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Episode 327: In Tents Pro Duck Shun

by James Jones, Jon Lindemann, Jonathan Metts, and Guillaume Veillette - February 24, 2013, 4:46 pm EST
Total comments: 18

It's time to catch up on the games we're playing and the news we're following.

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After missing the show last week, Jon comes back in a big way to present a pair of games for New Business, including the lovely To the Moon and Pokemon White Version 2, which also gives us a chance to discuss expectations for Pokemon X/Y on 3DS later in the year. Guillaume suffers through Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 and has ambivalent feelings about Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation on the old 2DS. Jonny finds an unexpected source of emotion in Wii Street U, finally gets to try the external hard drive function, and finishes The Cave with considerable disappointment. James concludes the segment with his final thoughts on Fire Emblem Awakening, though considering his effusive attitude, you'll probably hear a bit more from him at the end of the year.

Part two of the episode collects a trio of recent news stories. We start with a look at the top announcements from last week's Nintendo Direct, including the Year of Luigi, plus a couple of thoughts on the more recent Japan-centric event. Next up are the dismal Wii U sales numbers from NPD in North America, and we try to be constructive with ideas on how Nintendo can turn this ship around as fast as possible. Or maybe it's not even such a big deal? Finally, we share a few more thoughts on the PlayStation 4 announcement, but be sure to also check out the recent NWR roundtable feature for much more on this subject (check the related links on the right sidebar of this page).

We'll get back to Listener Mail next week, so be sure to send in yours, and thanks to everyone who's been patient for the last couple of weeks as we've covered other topics. We'll also have a RetroActive winner next week, but there may still be time to get in your vote for this tight race! Also, the organizers of NWR Powered Off are looking for reader mail (questions, feedback, even fan art) so please send them something nice as well.

This podcast was edited by Guillaume Veillette.

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 (CD) (MP3), 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.

Talkback

"a recent Nintendo game that has not been talked about on RFN"

You are only technically correct Jonny - because it was White 2, and 311 had someone talking about Black 2. Then again, neither you nor Jon was there for that one so you had to go quite far down the bench.
Pertaining to X/Y, the sixth new Pokemon announced was an evolution of an old Pokemon, and the ratio of old:new Pokemon in the Poke-Direct was about 2:1.

Ah, sorry man! I listened to it (as I've listened to them all), but my memory is hardly stellar even for the shows I'm on, much less the ones I missed.

I too wish that Nintendo had broken away from including old Pokemon with the recent games. It would of been a perfect time too, considering the location and routes were so far away.

I want two games to include all the Pokemon somehow, that was the great thing about Red and Blue, only a few were not possible to get in each version. There are far to many hoops to jump through to obtain a lot of them these days.

Pixelated PixiesFebruary 25, 2013

Rather than no longer including old Pokemon I actually kinda wish Nintendo would stop adding new Pokemon. There are so many Pokemon. How about focusing on making the characters and worlds that they've already established better? I think that's partly why the Pokemon franchise has felt stagnant for so many people. They introduce new Pokemon without introducing anything truely new. I've felt for some years now that they should just consolidate the 'Pokemens' they've already got and work on making better systems and creating a more immersive world.

Hopefully the upcoming games take steps in that direction.

Glad0sFebruary 25, 2013

Great episode, per usual. However, one thing did stand out to me -- did anyone else notice the high levels of Guillaume/Jonny tension? Just me? (Also, god bless Pixelated Pixies' new signature -- stay all day if you want to, man)

Pixelated PixiesFebruary 25, 2013

@Glad0s

I was wondering when someone with good taste would appreciate that. You are such a person.  ;D

It is of course a reference, but I think it also works pretty well as a forum signature. The term is very...apt.

KDR_11kFebruary 25, 2013

I think the license-based Warriors spinoffs are usually rather shite. The major problem I've seen in both DW Gundam and Ken's Rage is that they force you to fight the mooks which isn't something that's fun for more than a minute at a time. The two mainline games I've played (Warriors Orochi 3, Samurai Warriors Chronicles) both don't care about the mooks you kill at all, they only ever matter for a few secondary objectives. Only officer kills matter for the primary objectives and officers will actually fight back.

Quote from: Glad0s

Great episode, per usual. However, one thing did stand out to me -- did anyone else notice the high levels of Guillaume/Jonny tension?

It's like the third time that someone mentions "tension" between Billy and I, or Jonny and I;  I'm starting to think I have an attitude problem.

That or my deadpan delivery doesn't get across the way it should.

Glad0sFebruary 25, 2013

To be honest, this is the first time I've noticed any Guillaume tension, or Gui-sion. But it's not like all this Guision is necessarily a bad thing -- heck, it makes the podcast more dynamic and interesting, if anything. Like, if we were to compare RFN to a David Lynch film (which, let's be honest, hasn't been done nearly enough since Greg left), we could say that Jonny is the Dennis Hopper to Guillaume's Kyle MacLachlan. Then again, maybe that's not the best metaphor....I have a very disturbing mental image of Johnny right now...

Pixelated PixiesFebruary 25, 2013

I haven't sensed any tension.

Never change Gui! Your deadpan quips crack me up every time.

RazorkidFebruary 26, 2013

The suggestion by Johnny for Nintendo to allow WiiU owners to download and play demos of games shown at E3 during that week is genius! It will not only help Nintendo stand out positively at a very critical E3 this year, it'll also set a very new precedent and direction for E3, making it more relevant to gamers again.  If they were to pull this off, and successfully, every company will be scrambling to do the same going forward. 

