Topic: Episode 212: The Mice Will Play

[Yoshidious]

Jon skipped town this week, so we can finally talk about serious things. Like Nintendo.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/24111

We're only three men strong this week, but that's still strong enough to get the job done. While Mr. Lindemann was up in Sam Adams country, scoping out restaurant options for our return to PAX East, the rest of us get down to business. New Business, that is. Jonny kicks it off with an update on Dragon Quest IX, first impressions of the new Spidey DS game, an excellent DLC pack for Mass Effect 2, and a campfire horror tale of his haunted Xbox. James continues his dalliance with not only Banjo but also Kazooie, as he reports on the physics-based merits of BK Nuts & Bolts. Greg's big game was a surprise to us, so I won't spoil it here, but it's good to know he won't starve after all.

This week's sizable dollop of Listener Mail starts with a pair of questions about the 3DS, including the rumored specs and our predictions for the upcoming reveal event in Japan. We also discuss trends in Western game development, the outlook for Wii software in 2011 (and beyond?), douchebags playing Super Metroid, and the exciting announcement of a new game from one of our favorite developers.

If you haven't yet voted for an N64 game in our RetroActive poll, don't delay -- the winner will be declared on Thursday, September 30!

[KDR_11k]

the exciting announcement of a new game from one of our favorite developers.

You mean a new game from nnooo?

[TJ Spyke]

the exciting announcement of a new game from one of our favorite developers.

You mean a new game from nnooo?

You mean you don't love Phoenix Games?

[Killer_Man_Jaro]

Confidentially, Greg, what measures did you take to allow yourself to taste the forbidden fruit?

[NWR_Karl]

Also, Jonny didn't mention it in this show (since it wasn't 100% for sure going to be up when they recorded earlier this week), but his new podcast at Crosstawk.com, Discover Music Project, is up and downloadable. It's got Jonny and Mike Sklens talking about Phish:

http://www.crosstawk.com/newbusiness/2010/9/26/introducing-discover-music-project.html

Additionally, the new Box Office Poison (also with Jonny and Mike) went up last week, if that's your sort of thing.

[NWR_Lindy]

Next up on Discover Music Project: Jonny gives me the Mike Jones Treatment.

[MegaByte]

So, we seem to be going backwards in time from games, movies, music... what's next, a podcast on the visual arts?

[Halbred]

Karl doesn't contribute to the site anymore so much as advertise his own ****. :-D

[Jonnyboy117]

In this case, Karl is advertising MY ****. And I don't mind. ;-)


Jon, I would absolutely love to have you on for an episode on the hip-hop artist of your choosing.

[Kytim89]

I have always wondered if Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo, and Banjo-Kazooie 3 would have been bettered recieved if they had remained on Nintendo consoles. The quality of Rare's games have been steadily declining since they were bought out by Microsoft.
 
As for the 360 slim, I admitted that I liked the design of the console, but I do not like the glossy finish or the disc tray. The disc tray seems like a last generation console design and has no place in the advanced systems of today. Heck, even the wii does not have a disc tray.

As for 3DS virtual console:

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=32215.0

[KDR_11k]

I'm still adamant that the 3DS will cost less than 200$ (and I don't meant that in the marketing-bullshit 199.99$ sense). It's not made from expensive tech and while tech geeks fawn over the 3D effect Nintendo has to sell the device to a bigger audience than that.

The quality of Rare's games have been steadily declining since they were bought out by Microsoft.

No, they hit rock bottom shortly after and have been recovering. BK N&B is awesome.

[TJ Spyke]

Nuts & Bolts got mixed reviews (a 79 average on Metacritic). I do think they have improved, but I don't think they have come anywhere near where they used to be.

KDR, the media we have seen and the tech we know looks like the 3DS will be worth the likely $199.99 (and foreign equivalent) pricepoint.

[jimwood27]

I avoided Nuts & Bolts for quite some time because it wasn't Threeie and I didnt want to make vehicles but I recently picked it up super cheap (in a package with Viva Pinata) and found it to be pretty enjoyable.  Still one of the best looking games on the 360 and Showdown Town is great to just run around.  Found a lot of the challenges vague and there is no indication if you are capable of even competing in some with your current parts.  Its a good, not great, game.  Viva Pinata, however, is a great game and I was addicted to that for quite some time.  Rare's best game since they joined Microsoft (the sequel may be better but I havent picked that up).

[KDR_11k]

KDR, the media we have seen and the tech we know looks like the 3DS will be worth the likely $199.99 (and foreign equivalent) pricepoint.

How so? To me it looks like a DS with modernized specs and slightly more expensive screens, nothing that would prompt a massive price increase like that.

[Yoshidious]

KDR, the media we have seen and the tech we know looks like the 3DS will be worth the likely $199.99 (and foreign equivalent) pricepoint.

How so? To me it looks like a DS with modernized specs and slightly more expensive screens, nothing that would prompt a massive price increase like that.

Looking only at the hardware itself, I can certainly see where you're coming from on the 3DS price point. However, the DS launched in the US for $150 back in 2004, and when you factor in the very significant depreciation of the Dollar against the Yen that has occurred since then (plus six years of inflation), a 33% nominal price increase doesn't seem so massive anymore. Added to the fact that the DS brand is now very well established and powerful, I would be rather surprised to see 3DS come in at anything significantly less than $200, and I think it remains plausible that it could go higher. 

[kraken613]

James you happy now?

[greybrick]

In this case, Karl is advertising MY ****. And I don't mind. ;-)


Jon, I would absolutely love to have you on for an episode on the hip-hop artist of your choosing.

Let me know when you guys run the Death Metal episode

[Crimm]

James you happy now?

We shall see.

[Gameboy Freak]

James you happy now?

Oh crap I was too late! Damn!

I hope the 3DS does not go over $200.

[Sundoulos]

Can't believe how much quickly time has flown by since the Wii was released.   You appear to be right in that Zelda will probably be the last AAA title by Nintendo on the system; in Japan, though, I think that Dragon Quest X will probably be the Wii's last major title.   As has been stated before, DQ games usually go towards the system with the greatest install base.  I don't see them porting it to the 3DS until the system proves itself out, or unless Nintendo gives SquareEnix extra incentive to push it onto the handheld as well.  As I'm rather hoping for another game in the vein of DQ VIII moreso than IX, I'd rather them keep it on the Wii.

[Jonnyboy117]

Great point, Sundoulos. I probably didn't think to mention Dragon Quest X because it's still such a mystery.

[Kytim89]

I agree that 2011 will probably be the last year of the wii. There is no way we will get out of 2011 without some kind of announcement of the wii 2(E3 2011). In the mean time, however, we will get some good titles like DQ X, Last Story, Xenoblade, Skyward Sword, and hopefully a new Star Fox and Grand Theft Auto beofre the wii is closed down.

[Jonnyboy117]

After Chinatown Wars bombed on DS, I don't think Rockstar wants anything to do with Wii.

[Kytim89]

After Chinatown Wars bombed on DS, I don't think Rockstar wants anything to do with Wii.

I thought that game did farely well in the long run. How about the wii 2?

[NWR_insanolord]

I still think DQX is going to be bumped to the 3DS. Miyamoto did confirm that Pikmin 3 exists, and that it's a Wii game, and Zelda and Pikmin plus filler is still better than what we were getting the last couple generations at this point in their lives.