The Expansion Pack does seem to be improving with the addition of game DLC and more classic games alongside the online, but the improvements seem to be coming somewhat slowly unfortunately, and I think that was my only issue with the service when I used to have it.
They take too long to update some of the classic game libraries and sometimes go dead silent on a few of them, especially the NES and SNES libraries, and I think with one of those two, they didn’t release a new game on there until almost a year later. They tend to not give roadmaps or release schedules for them as well, and I wish they did so like with the launch of the N64 game library years ago to sort of give people something to look forward to and a possible reason to stay subscribed. The controls on a couple of the games were a bit hard to get used to I might add.
Gaming is going to be so packed this year and next year. So many good games on the horizon! It makes me really excited for the future.
Also, I am a little bit surprised the Perfect Dark reboot got a bit high on the list, given a lot of people were super skeptical with the footage they showed of it and the reception seemed mixed. I am looking forward to that one, but I am a little afraid it won’t deliver upon release.
@rvcolem1 Sorry if I’m writing this a little late and if this is a large wall of text!
To answer your question, I do not think that companies making a separate contest solely for AI “artworks” would be a good idea, since it’s no one actually making artwork and it’s rather a machine doing it. To me, it would make it feel like a contest to see which AI produced the most prettiest and most authentic and detailed picture, which I think strays away from the actual meaning and reason behind art contests, which is usually for younger artists to show off their works and wow people, as well to motivate them and give them a positive experience and opportunities related to the talent they are most passionate about.
I’m no expert on AI, but I do think people that use AI art generators do ask for a specific outcome or image by entering a prompt or a description of what the person wants. As a random example I came up with on the spot, a person might write a prompt like “manga-style artwork of a princess playing baseball with cows” in an AI art generator and the AI would make the picture requested by the user by reinterpreting and taking images and art related to the prompt from the internet to aid in creating the picture. A specific outcome a person wants from the AI is more likely to be produced if the person defines what it is they want in the picture and adding in details that they want in it. However, some people might use other tools in other programs to edit the AI’s picture if the AI doesn’t give them the specific result they would like and if it strays away from what the person had in mind. Sometimes the pictures are edited to make it appear like it was made by an actual person and not a machine, which is very malicious.
@VoidofLight Yeah, if the artworks were authentic and not AI, hopefully they reconsider their decision and, like you said, did look into it thoroughly.
I like to draw, and whenever I go on Instagram, I come across multiple short videos of skilled digital artists getting accused of using AI and having to show process videos to prove that they didn’t use an AI in their art, but sometimes it isn’t even enough proof for some people. I used to gush about how good AI was with artwork and even used some pictures I generated from it as inspiration for a couple of my own physical drawings back then, but I really dislike it now because of how much damage it has caused to the art space, plus the fact I used AI generated images for aid in some of my older artworks makes me feel dirty because of how the AI makes the pictures by taking other authentic artworks and images it finds on the internet. It pains me to see artists struggle and sometimes lose art competitions to artificial and fake AI “artwork” with no real soul or work put into it.
Despite some of the issues this version has, it makes me happy seeing Rare’s N64 classics become playable on Nintendo consoles again for the first time, and it sometimes feels very unreal! I really can’t wait to see the next title they’ll be dropping on the service soon…I yearn for DKR and a portable way to play Conker…
I would literally DIE if Conker gets added. I’d love to see Switch users be able to experience it, plus it would be so cool if it got released on another Nintendo console.
Pretty good I’d say! Thinking about it more, I’d give it an 9. Although I am not going to play it, it was nice to see Metroid Prime 4 appear again after such a long time. A lot of the games looked cool, even though I am likely not going to play them. The only ones that looked uninteresting to me was Just Dance and that Funko game.
I am the most excited about the NSO Expansion Pack drop and the Mature 17+ app they are releasing for it, since it makes it all the more likely that Conker is going to be added!
@Henchdog Them releasing a Mature 17+ app definitely opens the door for a lot of other titles. Can’t wait to see what else they add on there! Hopefully the next N64 release after this one isn’t too long. I’d love for them to also announce a roadmap later.
This was the highlight of the direct for me. I gasped so LOUD when they announced the Mature 17+ app, though it was expected to come to other countries at some point.
With them releasing that, I hope Conker can show up soon… It’d be such a win if the game was playable on another Nintendo console again. Still hoping for Diddy Kong Racing!
@DwaynesGames When I still did have a Switch, I really did like NSO’s game library too, and it even got me into a couple of other game franchises that have gone on to become some of my all time favorites! I actually didn’t have any significant issues with the service at all, but that’s probably because I’m an easy to please person lol.
I do also think the release schedule for NSO isn’t good, and it is one of the only issues I had with it besides the fact that you can’t purchase specific games separately. The games are released sporadically, and I checked the game release history for the SNES and NES libraries on NSO and I can definitely agree that they have a not so great schedule compared to the other game libraries included. The SNES library didn’t even get a new game until almost a year later!
