Comments 377

Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer: 'I Could Have Never Designed The Wii... It Was Just Amazing To See'

Guitar_bard

@ceeka To be honest, I had a really hard time with that console generation as a whole. I just got into the PS1 more, but I still felt disappointed. I had just come off of the amazing highs of the 16 bit generation, and all of a sudden most games made my eyes want to bleed... there were exceptions, but it was tough.

Then, when the GameCube and PS2 came out, all of a sudden it felt like color had been restored to the world, and games (to me) felt more fun again. It was a big leap between those eras.

Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer: 'I Could Have Never Designed The Wii... It Was Just Amazing To See'

Guitar_bard

I have never understood the Phil hate as I have a close friend of the family who worked in XBOX's EIB group (hardware) for years, and got to know Phil pretty well. He has always had nothing but glowing things to say about the guy, including his passion, love and knowledge of games.

In fact, he used to joke that sometimes the Big N support guys down the road would have to contact Phil about the really tough questions they would get.

Re: Feature: We Worked Out The Best Zelda Game Once And For All, Using Maths

Guitar_bard

This was a really fun article. As a Zelda fan since the original (yup I am old enough to remember when it came out ans changed my gaming world), I seem to find something in almost all Zelda games that I love (minus the CD-i titles).

That said, I find it interesting that the game I go back to replay the most is ALBW. For some reason, it feels so much like that magical part of my childhood that included Zelda 1-3, but does some cool new things.

I have been replaying the DS games and the Oracle games, and they are pretty fantastic to me...

Re: Game Devs From Riot To Xbox Spoke About Their Love For Zelda, And How It Influenced Them

Guitar_bard

I remember when my best friend at the time got the 1st one. This was such a magical time in gaming during the NES era, as everything was new! Zelda, Mega Man, Castlevania, Super Mario Bros.... every one of those 1st games was something special, but playing the Legend of Zelda was something else entirely. It was this entire world, and finding a dungeon or a secret was such a HUGE deal. We would get so excited playing that game. I miss that feeling in gaming.

Re: Reggie Shares His Favourite Memories From Working At Nintendo

Guitar_bard

I remember being a lapsed Nintendo gamer, and seeing him having a blast at all of these events, and it made me curious about Nintendo again. Then, seeing the trailer for Twilight Princess and I came back to Nintendo land. He really was a fun, friendly face for Nintendo, and his joy for games was infectious.

Re: Cyberpunk 2077 And Witcher 3 Source Code Reportedly Being Auctioned After CD Projekt Hack

Guitar_bard

Does anyone else remember a couple of years ago when CDPR was treated as the creators of one of the best RPGs in history?

Then, a poor business decision was made, and they are now the digital devil?

Well, I guess everyone loves a good witch burning!

In all seriousness, since I started working for software companies in the late 90s I have seen a lot, some of which could be considered much worse. They are definitely not the first company to botch a launch. Be grateful it was only in the entertainment sector, and not medical or finance!

The one thing a lot of people don't seem to understand in this witch hunt against CDPR is that are a lot of factors that come into play when it comes to releasing a product that you know isn't ready. It usually has nothing to do with a mustache-twirling greedy villain, but sometimes miscommunication, investors and stockholders being tired of waiting for their ROI, and demanding no more delays or they stop paying the bills. Maybe there was a lot of turnover in QA or Dev (or sickness) that threw off the entire schedule. It could have been a million different little things that led to one big launch snafu.

What has now happened to them is absolutely horrible, and I would not wish it on anyone. I hope that the hackers are caught and fully prosecuted.

Re: A Journalist Asked Actual Kids What They Thought About The "Kids Play Too Many Video Games" Argument

Guitar_bard

@nessisonett This exactly! Kid me would have tried saying that not playing enough games was actually bad for your health...

Now that I have 2 kids I am amazed at their answers to anything: "Dad, my room is dirty because I don't want to exhaust myself by cleaning too much! That would be bad for my health!"

"Dad, I thought turning off my games to do my homework was a SUGGESTION, and that I could choose that if I wanted.."

Re: Nintendo Enlists Brie Larson And Awkwafina To Expand Switch's Reach This Christmas

Guitar_bard

I think these are fun, and my daughter will love them. She, my wife and I are huge Captain Marvel fans.

I really don't understand why anyone even cares about what a celebrity thinks, says, their political stances, etc. Do you know them? Nope. Is it going to change your life at all what someone you don't know says or thinks? Not if you don't let it. They are just people. There are plenty of actors, musicians, etc. whose work I love but I may not like them as a person in real life. Fine by me! Not everyone has to agree with me or my beliefs.

Back to the actual topic. Nintendo ads have never been fantastic, but they tend to be fun. These are right in line with that. Keep 'em coming, Big N!

Re: Talking Point: What's Your Comfort Food Game?

Guitar_bard

This is such a great question at a perfect time for me. I've been thinking about this quite a bit lately.

1. Picross (any)
2. Steamworld Heist
3. Super Mario Bros.
4. Ninja Gaiden 1 and 2 (NES)
5. Any grindy 3ds rpg
6. Dragon Quest 8
7. Puzzle Quest
8. Castlevania 1 and POR
9. Super Metroid

All of these can get me in the zen like gaming state pretty quickly.

