Messages

1301

Podcast Discussion / Re: NWR Chat Season 1, Episode 2: The Fire-Type Strikes Back

« on: November 21, 2016, 04:23:34 PM »

Anecdotal, but count me as one person who will not buy ports of Wii U games to Switch game if there either isn't an upgrade path or heavy discount on the titles.  Re-buying $5-10 virtual console games is a whole different ballpark than full-priced console games.

I'm in the same boat - in fact, the rumored Switch lineup (which includes more ports of old games than new content) has me question if Switch is worth buying into at all for the first year.


But Wii U had a lot of ports too, and ended up being a fun console. It'll probably just take some time for compelling exclusives to become available.

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: Run the Series: Wario Platformers

« on: November 19, 2016, 08:23:51 AM »

Wario Blast should be included (but only because it would let me check off another box; without it, I can only check off three games from the list).


I know that Wario Land 2 and 3 are well respected... but I really didn't enjoy either game. They felt too cramped on the Game Boy, and some of the ideas felt experimental but not really enjoyable for me.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 7 - Dirty Rotten Scalpers

« on: November 19, 2016, 08:06:28 AM »

In support of your argument, it's probably also important to note that NES Classic units are essentially luxury items - not having one won't cause physical harm to anyone.

I still have a hard time with it, but can understand your point much better now.

---

By the way, this was a really enjoyable podcast! I spent a lot of time renting and playing NES games when I was young so could strongly identify with the discussion.

It was so exciting to rent an NES game, because there were many games to pick from and you usually didn't have much to base your choice on other than the box art on display.  Sometimes you'd end up getting a great game, sometimes not so much. In either case you'd only have a short time to see as much of the game as you could - so it wouldn't be unusual to have late nights or marathon sessions.

Lots of great games mentioned: TMNT 3: The Manhattan Project, Snow Bros, Mega Man, Bubble Bubble, Darkwing Duck, and more... Really took me back! Some NES games could have a lot of jank, but still be really interesting and exciting experience once you get the hang of them. Did any of you guys ever play Nightshade or Metal Storm? I was also a huge fan of renting Maniac Mansion and trying to beat the game with different endings.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 7 - Dirty Rotten Scalpers

« on: November 18, 2016, 07:24:13 PM »

From a purely morality perspective, I have no problem with scalpers whatsoever. Welcome to the wonderful world of a free market.

I mean, it's a huge dickface move, yes, but I don't have a morality problem with it.

I always have a hard time understanding this line of thought: something is clearly a dick move, but you have no moral objection to it.  So your morals don't suggest that acting like a dick to other people is a bad thing?  Or maybe you just value money over people - after all, it is a capitalist society we live in. Either way, I'd like a better explanation of how you can so easily justify the action.

Legally, there is usually nothing wrong with scalping (except for those times when it actually is illegal... which happens more often than you might think but is usually just ignored).

But from a common decency standpoint, I can't support people who regularly buy goods for the sole purpose of scalping them later.  Actively and intentionally denying things to your peers out of a hope that you can then extort more money from those same people for your own personal gain is incredibly asinine.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 146: Podcast Babies

« on: November 17, 2016, 09:30:02 AM »

Any particular Wii games that worked well one-handed that you can recommend?

I spent a lot of time with Animal Crossing City Folk, Endless Ocean (this always put us both to sleep), and some of the TellTale games (Sam & Max and Monkey Island come to mind in particular).  Opoona and Zack & Wiki are also good one-handed options - but I didn't play them much at that time.


Feels like there should be more on that list... but lack of sleep makes my memory of that time is kind of hazy. I'd bet that a google search would bring up other options if I weren't so lazy.

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TalkBack / Re: Excitebike 64 Making First Virtual Console Appearance Tomorrow In North America

« on: November 16, 2016, 02:43:51 PM »

Shake It! is a fantastic game. The art and music are both wonderful, and it's got some really good level design. The game is easy if you don't want to collect everything or find secrets - but can be challenging if you want to see everything it's got to offer.


Totally agree with pokepal148: while I love it being available, many people will probably be able to buy for a lower price if you look for a physical copy instead of going digital. That choice is yours to make.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 146: Podcast Babies

« on: November 16, 2016, 02:41:22 PM »

I got lots of gaming done when my daughter was born.  Usually during the middle of the night while holding her in a rocking chair, using one hand for a Wii remote.  Thank goodness for one-handed gaming... not sure how I would've made it through some of those long nights otherwise.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: NWR Chat Episode 1, Season 1: A New Hope

« on: November 15, 2016, 11:04:51 PM »

you got me there, Ejamer. I figured most of the folks who come to this forum probably have an existing collection.

