later than normal.
Post by: Halbred on May 02, 2010, 09:31:51 PM