Re: Soapbox: An Ode To The 3DS, Nintendo's Workhorse Console

Guitar_bard

It is easily my favorite console of all time, and I am still buying DS and 3ds games for it. My daughter desperately wants a Switch (my wife and I are getting her one for Christmas), but I still have so many games to play and love on my 3ds, that I won't be making the "Switch" any time soon...

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (October 24th)

Guitar_bard

I just beat Spyhunter (3ds) and Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology.
Spyhunter was much more fun than expected and Radiant Historia was absolutely amazing.

Now I am back to SMT: Strange Journey Redux (phenomenal game), and my Halloween game is Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys (DS). This is a funny, but overall ok game, but nothing special. Got a new copy for a screaming deal, though.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (October 3rd)

Guitar_bard

My son and I are feeling pretty crappy this weekend, so it might be just the perfect time for big RPGs.

Playing Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology. About 30 hours in, and I just love this game. As with any Atlus RPG, I am just amazed at how great it all is.

After this, I am continuing on with SMT: Strange Journey Redux.

And then.... I will finally get to play SMT IV: Apocalypse. I can't wait!!

Re: Poll: What's The Best 3D Mario Game?

Guitar_bard

It is so amazing that after all of this time, that an "ok" Mario game is still far better than most games I play.

On a side note: I still love 3d Land, and haven't picked it up in a while. I think i know what I might play today.

Re: Today's The Big Day - Happy 35th Anniversary, Mario!

Guitar_bard

I remember Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. in the arcades, and they were cool, but never really got me super excited to go out of my way to play.

Then, when my best friend got an NES with the Super Mario Bros. / Duck Hunt combo, it was all over. I truly became not only a huge Mario fan, but that is when I became a gamer. No other game had quite that impact on me for a long time.

Happy Birthday M!!

Re: Thunder Lotus Apologises For Ableist Storyline In Spiritfarer, Pledges To "Correct The Mistake"

Guitar_bard

Dangit, I wasn't going to comment, but oh well...

1. Good for the Devs and this gal (is that an offensive term? I haven't gotten the daily update on what is the accepted lexicon) for having a really thoughtful and respectful discussion, and they exercised their voices in a meaningful way, and their choices were their own. I thought it was beautiful.

2. IMHO, the idea that since Videogames are Art this makes them bound to rules and laws on what is currently acceptable to all is B.S. Utter B.S.
That isn't Art. That is something else. Creatives should have a choice as to what their art is and says. Maybe it is Super Mario Bros. Maybe it is Gears of War. But, as a Creative it really gets my goat when someone decides that my work needs to be changed so that they will like or accept it better. If that is the case, then don't buy it! That is your choice too!

Can you imagine how absurd it would be if someone came up to H.R. Giger and said "hey man, I know you spent several hundred hours on this painting, but I don't think your vagina doors are realistic enough to represent all vaginas. In fact, what about people without them? Why aren't you thinking of them?? And, since I have bought your work before, I now believe I have the power to dictate what you create going forward, after you fix this existing work for me. Great... thanks!"

3. While I love the response of the Devs to this, and they made a choice that I respect, I hate this persistent idea that people need to always be represented a certain way. That is something akin to government sponsored art.
As someone who has what is considered a non-physical disability, I could care either way on how positive or negatively it is portrayed in media. I have been on both sides of it. Some days are good, other days I wouldn't be going "yay me! My life is really difficult right now from this and I love it!!"

To me, saying that we have to always be positive about this feels like those with handicaps are being shut down with a statement that reads: "You shouldn't complain! Put on a happy face! Other people with your condition are just fine, so aren't you just complaining?"

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (May 30th)

Guitar_bard

@Jslade I really recommend it. I call it a very relaxing Diablo meets Skyrim, meets Animal Crossing. I am about 75 hours in, and haven't even beaten the main game, because i am enjoying the side quests and pursuing the other lives you can try.

I heard the dlc that happens after the main game is great, but I jist haven't tried that out yet.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (May 30th)

Guitar_bard

Still continuing on Fantasy Life, as well as Fusion Mode in Samus Returns.

However, I just got a copy of Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light in the mail, and I am really enjoying it. I love seeing all of the little ways that this game is the precursor to the Bravely Default games, which are 2 of my favorite RPGs of all time.

Re: 3DS Sales See 73% Year-On-Year Decline, No Future Sales Forecast Provided

Guitar_bard

I have said it before, but even though I have newer consoles, the 3ds is my favorite system of all time.

The list of games is just gigantic, and I have never owned this many quality games on 1 system before, and I have been playing since the Atari 2600!

I still regularly buy DS and 3ds games (in fact I have 2 DS games coming in the mail), so I will be good for a long, long time.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (April 11th)

Guitar_bard

Continuing on in Fantasy Life on the 3ds. This is the perfect game for me right now. About 30 hours in, have been a Paladin and a Miner, now trying out the Blacksmith. I am really loving every minute of this game...

Also, I am thinking of finally beating Xenoblade Chronicles 3d. Been playing this game off and on for 2 years and love it, just never gotten around to actually beating it... I have gotten overwhelmed with side quests every time.