People here might - we don't exactly represent the "average gamer" when it comes to Nintendo fandom, right?
For anyone with a collection of real NES games, that does look like the best approach - and in that case the cost seems totally reasonable.

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General Gaming / Re: What are you playing?

« on: November 15, 2016, 10:57:44 PM »

VR works for some games, but not all.

As a huge 2D platformer fan, I'm not quite sold on it.  But obviously I'm a bit biased there... 
Kidding aside, what games/genres benefit from it most? 

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Podcast Discussion / Re: NWR Chat Episode 1, Season 1: A New Hope

« on: November 15, 2016, 07:46:22 PM »

for those quibbling about the NES classic in this thread, I'd like to direct you to a much better but slightly more expensive alternative.

http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=78

...

"Slightly more expensive" is likely to be an understatement for most people.  The console does look great, but it's three times more expensive out of the gate and requires you to own physical copies of the games.  Some of those games won't be expensive, but buying 30 (ie: equivalent to the NES Classic) games will add up pretty quickly... making the total investment much higher for anyone who isn't starting with an existing collection of NES carts.

That said, if you have the money or an existing collection of games then this is a pretty fantastic looking piece of equipment. For me, the biggest selling point is that game selection is only limited by your budget and ability to find original cartridges - fantastic!


Almost like they are shooting for different audiences...   

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: NES Classic and Nintendo's futility trying to meet demand.

« on: November 15, 2016, 01:37:04 PM »

Maybe the unit shortage isn't entirely Nintendo's fault.


http://www.kijiji.ca/v-video-games-consoles-other/hamilton/60-nes-classic-systems-available/1216476779?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true


When the link inevitably goes down, some joker bought 60 units and is now trying to unload them second-hand (unopened and unused, of course - he's not buying to play) for a mere $250 a pop. Seriously: what's wrong with people?  Aimed at both the reseller, and anyone paying $250 for a system from someone who obviously is trying to horde all local stock.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: NWR Chat Episode 1, Season 1: A New Hope

« on: November 15, 2016, 01:29:50 PM »

Interesting to hear people say that SNES wasn't a big multiplayer console for them.  It certainly was for me and my friends - but maybe that's situation dependent.


We played a lot of fighting games (Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat being the most memorable) but also a lot of brawlers in the same style as Final Fight. Bomberman and wrestling games were also huge draws when we'd get together, with Mario Kart and various sports games also getting a good amount of play.


Very few of those games really hold up as experiences I'd want to go back to - although Bomberman is still classic - but they were definitely well-loved at the time.


Here's hoping for an SNES Classic console coming out eventually. 

...
I dont know how it has been in America and Europe, but the NES mini sold out like crazy here in Australia. EB Games website has gone down twice because of so many people trying to preorder it. They had to reschedule the second shipment preorder to today. I will try to get one, but I doubt I will be able to.

NES Classic situation in the U.S. is BAD.  You had to be lining up at store openings to get one in my area.

Same in Canada, for what it's worth. But if you want to spend between $300 and $400 on the lovely second-hand market then there appear to be plenty available.  Seems like waiting for more stock is the only reasonable option.

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TalkBack / Re: The Rumored Switch Pricing Is Just Crazy Enough To Work

« on: November 14, 2016, 05:51:51 PM »

The price (in Canada) is more than I'm willing to pay next year, but only because I have a glut of games and not much free time.  $250 USD seems lower than I had hoped. Fingers crossed that it doesn't mean the power of the console or the storage included is lower also.

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: NES Classic and Nintendo's futility trying to meet demand.

« on: November 14, 2016, 03:53:58 PM »

Bubble Bobble is the best NES game, what are you talking about?

Not the best, but a damn bit better than any lists I've seen posted recently have made it out to be.


But hey, any game that doesn't have immediate nostalgia or give away some of it's best secrets in the first 5 minutes is destined to fail these days. Also, it's not nearly as good solo as it is with a friend... and the experience of couch co-op is rarely enjoyed any longer.
 


Seriously though, Bubble Bobble is a very good game.

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General Gaming / Re: What are you playing?

« on: November 14, 2016, 08:19:42 AM »

Just been playing a bunch of PSVR demos. It sounds cliché, but the immersion is second to none. Sure the display could be higher-res (especially with the PS4 Pro out now), but the experience is incredible. It's hard to go back to non-VR games after this.

Ugh... I'm still skeptical about VR providing experiences that I'm keen to play, but really need to try this sometime. Reactions have been much more positive than I expected they would be.


(Only "ugh" because if it lives up to the hype I can't afford buying in anyway.)

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General Gaming / Re: What are you playing?

« on: November 13, 2016, 09:25:33 PM »

Moved to Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze (Wii U).  This isn't a series I'm usually big on, but I can't deny the quality after playing through the first world of stages.