I would hope to see more games released on NSO before they announce the Switch’s successor. I think the N64 library is still missing some necessary and most obvious games even after almost three years. Hopefully they can release games on there faster soon!
@OctolingKing13 Can agree! I think humor is what most video game news sites are missing nowadays, and this site absolutely excels with that aspect. The bonus letters segment was so hilarious. I love me some silliness!
I absolutely love Conker and I’d say it is probably one of the most impressive N64 games I’ve ever seen and played, though no surprise since Rare loved to innovate and give it their all with their N64 titles and tried to push it to its limits.
It had full voice acting, a well done facial expression system, alongside a lot of twists and changes with its platforming gameplay, which was very surprising and impressive for the console it was released on. To top it off, it had a bizarre and absolutely insane storyline that, for me, never failed to entertain me from start to finish.
The game is so special to me despite only playing it for the first time on Xbox last year, though the outdated controls make it super hard for me to revisit it and play in full again…
@spacely_sprockets Actually, yeah they could be considered a whole big ad. I don’t really think about that much.
I think I should have specified with the “lack of ads” part. What I think I meant was the type of ads that are put into game shows and events in-between and interrupting the flow of game info and reveals. I’m not a fan of ads being put into bigger ads, and I feel ads put into game shows sort of detracts from the actual game event and forgets the entire point of what it’s about.
I think it’s just that Directs seem more genuine with gaming and not really money-grabbing or full of commercialism like Summer Games Fest and The Game Awards. I think that reason is probably why I don’t see Directs like ads and think of them as a more genuine video game event, or a game advert done better than other adverts. I can see your point, and it does make sense.
While it would probably rejuvenate interest in the event, I don’t think I’d want Nintendo or any of the other big video game companies to be at a game show littered with ads and commercialism. I think the uninterrupted pacing of Directs and the other showcases from console manufacturers (like Sony and Microsoft) are more preferable than what Summer Games Fest does by focusing on advertising, not to mention that I’m sure some of the people behind SGF and the Game Awards (which Keighly also hosts) don’t care about games and the art of them. It’s just really those two things that make me not interested in SGF.
What I think makes Directs the best aside from the lack of ads has to be how they are pretty much straightforward with the games they announce and how much more genuine the Directs are about video games. There are no interruptions during the events too, so that’s a plus as well.
It’s crazy how big this game became over time. It’s probably the most well-made fighting game I’ve ever played and I have so many good memories playing it. Too bad I don’t have a Switch anymore…
He really is trying to make this the new E3, isn’t he?
If anyone enjoys watching Summer Games Fest, that’s fine and more power to you, but in my opinion, it sounds and feels like a watered down, ad-laden E3 that is always hyped up and somehow disappoints in the end even when boasting a hefty amount of game companies in its lineup. It tries to replicate the feelings of E3, but it doesn’t seem to really work thanks to its focus on advertising. It never excited me when it was first introduced and it probably won’t.
@HatesCheese To add on, I searched online and they give the recipients only 30 seconds to make an acceptance speech, which to me is super insane… If I remember, the speech was in Japanese and then put into English by a translator, which likely also made the speech slightly longer than 30 seconds.
There’s honestly no way in heck Nintendo would be apart of Summer Games Fest, given that they do their own presentations that have been widely successful for a decade now, and, from what I’ve seen, get better reception than Summer Games Fest itself.
If I get too negative here, sorry, but I just think the bad reception towards Summer Games Fest has to do with how it’s riddled with advertisements, doesn’t really focus on games, and how they tend to be underwhelming and disappointing somehow despite the lineups they have. I have never heard anyone anywhere say anything good about it, and it never sounded exciting to me from its inception.
You could also say the same about The Game Awards, which seems to be more or less the same; it’s also full of adverts and doesn’t really focus on gaming, instead being all about commercialism and making their award recipients skip and shorten a ton of heartfelt speeches just to play ads. Aonuma being told to leave the stage just because his acceptance speech didn’t last for a few seconds just showcases how the people behind some of these events don’t give a dang about games.
I honestly miss E3 a ton now…even if E3 became a big mess nearing the end of its lifespan from how times changed, I always had something to look forward to with each show. Even though some E3 presentations had ads, they weren’t so excessive and a ton of the runtimes of the shows focused on getting game news and updates out to people, which is something Summer Games Fest keeps forgetting as a result of being too distracted with money and ads.
Interesting article! I love these sorts of talking points.
For me, I consider a game to be “retro” or “classic” if it is 20 years or older, though I also think it has to be the technology as well that makes me consider a game to be classified as that. Any console released from the first generation to the early years of the fifth generation I consider to be “retro.” I see any game or console released after those generations to be “modern.”
