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Episode 10: STREETPASS TENGOKU

by Danny Bivens, James Charlton, Daan Koopman, Matt Walker, and Minoru Yamaizumi - March 29, 2012, 11:52 am EDT
Total comments: 19

FAMICREW ASSEMBLE!

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For the first time ever, every member of the NWR Japan team is on one podcast! That's right! Minoru Yamaizumi, our Japanese Japan correspondent, finally makes his Famicast debut!

This rather special Famicast is split into two distinct segments, with the first being recorded a week and a half before the second half, the reasons for which will become apparent if you read on (or just listen to the show!).

The first segment is all about new business. Daan kicks things off with a big dose of VC games: Street Fighter 2 with online play and all the Game Gear games that hit the Japanese eShop. Of course, he doesn't break his streak of music rhythm games with plenty of talk about Hatsune Miku and a new eShop music game, Dopa Mix. Danny wraps up his Theatrhythm play through, and ponders whether it or Rhythm Thief holds the crown for the best 3DS rhythm game.

JC finally makes his first eShop purchase thanks to a recommendation from "Captain eShop," then gives his final thoughts on Skyward Sword now that he's seen the credits roll. Matt wraps things up by channelling the spirit of Jon Lindemann, as he tries to get through his backlog by getting reacquainted with Okami. Listen to his thoughts on the accuracy of its translation to English.

The second segment tackles all the usual remaining features of a typical Famicast episode: Japan-centric news, life in Japan, and reader mail. HOWEVER, this segment is unique because it was recorded with JC, Danny, and Minoru sat around the same table from an office inside Tokyo University! Listen to find out why the heck JC and Danny were running around campus with a video camera and 3DS's in their pockets. Intrigued?

So grab a slice of $100 melon and turn on your Kid Icarus StreetPass! We guarantee you'll have a good time - no matter what blood type you are!

This podcast was edited by Danny Bivens.

Music for this episode of The Famicast is used with permission from 8 Bit Weapon. You can purchase their music and shirts from their website 8bitweapon.com

Additional music for this episode of The Famicast is copyrighted to Nintendo, and is included under fair use protection. 

Talkback

geoMarch 29, 2012

Listening now!  Been looking forward to this!

Fatty The HuttMarch 29, 2012

Famicast!

Fatty The HuttMarch 29, 2012

Famicast!

Fatty The HuttMarch 29, 2012

Famicast!

Fatty The HuttMarch 29, 2012

I heard that if you say "Famicast!" three times in a row, they will appear.



Oh look, it worked!

And just in time for my spring break road trip to Drumheller with the kids. Thank the Famicast Gods I now have some earphone-ready distraction for the long drive.

house3136March 29, 2012

The foremost detractor of Skyward Sword is that the series’ heritage, and the game itself, are so exceptional, that it’s evaluated under microscopic scrutiny; which it deserves.  I’m on the Demise boss fight, and have made sure to save two files.  I will admit that Ocarina of Time 3D was my first Zelda experience, and Skyward Sword is my second; so my opinion is self-evident. Now that I’m at the end of the game, I would give Skyward Sword a score that would round up to 100. What really impressed me was the level of emotion transmitted through the characters’ eyes. I also think it’s funny when some people complain about things like fetch quests, or that the tutorial took an hour for a 30+ hour game that has completely new controls; but I’m not playing twenty games a month, so that’s my perspective. I also agree completely with the abstract art style statements.
Okami is one of my top 5 games on Wii. The one thing that would melt my heart would be a new Okami on Wii U that captures the originality and beauty of the first game; unfortunately, unless they pull a Terminator 2, I think that may be impossible. The celestial brush and that stunning watercolor art-style are unique. Imagine using the tablet controller or the Remote Plus for brushstrokes. This seems like the perfect exclusive for Nintendo to unveil out of nowhere at E3. Considering the relationship between Capcom (whom I assume still own the rights), and Nintendo, It’s not too far-fetched.  I feel that a lot of the people waiting for Xenoblade and other games like this, (although, it’s not RPG), would enjoy Okami; inopportunely, you can only get it aftermarket.

               

shinyray01March 29, 2012

ah so minoru finally makes an appearance.

famicomplicatedJames Charlton, Associate Editor (Japan)March 29, 2012

Radio Trivia: Famicast Edition!



Listen to the episode first then check back here to see how many you guessed right!

1 - Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo (PC)
2 - The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword - Skyloft Theme
3 - Back to the Future Theme
4 - Kid Icarus - Arranged Cassette
5 - The A Team
6&7 -Minna no Rhythm Tengoku - Rap


Good luck and enjoy the episode!
For questions & comments on this episode sound off below, for new topics/questions be sure to check out our always-informative "NWR Japan Crew" thread right here.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMarch 29, 2012

Yay for Minoru! It was great to hear him since he's been on board for a while now yet he had not spoken until now.

Also, thanks for the shout out guys! And don't worry about Dream Drop Distance. By this point, the series mainly caters to the fans of the series, which is sad because one of the reasons the first Kingdom Hearts game was great was because it was an inviting mix of Disney and Square and there was something for everyone, young and old, to enjoy.

You can bet I will pick up KH 3D when it comes out. Even if the story is convoluted by now I still love the series. It represents a massive nostalgic moment in my life.

