Messages

651

Podcast Discussion / Re: Radio Free Nintendo: Episode 186

« on: March 09, 2010, 01:22:32 AM »

As I said on the show, I do not like metal in general. The early stuff in Brutal Legend is at least more grounded in classic rock and is often melodic (more or less), so it's a lot easier for me to tolerate and occasionally enjoy.

Well if you like Melodic metal you would enjoy Dark Tranquillity's "Haven" album and In flame's "The Jester Race" or even Winstersun's self-named album! Although, I am guessing you didn't mean melodic death metal 
As a metal fan, I was disappointed with the selection in Brutal Legend but mostly because I like that niche subgenre of melodic death metal. I know they did put Dark Tranquillity in there, but in their promo video they classified it as black metal which showed that they really didn't think it through that much (I know, splitting hairs, but its like saying Mario is the same as Mega Man). When I'm not listening to metal I am listening to string quartets by Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and the like because I find that they are very similar to what I enjoy in my metal.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Radio Free Nintendo: Episode 186

« on: March 08, 2010, 12:21:38 PM »

I was shoving tacos in my face during the first half of this podcast, and I apologize for that.  However, I got home from work late and pretty much jumped straight on the headset, so I had no choice but to eat during recording.  I'm usually more discreet, but this time I was so hungry I just didn't care.

Really? That's your excuse! I pay good money to listen to thi.... oh wait. John eat all you want, I didn't even notice and if I had who cares?

I don't want to sound like I am giving you permission to eat, it is your show and this shouldn't be an issue at all. Doesn't anyone here go out and talk to people while they are eating? It happens, people eat.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Radio Free Nintendo: Episode 186

« on: March 07, 2010, 07:34:43 PM »

As always great show, thanks for yet another entertaining episode!

I don't appreciate the complete dismissal of an entire genre whenever roguelikes are brought up on the podcast. I am glad that Jonny is willing to try one, and it appears that James may be playing up how he feels about these games for entertainment's sake. Still, those that enjoy them aren't necessarily idiots for liking them and don't need to sustain monk-like lifestyles to do so.

With regards to Dragon Age, I know that James played the 360 version and I can't attest to its quality. From what I have read the 360 version tries to make you play it out like an action game which is simply isn't. On the PC version that I enjoyed, the party members' behaviors were highly customizable and it was simple to control them so that you didn't have to depend on their AI if you did not want to. I found that the game required quite a bit of tactical thought, and while it wasn't dependent on mechanical skills it did challenge the player intellectually. (I suppose this is the response that Jonny predicted in the podcast)

The new business did get me interested in Raiden IV, I am going to try and pick up a copy of that.

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TalkBack / Re: REVIEWS: Shiren the Wanderer

« on: March 05, 2010, 08:37:20 PM »

Andy, you and Jeremy Parish convinced me to try this genre. I picked up the DS version of Shiren for $15. It starts off easy, but definitely seems complex. I expect it to ramp up very soon.

Did you find it in a retail store? Nobody around where I live seems to stock it.

Also, if you are interested in this genre and have an iPhone/iPod Touch the game "iNethack" is excellent. It is a port of the PC game Nethack, and both versions (PC and iPhone) are free. The thing about Nethack is how free form the gameplay is, and on the iPhone version you don't have to memorize as many commands since there is an extended command menu. I fell in love with the game when after dipping an item into a fountain that summoned a water nymph, the nymph proceeded to try and seduce my pet cat, who I promptly polymorphed into a gnome king to fight the nymph. After the two ran off in another direction I tried summoning a cloud, but ended up chocking on the gas and dying forever.

655

TalkBack / Re: New Metroid: Other M Trailer

« on: March 03, 2010, 03:01:04 AM »

After taking another look I am left feeling very wary of this game. Since I have my doubts about the control scheme, my new worries over the story serve to compound my trepidation. Perhaps I am too young, young and naive... but it looks like Nintendo needs to shorten Team Ninja's leash a bit more. Past entries have been very western with Retro behind the wheel, and I think this is Nintendo's attempt to revive Metroid as a big hit in Japan.

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TalkBack / Re: New Metroid: Other M Trailer

« on: March 02, 2010, 09:19:21 PM »

She doesn't have that mole on her chin here.

A sign.

657

TalkBack / Re: PREVIEWS: Super Mario Galaxy 2

« on: March 02, 2010, 08:03:02 PM »

Wow. I totally forgot about the Super Guide in NSMBW. I wouldn't be surprised if that comes back in Galaxy 2.