Despite the new video reels and games being played for the next systems at the conference, there is something undeniably compelling about being able to play Nintendo's show demos at home the same week.

gojiraFebruary 27, 2013

James, in FE: Awakening when you are on one of those child recruiting missions can't you just have the parent talk to them to make them a part of your army.  I've been able to do that in all the ones I've played so far.

SundoulosFebruary 28, 2013

Quote from: gojira

James, in FE: Awakening when you are on one of those child recruiting missions can't you just have the parent talk to them to make them a part of your army.  I've been able to do that in all the ones I've played so far.

I've recruited about four of the optional children characters so far, and you are able to recruit them by using Chrom or the child's mother to talk to them.  In most cases, attempting to recruit them with the father won't work (unless the father is Chrom).  There might be one exception with one child character in particular, but I haven't gotten far enough to confirm it.

gojiraFebruary 28, 2013

Quote from: Sundoulos

Quote from: gojira

James, in FE: Awakening when you are on one of those child recruiting missions can't you just have the parent talk to them to make them a part of your army.  I've been able to do that in all the ones I've played so far.

I've recruited about four of the optional children characters so far, and you are able to recruit them by using Chrom or the child's mother to talk to them.  In most cases, attempting to recruit them with the father won't work (unless the father is Chrom).  There might be one exception with one child character in particular, but I haven't gotten far enough to confirm it.

Yeah, that's why I thought it was weird how he was handing that character.  If we are thinking of the same thing, the exception you're thinking of does require the father to talk to the child. 

Sal ParadiseMarch 01, 2013

I have to agree with Gui, I also felt lost more than once in DQ6. Story wasn't that interesting either. It's still a good game, but I prefered 4 & 5 too. I played through 7 on the Playstation over the summer, and enjoyed it much more. It's a very long game though. Not sure if they have streamlined the 3DS version, but on the PSX it took ~100 hours to finish.

Quote from: gojira

Quote from: Sundoulos

Quote from: gojira

James, in FE: Awakening when you are on one of those child recruiting missions can't you just have the parent talk to them to make them a part of your army.  I've been able to do that in all the ones I've played so far.

I've recruited about four of the optional children characters so far, and you are able to recruit them by using Chrom or the child's mother to talk to them.  In most cases, attempting to recruit them with the father won't work (unless the father is Chrom).  There might be one exception with one child character in particular, but I haven't gotten far enough to confirm it.

Yeah, that's why I thought it was weird how he was handing that character.  If we are thinking of the same thing, the exception you're thinking of does require the father to talk to the child.

There is one child that you don't recruit that way. If you talk to them they state they wont join you until they talk to one of the enemies. They remain an ally until they reach that person. Once they get there they join you.

Uncle_OptimusMarch 04, 2013

Quote from: Razorkid

The suggestion by Johnny for Nintendo to allow WiiU owners to download and play demos of games shown at E3 during that week is genius! It will not only help Nintendo stand out positively at a very critical E3 this year, it'll also set a very new precedent and direction for E3, making it more relevant to gamers again.  If they were to pull this off, and successfully, every company will be scrambling to do the same going forward. 

Despite the new video reels and games being played for the next systems at the conference, there is something undeniably compelling about being able to play Nintendo's show demos at home the same week.

Yeah Johnny's comment here really got my attention, as well. I understand the potential benefit: the key is that Nintendo E3 demos are "highly polished" and thus likely to demonstrate the game in a favorable light (a terrible demo would of course do the opposite, ala early Kid Icarus impressions). Assuming they were willing to eat the online distribution cost, what a marketing help this would be, right? A case could even be made that this could aid development by providing developers with a largely free beta-testing audience for certain concepts in a game that are still fluid and could be tweaked and altered.

The major problem is that this boils down to a significant cost. Just to splice together E3-worthy sizzle reels, much less playable demos, takes a good chunk of resources that are diverted from actual development processes. It goes to follow that producing a "highly polished" playable demo suitable for mass distribution would demand even more attention. Lacking the rep guidance present at official exhibitions, maintaining that "highly polished" user experience might require a lot of nip-n-tuck!

About this week's show:
Thoroughly enjoyed the podcast review of Ken's Rage, G. You have absolutely convinced me to treat the game with judicious trepidation.
Appreciated the discussion of graphics and emotive expression (was bummed to miss the Steam sale for that Moon game, tho). Reminds me of a cartoon illustration book that discussed how simplifying character expression requires a deeper commitment from the viewer to "fill in the blanks", forming a readier connection.

SundoulosMarch 04, 2013

Quote from: Crimm

Quote from: gojira

Quote from: Sundoulos

Quote from: gojira

James, in FE: Awakening when you are on one of those child recruiting missions can't you just have the parent talk to them to make them a part of your army.  I've been able to do that in all the ones I've played so far.

I've recruited about four of the optional children characters so far, and you are able to recruit them by using Chrom or the child's mother to talk to them.  In most cases, attempting to recruit them with the father won't work (unless the father is Chrom).  There might be one exception with one child character in particular, but I haven't gotten far enough to confirm it.

Yeah, that's why I thought it was weird how he was handing that character.  If we are thinking of the same thing, the exception you're thinking of does require the father to talk to the child.

There is one child that you don't recruit that way. If you talk to them they state they wont join you until they talk to one of the enemies. They remain an ally until they reach that person. Once they get there they join you.

Yes, funnily enough, I reached the Severa mission shortly after commenting on this thread.  I had to restart this one several times as well.  I hadn't assumed that using the Rescue item would work on an allied character, but that solution sounds like it was possibly more effective than mine.  I think I just loaded up a couple of my characters with Speed Wings in order to clear the path of hostiles. 

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