The constant delays for loading are unfortunate though - LEGO City Undercover remains king of the loading screen, but at least that game could let you play for a significant amount of time between seeing loading screens pop up. Here it feels like you are waiting for content to load every couple of minutes, which is a huge pet peeve for me.


Got this game for free through the old Club Nintendo rewards. Makes me nostalgic for a rewards program that would offer me rewards I might actually use...

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TalkBack / Re: Nintendo To Sell US$99 New 3DS This Holiday

« on: November 12, 2016, 05:26:01 PM »

I dearly hope you are wrong.
Nintendo doesn't stock anything in decent numbers, If this is a Black Friday-only deal, it might as well not exist for me.


 

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: NES Classic and Nintendo's futility trying to meet demand.

« on: November 11, 2016, 05:44:39 PM »

I still think Nintendo prefers the buzz from understocking highly desirable items over making their customers happy.  Most casuals will probably view this as a prime gift item, so as long as stock keeps rolling in between now and Christmas, they won't get too stressed.

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General Gaming / Re: What is the last game you beat? Thoughts/impressions?

« on: November 10, 2016, 09:49:55 PM »

So managed to finish off New Super Luigi U (Wii U) with all star coins found up to Princess Peach's castle and all Nabbits caught. My kids have really enjoyed playing - and lately watching me play, as the levels are a bit too advanced for them - and were thrilled to save the princess.


I'm not really a fan of the physics in the New Super series, it always feels a bit too floaty compared to what I expect from a Mario game.  But in this game it's easy to overlook that because Luigi always feels kind of slippery and floaty - so the game controls very close to what I expect. Level design was mostly very good, although a couple of the star coins and hidden levels seemed kind of BS. Random butt stomping to find secrets when you have a short timer isn't good level design in my opinion - although maybe I missed some kind of tip off about where they were? Regardless, I enjoyed the game quite a bit and would recommend it. In fact, this is probably my favorite entry in the New Super series.


Not sure I care enough to do the handful of unlockable levels right now though. Will probably come back for them a bit later?

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TalkBack / Re: Nintendo Downloads - November 10, 2016

« on: November 10, 2016, 10:32:42 AM »

I like seeing Wii games available to download... but pricing them at over $30 CAD (after taxes) per game seems crazy. Each release can be easily bought for less than half that price in physical format - which isn't locked to a dying console, and can be loaned or re-sold later if you so desire.


But hey, at least they are pretty good games.

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TalkBack / Re: My Nintendo North America Adds New Metroid Rewards, Miitomo Challenges

« on: November 10, 2016, 10:28:33 AM »

What really gets me about My Nintendo is that the discounts aren't even very good.
I mean... these are digital goods that will get locked to the physical console you download it to, and people are supposed to consider a 20% sale price as a special reward?

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TalkBack / Re: NES Classic Edition Review

« on: November 09, 2016, 11:14:54 PM »

Why does Nintendo always do this?  It seems like so many times they've come up with something really good but with one really dumb, obvious flaw.  I want one of these but to have to deal with something that is almost unusable with what's in the box is crazy.

Not a good justification, but I think the reasoning probably goes like this:
(1) controllers can double as Wii classic controllers, which don't need long cords; personally, I like the fact they aren't super long because it makes the controllers more useful in different contexts
(2) longer replacement HDMI cables are something Nintendo can leave for customers to purchase; what's in the box is workable and anyone who wants more can easily find a replacement


Luckily, the obvious flaw in this case is both easy and inexpensive to fix.

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TalkBack / Re: NES Classic Edition Review

« on: November 09, 2016, 08:13:32 PM »

The short cords are kind of baffling - the product seems so good, but having to huddle up to your TV is pretty ridiculous in this day and age.  But outside of that it seems like consistent praise for the NES Classic.  Especially glad to hear the emulation is (apparently) top notch.

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General Gaming / Re: In honor of today's events, are there any good POLITICAL games out there?

« on: November 08, 2016, 10:35:13 PM »

http://www.yucata.de/en/GameInfo/CampaignManager

Signup for the site is free...and this is the best election game I can think of.

Ha! I was thinking about this, and came to the conclusion that while there are some good board games (see link above) I couldn't think of any good video games.


Hope everyone who was supposed to vote did, regardless of how misguided your vote might be. 

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TalkBack / Re: eShopping - November 7, 2016

« on: November 08, 2016, 10:25:08 AM »

Oh, nice. I've been curious about Paper Monsters Recut but haven't really needed any more games so have always put it off. But for just $1 it's an easy impulse buy - I'll grab it now and play later.


Thanks for the heads-up!


Sounds like Mr Pumpkin Adventure is also worth looking into. Who knew - I would've written it off until seeing that recommendation.