I wouldn’t call a game or console released ten years ago to be retro, since the software, hardware and technology is still newer and stronger than most older games I consider to be retro. To me, it doesn’t seem correct to call 10-year-old games retro just because the games and technology are in double digits like the older games and technology that came before it. 10 years ago is, for sure, a while ago, but not that long ago like say 20 or 30 years ago.
As an example, I would call the N64 a retro console, but wouldn’t call the WiiU the same. Both are in double digits, but the N64 is older than the WiiU and have differing technology. I just think the technology of a game or console plays a role in what is considered “retro” or “classic” alongside age.
I just think that, like what another user said, Nendoroids look WAY better than Funko pops. I don’t think Funkos are always ugly, but they look pretty lifeless and stiff. I think the main issue is the eyes, and some Funko pops lack mouths as well. The way Funkos look do not fit a lot of the pop culture characters almost 100% of the time, especially if the character in question is supposed to look cute; I saw a Kirby Funko in a short video and the figure looked absolutely TERRIBLE, since it took away key features that make him look adorable.
I don’t own Nendoroids (though I’d like to) but from what I’ve seen, they have exchangeable parts and faces that let you give them a wide range of facial expressions and positions. Not only do I feel those look cuter, but they also appear closer to the original character design. Plushies and Amiibos would work too! The latter is basically a figurine and has way more detail than a Funko.
Remaster - The same old game, but with some enhancements to the original code and material in the game, like clearer graphics and audio, better resolution, slightly changed controls, and smoother frame rate (if the original had a poor one). Some aspects of a remaster, like gameplay and story, remain mostly unchanged and intact, though some might have slight differences. The remaster might add in quality-of-life improvements to solve frustrations or clunkiness apart of the game it is remastering.
Example: Banjo-Kazooie (Xbox 360)
The remaster enhances the graphics, audio and music while keeping the content of the original intact. Frame rate and occasional slowdowns are removed, the original controls are changed, and quality-of-life improvements are added to the collectible system. Some new content, such as leaderboards, small bits of new dialogue, and the initially scrapped Stop ‘n’ Swop are added in the remaster.
Remake - The game is redone from the ground up and doesn’t use the original game code. The most obvious change can be seen in the visuals and graphics, which usually add more detail to character models and environments, which are also remade again. A remake might remove parts from the original or add in newer content not apart of the original game, as well as significantly change parts of gameplay and controls. Most remakes are faithful to their originals, but some might deviate a little from the original source material; most of the time, the story (if the game has one) is kept the same like the original. Other parts, like the audio (voice acting and music) tend to be redone as well, but some remakes might keep the old audio in.
Example: Conker: Live and Reloaded (Xbox)
The game is a remake of Conker’s Bad Fur Day (N64), and improves the sound quality alongside graphics and visuals, which have been done from scratch. More detail is added in environments, with the game’s cast given remade models and redesigns. An example is with the titular character, who has been given semi-realistic fur textures and a new outfit with more details and clothing than his original appearance. Similarly, most animal characters are given fur textures as well.
The music is redone, and the controls and gameplay mechanics have been changed and mapped differently to remove clunkiness; for example, the combat system now allows for the player to run around while holding a weapon and attack more using melee weapons, compared to the original, where you had to stop walking while attacking and could only perform a singular attack on enemies. To add on, the player wields a baseball bat instead of a frying pan like in the original.
Story and voice acting are the same, there are changes, such as adding in or lengthening a few cutscenes and removing objectives from the original to remove repetition. Most notably, the remake is more censored than Bad Fur Day and removes the multiplayer modes and cheats from the original, having them replaced altogether with a now offline 3rd-person shooter multiplayer mode accompanied with a new short story campaign.
This is how I would define a remaster and remake! Of course some others might have different definitions of what they consider a remaster and remake.
@Astal I absolutely love the emulation on Delta too! I’ve so far only used it for N64 games, but it has let me play titles that I’ve wanted to try for a while that have not been re-released on modern hardware. Another plus, at least for me, is how you can play it wherever you go.
I really think it is stupid for companies to try and copyright things that everyone is free to use, or act as if they are the only ones who own the rights to use a specific thing; in this case, the letter delta. Sure, it does appear similar to the Adobe logo, but there actually isn’t a delta in Adobe’s, and it’s rather an “A” that is supposed to look like a delta from its stylization. There are differences in the designs of the two logos, even if they appear to be a little small.
@Kilroy I see! Thanks! I think I was uninformed and a little ignorant in my initial response then.
I don’t exactly focus on the hardware and power aspects of the Switch (or any console for that matter) so your input is very helpful. I do always keep hearing and seeing articles on here about talks of games running 60fps (or lower) and discussions being open for opinions on it. I also see many people hoping for a “Switch Pro” to happen so games can run better; I initially didn’t understand those rumors, but I do now thanks to your insight.