This might get mentioned later on, but Super SFII had online play on Genesis/SNES through the XBand service. Theoretically, they could've put online into Mario Kart if they wanted to.

famicomplicatedJames Charlton, Associate Editor (Japan)March 31, 2012

Quote from: Shaymin

This might get mentioned later on, but Super SFII had online play on Genesis/SNES through the XBand service. Theoretically, they could've put online into Mario Kart if they wanted to.

Thanks for that, I read up on it after the show was recorded, fascinating stuff isn't it!?
Also, it is kinda depressing to think of the potential of a fully-fleshed out VC service.
Fingers crossed for Wii U...

noname2200March 31, 2012

I don't know if Minoru's English has dramatically improved in the past few months, or if he was just being shy earlier, but I found his English easy to understand. I hope he becomes a regular.

Thanks again for putting out a quality podcast, gentlemen. I was especially happy to hear the explanation of which of the two 3DS rhythm games is more deserving of our time and money; I'll probably get both, but as a fan of the old Final-Fantasy games you guys put that one over Rhythm Thief for me.

By the way, do you guys have a link to that youtube video, or is it not up yet?

TlonMarch 31, 2012

First ... Thanks for the great Podcast ...

Second,  with the subject of Hatsune Miku ,, I find it surprising that the character is only huge in the otaku culture. ... I first came across Miku and vocaloid 2 years ago searching for renditions of Bach's Little fugue and I came across one made with Vocaloid and I was enchanted by the synthesizer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgR8yriJt7k .. And again I was surprised when I found  out that songs from the Anime Movie Paprika were actually made by Vocaloid eventhough I watched the movie long before knowing what Vocaloid is. It never occurred to me that the songs were sung by a programme.

Again thanks for the great Podcast .. Hope to hear more Famicast  :D

Noname, JC is in the process of editing the video at the moment, so it's not ready just yet. We'll probably post a separate page on the site with the video embedded on the page. There's no specific ETA, but it should be ready soon-ish.

Fatty The HuttApril 02, 2012

Another stellar episode, gentlemen. Thank you.
JC, you were on fire with the one-liners and quips. I had many LOL moments.
Very glad to hear Minoru. Hope he does many more casts with you.
Daan needs to stop saying "facial" buttons, as that term has a very particular connotation, particularly in the adult film industry. I'll say no more about that but suggest he uses the proper term "face" buttons.

The answer to the blood-type question was even more bizarre than I had guessed. Modern day Japanese culture continues to fascinate me and having your boots on the ground to explain some of the oddities is a real treat. I am still shocked that folks so casually share their blood type. I work in a field where protection of personal health information, such as your blood type, is highly sensitive.

The discussion of Hatsune Miku reminded me strongly of the William Gibson novel Idoru, first published in 1996.
The description from Gibson's website goes like this:

Quote:

When Rez, the lead singer for the rock band Lo/Rez is rumored to be engaged to an "idoru" or "idol singer"--an artificial celebrity creation of information software agents--14-year-old Chia Pet McKenzie is sent by the band's fan club to Tokyo to uncover the facts. At the same time, Colin Laney, a data specialist for Slitscan television, uncovers and publicizes a network scandal. He flees to Tokyo to escape the network's wrath. As Chia struggles to find the truth, Colin struggles to preserve it, in a futuristic society so media-saturated that only computers hold the hope for imagination, hope and spirituality.

I do love me some William Gibson.

MiyamotoApril 04, 2012

Great job Guys. More Minoru please.

famicomplicatedJames Charlton, Associate Editor (Japan)April 05, 2012

@Fatty_the_Hutt
The privacy issue with the bloody types is pretty much what I guessed, when you've been in Japan as long as I have you begin to forget what are the social norms outside of crazy old Nippon! (and that's from someone who actively tries NOT to forget!)
Weight, age, height - whatever, doesn't matter in Japan, you're bound to be asked again and again (and again) from pretty much anyone!

Also thanks for the nice comments everyone, helps us GAMBARU more every episode!  ;D :cool;

TJ SpykeApril 05, 2012

Quote from: Fatty_The_Hutt

I am still shocked that folks so casually share their blood type. I work in a field where protection of personal health information, such as your blood type, is highly sensitive.

Really? I have not encountered anything like that. Blood type is not really personal info (and there are only 8 types) and can't be used to identify a person, impersonate them, or anything like that. Hell, your name is more sensitive that blood type. Mine is O- (which means I am a universal donor and my blood can be given to anyone).

leahsdadApril 06, 2012

Quote from: The_Dan_x

Noname, JC is in the process of editing the video at the moment, so it's not ready just yet. We'll probably post a separate page on the site with the video embedded on the page. There's no specific ETA, but it should be ready soon-ish.

Aah...I wish I read this before I spent 20 minutes scouring youtube.    Personally, I'm very interested in this sort of "Streetpass Physics" stuff.  Like, when I was driving home from work today, and I was making a right turn at an  intersection, I passed a kid waiting at the crosswalk playing a 3DS.  I did not get a streetpass.  Was his wireless turned off?  Or was I travelling too fast in my car (about 5 mph)?  It's amazing how little we really know about this stuff.

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