Yeah I never ran into that either, guess I am just that l33t. In retrospect (well, at the time too) it is hilarious how upset people got over a feature that, if they are as talented as they claim, wouldn't affect them at all.

The only time I approached getting that high amount of death was during a play session with friends. Multiplayer is a challenge and a joy with the right people in that game.

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TalkBack / Re: DS2 Might Get Announced At E3

« on: March 02, 2010, 07:56:06 PM »

The problem with the DS on a television is the type of stylus the screen supports wouldn't allow you to use the stylus as an on screen cursor without making gameplay concessions. Now, if the new DS supported a Wacom-like digitized stylus I would flip my lid... and play on a TV would make a bit more sense.

One problem with playing PSP on my tv was the shortness of their cables and the fact that it was limited to a small portion of a large screen. Having the new DS sync with the Wii to make games playable on the big screen via wifi would be great! I am not sure if crystal chronicles supported this, if it did I know it was only if you owned the Wii game, so this would probably only be feasible if your games lived on both the DS and the Wii.

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TalkBack / Re: PREVIEWS: Super Mario Galaxy 2

« on: March 02, 2010, 04:21:32 PM »

Great preview, Pedro! I cannot wait for this game, it looks right up my alley. Hopefully we get some really challenging stages...

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TalkBack / Re: Metroid: Other M Intro Cutscene Leaked Online

« on: March 02, 2010, 02:20:03 AM »

That's better.  It's also a different situation than what I described before

Vs. the Microwave? Yeah it plays a lot better on the Bravia, and the microwave is free to heat up my Chicken Dinos.

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TalkBack / Re: DS2 Might Get Announced At E3

« on: March 02, 2010, 02:17:49 AM »

Tales DS

where art thou.

I hear you, the 2d ones are my favorite.

662

TalkBack / Re: Metroid: Other M Intro Cutscene Leaked Online

« on: March 02, 2010, 01:36:43 AM »

Of course there is.  It's a crap conversion process with no winners.

Get a TV.

wait, i was responding to NWR Staff; you need to be specific.  you're playing games on your microwave, you say?

I am playing on my 46" Bravia but sure, feel superior.

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TalkBack / Re: DS2 Might Get Announced At E3

« on: March 02, 2010, 01:33:44 AM »

i think the recent bunch of ds stuff just doesn't do it compared to iphone gaming, psp gaming and even the up and coming android gaming that should hit soon (supports flash, TONS OF GAMES).

Really? If you are an RPG fan, the DS is the place to be man. I know that many RPG games are kind of niche but I am really happy as a clam with what has already come and is scheduled to come out for the DS RPG wise. I mean, I just got through playing FFIV, Might and Magic COH, Zelda Spirit Tracks, and am currently working through Etrian Odyssey II. After I finish that, I have Professor Layton 2 and Devil Survivor waiting for me. Coming out this year that I am looking forward to are SMT Strange Journey, Dragon Quest 9, Etrian Odyssey III, Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2, Golden Sun 3, Final Fantasy Gaiden, Pokemon Heart Gold, Dragon Quest 6, Ninokuni Another World and Shiren 4. Don't know how I am gonna manage all that, but I sure as hell am not complaining about a lack of games. 

For smaller experiences, I agree that the iPhone has the DS trumped mostly due to volume and price. I play tons of iPhone games, and it is great for that quick fix of gaming. Shooters, Tower Defense games, and even adventure games are great on the iPhone.

As far as the PSP having more than the DS? Well... it gets less play than my DS. I got it for Littlebigplanet which lasted about a week. Other than Valkyria Chronicles 2 an Persona 3 Portable I am not sure what else people are looking forward to with the PSP.

664

TalkBack / Re: Metroid: Other M Intro Cutscene Leaked Online

« on: March 01, 2010, 11:50:45 PM »

You may say that, but there is a big difference between plugging my Wii in with component cables vs. my VGA cable.

665

TalkBack / Re: DS2 Might Get Announced At E3

« on: March 01, 2010, 11:28:16 PM »

The thing is, I don't think the graphics thing really a great argument.  Just because you have the increased power doesn't meant you have to use all of it.  Otherwise, we wouldn't have great games like the Art Style series.  And having a more modern system is arguably easier (i.e. cheaper) to code for because you don't have to get down to hardware level to do interesting things.  Power consumption is certainly a valid point though.

I think my real worry with the graphics is that we will get less sprite based games, but I suppose the PSP has plenty of those. I really like some good 2d art.