For me, I still would not play modern games on emulators (not to mention the ones I have don’t run modern games) but I now see why someone would emulate a modern game on other hardware. If they own a copy of a modern game on an underpowered hardware and then play an emulated ROM on powerful hardware, it isn’t really pirating since they have an official copy in their hands.
@CaptainCluck Yeah, plus I also think it’s because I have heard a couple (maybe(?) not all) of those shows and movies you mentioned were also poorly written and focused heavily on different aspects instead, having the writing be an afterthought. It’s fine to focus on other things in a show or movie, but I would say that writing is the most important aspect of a piece of media with a story. It should not be forgotten about if you want to make a work that will be memorable from years on end. Writing is pretty much what most people judge a movie or show on, especially if it focuses on emotions and such.
Depending on the type of production and medium, even if you do aspects like acting, casting, animation, visuals, an interesting premise, or music exceedingly well, they all still can’t save or improve poor writing.
I did watch Lightyear, which was ok in my opinion, but it was sort of boring and the characters weren’t that interesting, not to mention there was a villain twist that was awful and nonsensical; almost everyone who has seen it collectively agrees it was one of the worst parts of the movie. It was the mediocre writing and lack of creativity that didn’t make the movie fun at all for me. It had nice animation and a pretty great voice cast, sure, but I think the flat characters and not so great writing resulted in the movie already becoming forgotten and disliked. There’s like, only one character in that movie who is far more entertaining than the main character himself and the entire film’s cast, but that is unfortunately it. Watched it once and I never will watch it again.
I have not watched most of the media you mentioned, but I have heard lots of terrible things about Velma. They dumped a full second season recently and it apparently still has not improved in the writing and character departments.
Regarding Yuzu, I honestly don’t get why they thought emulating Switch games already was a good idea, since they aren’t even THAT old yet and are being released on a console that is still being manufactured.
Emulation is fine, and is perfectly legal in most aspects in my opinion. However, I think it should only be used for games that are older and do not have modern re-releases, or sort of modern games that can’t be purchased anymore, like, for example, some digital-only 3DS or WiiU games that cannot be purchased anymore from the Eshop closing permanently. I also think it’s fine if, say, someone from another country wants to play a specific game that has not been released where they live and have to emulate it. I’ve also emulated games, both in the past and present, but only for older titles that I can’t purchase because of them being out of print, like a few N64 games.
But why would you try pirating modern games that you can get still get official copies of? It doesn’t make sense, and it honestly sounds like a recipe for disaster if you were developing and releasing an emulator dedicated to running games still on the market. Just wait a few more years until the Switch and it’s games are discontinued and THEN you can start emulating them.
@LikelySatan Yep. I saw it with my siblings and I can remember the audience consisted of lots of families and children seated. I can remember them having a great time together!
I also had a similar experience when I saw the second Sonic the Hedgehog movie in theaters. Just hearing how excited and happy the children were during parts of the film (especially at the mid-credits scene) enhanced my experience there too! I would have had the same reactions and feelings if I were their young age again. I’m pretty excited for the third movie releasing later this year!
Movies, especially fun ones like the two video game film adaptations mentioned above, have their experience enhanced when you watch them with groups, like your family or friends. It’s just so fun to hear and see others reactions to it!
@KoopaTheGamer Agreed. While I do not think both films were masterpieces, I remember little of that Ratchet & Clank movie, and it seems a lot of people do too, or they think about it negatively. I remember more of the Mario movie, and I’d say I liked it a lot! Wouldn’t say it’s entirely great since it has some issues, but it was a fun, good ol’ experience in the theater with others. Of course, anyone can disagree with me, and that is ok!
Also, to others (not everyone) in the forum, can we please not argue and just respect opinions, even if we disagree with them? I feel like I see negativity everywhere in regards to gaming now…
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Re: Switch Online + Expansion Pack Survey Asks Users To Share Their Experience
The Expansion Pack does seem to be improving with the addition of game DLC and more classic games alongside the online, but the improvements seem to be coming somewhat slowly unfortunately, and I think that was my only issue with the service when I used to have it.
They take too long to update some of the classic game libraries and sometimes go dead silent on a few of them, especially the NES and SNES libraries, and I think with one of those two, they didn’t release a new game on there until almost a year later. They tend to not give roadmaps or release schedules for them as well, and I wish they did so like with the launch of the N64 game library years ago to sort of give people something to look forward to and a possible reason to stay subscribed. The controls on a couple of the games were a bit hard to get used to I might add.
Re: Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Is The Most Wishlisted Game Of The Summer Showcase Season
Gaming is going to be so packed this year and next year. So many good games on the horizon! It makes me really excited for the future.