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TalkBack / Re: DS2 Might Get Announced At E3

« on: March 01, 2010, 11:16:32 PM »

The thing I really like about the DS's weaker graphics is that we can get great games for cheap, and they are cheaper for the developers to make as well. Games like Professor Layton and all of the Atlus games that I love are a result of these lower costs. I also appreciate the phenomenal battery life that far outlasts my PSP and iPhone. On a handheld, I am looking for great gameplay that I can carry with me easily, graphics don't factor in all that much (heck, I still play GBC games on my SP).

Still, a new DS would be fun... so long as the games keep coming. I would also like to see full titles available for download... and some way to download our games that we have registered with club Nintendo.

667

TalkBack / Re: Metroid: Other M Intro Cutscene Leaked Online

« on: March 01, 2010, 10:58:19 PM »

Yeah, even the GameCube had better outputs than the Wii -- Digital.

I currently use a vga output for my Wii, makes it look more bearable...

668

TalkBack / Re: Metroid: Other M Intro Cutscene Leaked Online

« on: March 01, 2010, 10:38:13 PM »

The framebuffer architecture (i.e. the circuitry that puts the image on the screen) is different so you can't make statements like that.

I wasn't trying to imply that the Wii could currently support an HD image higher than 480p... I was noting that it has "the guts" to do so, so to speak. Like someone with a great set of lungs but weak vocal cords, I guess.

669

TalkBack / Re: Metroid: Other M Intro Cutscene Leaked Online

« on: March 01, 2010, 09:35:04 PM »

The graphics should look mostly like the screenshots, but there will be more edge aliasing when it is rendered at 480p.

Ah, Nintendo. I can play Prince of Persia Sands of Time on my xbox in 720p, the Wii's hardware is certainly capable of this... what gives?

What do you mean?  I don't think the Wii has enough video memory to render HD resolutions under any circumstances.  It has a 3 MB video memory which must be used for textures and the framebuffer.  1280x720p requires: 1280x720 pixels x 3 bytes of info per pixel x 2 frames for standard double buffering = 5.3 MB required (or 3.5 MB if you used 16 bit color).

The original Xbox had no special "texture memory", most specs only list it's 64mb ram, which the Wii has and which I assume to be the video memory.
Actually, these are the specs I found for Wii's memory:
Memory
64mb DDR3
24mb 1T-SRAM
3mb Texture Memory

vs. the Xbox's
Memory
64mb DDR ram

The Wii out-specs the original Xbox, the original xbox could do 720p... logic would dictate that the Wii could do so.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Radio Free Nintendo: Episode 185

« on: March 01, 2010, 02:03:36 AM »

I am only partially into the episode but had to stop to comment on something before I forgot. Greg, that Mario sound gag was pure genius... you managed to merge gloating with genuine laugh out loud humor. Well played.

671

TalkBack / Re: Chris Kohler: Man About Town

« on: February 28, 2010, 06:12:28 PM »

It's not news, but I couldn't classify it as an Interview, Review, Preview, Impressions, etc. so here we are.

Wow people can be so nitpicky sometimes.  =P

I would have gone with impressions, and for the ladies.... preview.

672

TalkBack / Re: Metroid: Other M Intro Cutscene Leaked Online

« on: February 28, 2010, 02:58:10 AM »

On those days, the ones that she forgets, Adam refuses to call her lady.

673

TalkBack / Re: Chris Kohler: Man About Town

« on: February 28, 2010, 02:19:15 AM »

Journalist attends press event! I fail to see how this is news, but I'm glad it is. Another funny Chris video is his DSi XL review, he loves it so much one wonders how much Nintendo is paying him (no I'm not actually accusing him of that).

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TalkBack / Re: Metroid: Other M Intro Cutscene Leaked Online

« on: February 28, 2010, 01:01:59 AM »

I wonder if that was always planned.  In a 1992 interview, the development team was asked to state a secret of Samus that only he/she knew.  Sakamoto said, "I know where Samus's beauty mark is."

With the Japanese, you never know. Plus she didn't have it in Brawl (I just checked), but maybe Brawl is set after Super Metroid and we will get to see when/how she gets it removed.

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TalkBack / Re: Metroid: Other M Intro Cutscene Leaked Online

« on: February 27, 2010, 09:37:45 PM »

The graphics should look mostly like the screenshots, but there will be more edge aliasing when it is rendered at 480p.

Ah, Nintendo. I can play Prince of Persia Sands of Time on my xbox in 720p, the Wii's hardware is certainly capable of this... what gives?