Also, I am a little bit surprised the Perfect Dark reboot got a bit high on the list, given a lot of people were super skeptical with the footage they showed of it and the reception seemed mixed. I am looking forward to that one, but I am a little afraid it won’t deliver upon release.
Re: Pokémon TCG Art Contest Disqualifies Select Entrants Following Accusations Of AI-Generated Submissions
@rvcolem1 Sorry if I’m writing this a little late and if this is a large wall of text!
To answer your question, I do not think that companies making a separate contest solely for AI “artworks” would be a good idea, since it’s no one actually making artwork and it’s rather a machine doing it. To me, it would make it feel like a contest to see which AI produced the most prettiest and most authentic and detailed picture, which I think strays away from the actual meaning and reason behind art contests, which is usually for younger artists to show off their works and wow people, as well to motivate them and give them a positive experience and opportunities related to the talent they are most passionate about.
I’m no expert on AI, but I do think people that use AI art generators do ask for a specific outcome or image by entering a prompt or a description of what the person wants. As a random example I came up with on the spot, a person might write a prompt like “manga-style artwork of a princess playing baseball with cows” in an AI art generator and the AI would make the picture requested by the user by reinterpreting and taking images and art related to the prompt from the internet to aid in creating the picture. A specific outcome a person wants from the AI is more likely to be produced if the person defines what it is they want in the picture and adding in details that they want in it. However, some people might use other tools in other programs to edit the AI’s picture if the AI doesn’t give them the specific result they would like and if it strays away from what the person had in mind. Sometimes the pictures are edited to make it appear like it was made by an actual person and not a machine, which is very malicious.
Re: Pokémon TCG Art Contest Disqualifies Select Entrants Following Accusations Of AI-Generated Submissions
@VoidofLight Yeah, if the artworks were authentic and not AI, hopefully they reconsider their decision and, like you said, did look into it thoroughly.
I like to draw, and whenever I go on Instagram, I come across multiple short videos of skilled digital artists getting accused of using AI and having to show process videos to prove that they didn’t use an AI in their art, but sometimes it isn’t even enough proof for some people. I used to gush about how good AI was with artwork and even used some pictures I generated from it as inspiration for a couple of my own physical drawings back then, but I really dislike it now because of how much damage it has caused to the art space, plus the fact I used AI generated images for aid in some of my older artworks makes me feel dirty because of how the AI makes the pictures by taking other authentic artworks and images it finds on the internet. It pains me to see artists struggle and sometimes lose art competitions to artificial and fake AI “artwork” with no real soul or work put into it.
Re: Sega Won't Be Airing A 'Sonic Central' Broadcast This Month
That is a bit surprising and fine by me, but I have one question to ask them…Where is the Sonic 3 movie trailer? I NEED it.
Re: Feature: 9 'Mature' Games We'd Love To See On Nintendo Switch Online's New N64 App
Conker all the way, baby!
Re: Review: Perfect Dark (Nintendo 64) - Perhaps Not Perfect, But Still A Remarkable Achievement
Despite some of the issues this version has, it makes me happy seeing Rare’s N64 classics become playable on Nintendo consoles again for the first time, and it sometimes feels very unreal! I really can’t wait to see the next title they’ll be dropping on the service soon…I yearn for DKR and a portable way to play Conker…
Re: We're Finally Getting 'Beyond Good & Evil: 20th Anniversary Edition' News This Week
Limited Run Games? Oh no… Their going to release a limited amount of physical copies then…
Re: Switch Online's "Mature" Nintendo 64 App Is Now Available In The West
I would literally DIE if Conker gets added. I’d love to see Switch users be able to experience it, plus it would be so cool if it got released on another Nintendo console.
Re: Reaction: A Direct That Delivered, And Shows That Switch Still Has Plenty Of Pep
Pretty good I’d say! Thinking about it more, I’d give it an 9. Although I am not going to play it, it was nice to see Metroid Prime 4 appear again after such a long time. A lot of the games looked cool, even though I am likely not going to play them. The only ones that looked uninteresting to me was Just Dance and that Funko game.
I am the most excited about the NSO Expansion Pack drop and the Mature 17+ app they are releasing for it, since it makes it all the more likely that Conker is going to be added!
Re: Nintendo Switch Online Gets Four New Additions Today, Including Zelda, Metroid, And Perfect Dark
@Thomystic That is right. I think in Japan GoldenEye (as well as Jet Force Gemini) got higher age ratings than the Teen ratings here in America.
Re: Nintendo Switch Online Gets Four New Additions Today, Including Zelda, Metroid, And Perfect Dark
@Henchdog Them releasing a Mature 17+ app definitely opens the door for a lot of other titles. Can’t wait to see what else they add on there! Hopefully the next N64 release after this one isn’t too long. I’d love for them to also announce a roadmap later.
Re: Nintendo Switch Online Gets Four New Additions Today, Including Zelda, Metroid, And Perfect Dark
This was the highlight of the direct for me. I gasped so LOUD when they announced the Mature 17+ app, though it was expected to come to other countries at some point.
With them releasing that, I hope Conker can show up soon… It’d be such a win if the game was playable on another Nintendo console again. Still hoping for Diddy Kong Racing!
Re: Mailbox: Switch's Pokémon Woes, NSO's Value, First-Person Plurals - Nintendo Life Letters
@DwaynesGames When I still did have a Switch, I really did like NSO’s game library too, and it even got me into a couple of other game franchises that have gone on to become some of my all time favorites! I actually didn’t have any significant issues with the service at all, but that’s probably because I’m an easy to please person lol.
I do also think the release schedule for NSO isn’t good, and it is one of the only issues I had with it besides the fact that you can’t purchase specific games separately. The games are released sporadically, and I checked the game release history for the SNES and NES libraries on NSO and I can definitely agree that they have a not so great schedule compared to the other game libraries included. The SNES library didn’t even get a new game until almost a year later!
I would hope to see more games released on NSO before they announce the Switch’s successor. I think the N64 library is still missing some necessary and most obvious games even after almost three years. Hopefully they can release games on there faster soon!
Re: Mailbox: Switch's Pokémon Woes, NSO's Value, First-Person Plurals - Nintendo Life Letters
@OctolingKing13 Can agree! I think humor is what most video game news sites are missing nowadays, and this site absolutely excels with that aspect. The bonus letters segment was so hilarious. I love me some silliness!
Re: Feature: 16 Great Late-Gen Nintendo Games - Maybe There's Life In The Ol' Switch Yet
I absolutely love Conker and I’d say it is probably one of the most impressive N64 games I’ve ever seen and played, though no surprise since Rare loved to innovate and give it their all with their N64 titles and tried to push it to its limits.
It had full voice acting, a well done facial expression system, alongside a lot of twists and changes with its platforming gameplay, which was very surprising and impressive for the console it was released on. To top it off, it had a bizarre and absolutely insane storyline that, for me, never failed to entertain me from start to finish.
The game is so special to me despite only playing it for the first time on Xbox last year, though the outdated controls make it super hard for me to revisit it and play in full again…
Re: Talking Point: Is Summer Game Fest Really Missing Nintendo's Presence?
@spacely_sprockets Actually, yeah they could be considered a whole big ad. I don’t really think about that much.
I think I should have specified with the “lack of ads” part. What I think I meant was the type of ads that are put into game shows and events in-between and interrupting the flow of game info and reveals. I’m not a fan of ads being put into bigger ads, and I feel ads put into game shows sort of detracts from the actual game event and forgets the entire point of what it’s about.
I think it’s just that Directs seem more genuine with gaming and not really money-grabbing or full of commercialism like Summer Games Fest and The Game Awards. I think that reason is probably why I don’t see Directs like ads and think of them as a more genuine video game event, or a game advert done better than other adverts. I can see your point, and it does make sense.
Re: Talking Point: Is Summer Game Fest Really Missing Nintendo's Presence?
While it would probably rejuvenate interest in the event, I don’t think I’d want Nintendo or any of the other big video game companies to be at a game show littered with ads and commercialism. I think the uninterrupted pacing of Directs and the other showcases from console manufacturers (like Sony and Microsoft) are more preferable than what Summer Games Fest does by focusing on advertising, not to mention that I’m sure some of the people behind SGF and the Game Awards (which Keighly also hosts) don’t care about games and the art of them. It’s just really those two things that make me not interested in SGF.
What I think makes Directs the best aside from the lack of ads has to be how they are pretty much straightforward with the games they announce and how much more genuine the Directs are about video games. There are no interruptions during the events too, so that’s a plus as well.
Re: Random: "Everyone Keeps The Gameplay In Mind" - Sakurai Talks Teamwork On Smash Ultimate
It’s crazy how big this game became over time. It’s probably the most well-made fighting game I’ve ever played and I have so many good memories playing it. Too bad I don’t have a Switch anymore…
Re: Summer Game Fest Will Return To Los Angeles In June 2025
He really is trying to make this the new E3, isn’t he?
If anyone enjoys watching Summer Games Fest, that’s fine and more power to you, but in my opinion, it sounds and feels like a watered down, ad-laden E3 that is always hyped up and somehow disappoints in the end even when boasting a hefty amount of game companies in its lineup. It tries to replicate the feelings of E3, but it doesn’t seem to really work thanks to its focus on advertising. It never excited me when it was first introduced and it probably won’t.
Re: Geoff Keighley Would Love Nintendo To "Be A Big Part" Of Summer Game Fest
@HatesCheese To add on, I searched online and they give the recipients only 30 seconds to make an acceptance speech, which to me is super insane… If I remember, the speech was in Japanese and then put into English by a translator, which likely also made the speech slightly longer than 30 seconds.
Re: Geoff Keighley Would Love Nintendo To "Be A Big Part" Of Summer Game Fest
There’s honestly no way in heck Nintendo would be apart of Summer Games Fest, given that they do their own presentations that have been widely successful for a decade now, and, from what I’ve seen, get better reception than Summer Games Fest itself.
If I get too negative here, sorry, but I just think the bad reception towards Summer Games Fest has to do with how it’s riddled with advertisements, doesn’t really focus on games, and how they tend to be underwhelming and disappointing somehow despite the lineups they have. I have never heard anyone anywhere say anything good about it, and it never sounded exciting to me from its inception.
You could also say the same about The Game Awards, which seems to be more or less the same; it’s also full of adverts and doesn’t really focus on gaming, instead being all about commercialism and making their award recipients skip and shorten a ton of heartfelt speeches just to play ads. Aonuma being told to leave the stage just because his acceptance speech didn’t last for a few seconds just showcases how the people behind some of these events don’t give a dang about games.
I honestly miss E3 a ton now…even if E3 became a big mess nearing the end of its lifespan from how times changed, I always had something to look forward to with each show. Even though some E3 presentations had ads, they weren’t so excessive and a ton of the runtimes of the shows focused on getting game news and updates out to people, which is something Summer Games Fest keeps forgetting as a result of being too distracted with money and ads.
Re: Talking Point: How Do You Define 'Retro'?
Interesting article! I love these sorts of talking points.
For me, I consider a game to be “retro” or “classic” if it is 20 years or older, though I also think it has to be the technology as well that makes me consider a game to be classified as that. Any console released from the first generation to the early years of the fifth generation I consider to be “retro.” I see any game or console released after those generations to be “modern.”
I wouldn’t call a game or console released ten years ago to be retro, since the software, hardware and technology is still newer and stronger than most older games I consider to be retro. To me, it doesn’t seem correct to call 10-year-old games retro just because the games and technology are in double digits like the older games and technology that came before it. 10 years ago is, for sure, a while ago, but not that long ago like say 20 or 30 years ago.
As an example, I would call the N64 a retro console, but wouldn’t call the WiiU the same. Both are in double digits, but the N64 is older than the WiiU and have differing technology. I just think the technology of a game or console plays a role in what is considered “retro” or “classic” alongside age.
Re: Random: Another Banjo-Kazooie Funko Pop Is On The Horizon, But It's Still Pretty Horrifying
I just think that, like what another user said, Nendoroids look WAY better than Funko pops. I don’t think Funkos are always ugly, but they look pretty lifeless and stiff. I think the main issue is the eyes, and some Funko pops lack mouths as well. The way Funkos look do not fit a lot of the pop culture characters almost 100% of the time, especially if the character in question is supposed to look cute; I saw a Kirby Funko in a short video and the figure looked absolutely TERRIBLE, since it took away key features that make him look adorable.
I don’t own Nendoroids (though I’d like to) but from what I’ve seen, they have exchangeable parts and faces that let you give them a wide range of facial expressions and positions. Not only do I feel those look cuter, but they also appear closer to the original character design. Plushies and Amiibos would work too! The latter is basically a figurine and has way more detail than a Funko.
Re: Talking Point: 'Remake' Vs. 'Remaster' - What's Your Definition?
Like what some have said, I see it like this:
Remaster - The same old game, but with some enhancements to the original code and material in the game, like clearer graphics and audio, better resolution, slightly changed controls, and smoother frame rate (if the original had a poor one). Some aspects of a remaster, like gameplay and story, remain mostly unchanged and intact, though some might have slight differences. The remaster might add in quality-of-life improvements to solve frustrations or clunkiness apart of the game it is remastering.
Example: Banjo-Kazooie (Xbox 360)
The remaster enhances the graphics, audio and music while keeping the content of the original intact. Frame rate and occasional slowdowns are removed, the original controls are changed, and quality-of-life improvements are added to the collectible system. Some new content, such as leaderboards, small bits of new dialogue, and the initially scrapped Stop ‘n’ Swop are added in the remaster.
Remake - The game is redone from the ground up and doesn’t use the original game code. The most obvious change can be seen in the visuals and graphics, which usually add more detail to character models and environments, which are also remade again. A remake might remove parts from the original or add in newer content not apart of the original game, as well as significantly change parts of gameplay and controls. Most remakes are faithful to their originals, but some might deviate a little from the original source material; most of the time, the story (if the game has one) is kept the same like the original. Other parts, like the audio (voice acting and music) tend to be redone as well, but some remakes might keep the old audio in.
Example: Conker: Live and Reloaded (Xbox)
The game is a remake of Conker’s Bad Fur Day (N64), and improves the sound quality alongside graphics and visuals, which have been done from scratch. More detail is added in environments, with the game’s cast given remade models and redesigns. An example is with the titular character, who has been given semi-realistic fur textures and a new outfit with more details and clothing than his original appearance. Similarly, most animal characters are given fur textures as well.
The music is redone, and the controls and gameplay mechanics have been changed and mapped differently to remove clunkiness; for example, the combat system now allows for the player to run around while holding a weapon and attack more using melee weapons, compared to the original, where you had to stop walking while attacking and could only perform a singular attack on enemies. To add on, the player wields a baseball bat instead of a frying pan like in the original.
Story and voice acting are the same, there are changes, such as adding in or lengthening a few cutscenes and removing objectives from the original to remove repetition. Most notably, the remake is more censored than Bad Fur Day and removes the multiplayer modes and cheats from the original, having them replaced altogether with a now offline 3rd-person shooter multiplayer mode accompanied with a new short story campaign.
This is how I would define a remaster and remake! Of course some others might have different definitions of what they consider a remaster and remake.
Re: Random: Nintendo Emulator 'Delta' Changes Its Logo After Heat From Adobe
@Astal I absolutely love the emulation on Delta too! I’ve so far only used it for N64 games, but it has let me play titles that I’ve wanted to try for a while that have not been re-released on modern hardware. Another plus, at least for me, is how you can play it wherever you go.
Re: Random: Nintendo Emulator 'Delta' Changes Its Logo After Heat From Adobe
I really think it is stupid for companies to try and copyright things that everyone is free to use, or act as if they are the only ones who own the rights to use a specific thing; in this case, the letter delta. Sure, it does appear similar to the Adobe logo, but there actually isn’t a delta in Adobe’s, and it’s rather an “A” that is supposed to look like a delta from its stylization. There are differences in the designs of the two logos, even if they appear to be a little small.
Re: Nintendo Wipes Out 8535 Yuzu Repositories In One Big DMCA Takedown
@Kilroy I see! Thanks! I think I was uninformed and a little ignorant in my initial response then.
I don’t exactly focus on the hardware and power aspects of the Switch (or any console for that matter) so your input is very helpful. I do always keep hearing and seeing articles on here about talks of games running 60fps (or lower) and discussions being open for opinions on it. I also see many people hoping for a “Switch Pro” to happen so games can run better; I initially didn’t understand those rumors, but I do now thanks to your insight.
For me, I still would not play modern games on emulators (not to mention the ones I have don’t run modern games) but I now see why someone would emulate a modern game on other hardware. If they own a copy of a modern game on an underpowered hardware and then play an emulated ROM on powerful hardware, it isn’t really pirating since they have an official copy in their hands.
Re: Zelda Live-Action Movie Director Confident "Fans Are Gonna Be Happy"
@CaptainCluck Yeah, plus I also think it’s because I have heard a couple (maybe(?) not all) of those shows and movies you mentioned were also poorly written and focused heavily on different aspects instead, having the writing be an afterthought. It’s fine to focus on other things in a show or movie, but I would say that writing is the most important aspect of a piece of media with a story. It should not be forgotten about if you want to make a work that will be memorable from years on end. Writing is pretty much what most people judge a movie or show on, especially if it focuses on emotions and such.
Depending on the type of production and medium, even if you do aspects like acting, casting, animation, visuals, an interesting premise, or music exceedingly well, they all still can’t save or improve poor writing.
I did watch Lightyear, which was ok in my opinion, but it was sort of boring and the characters weren’t that interesting, not to mention there was a villain twist that was awful and nonsensical; almost everyone who has seen it collectively agrees it was one of the worst parts of the movie. It was the mediocre writing and lack of creativity that didn’t make the movie fun at all for me. It had nice animation and a pretty great voice cast, sure, but I think the flat characters and not so great writing resulted in the movie already becoming forgotten and disliked. There’s like, only one character in that movie who is far more entertaining than the main character himself and the entire film’s cast, but that is unfortunately it. Watched it once and I never will watch it again.
I have not watched most of the media you mentioned, but I have heard lots of terrible things about Velma. They dumped a full second season recently and it apparently still has not improved in the writing and character departments.
Re: Nintendo Wipes Out 8535 Yuzu Repositories In One Big DMCA Takedown
Regarding Yuzu, I honestly don’t get why they thought emulating Switch games already was a good idea, since they aren’t even THAT old yet and are being released on a console that is still being manufactured.
Emulation is fine, and is perfectly legal in most aspects in my opinion. However, I think it should only be used for games that are older and do not have modern re-releases, or sort of modern games that can’t be purchased anymore, like, for example, some digital-only 3DS or WiiU games that cannot be purchased anymore from the Eshop closing permanently. I also think it’s fine if, say, someone from another country wants to play a specific game that has not been released where they live and have to emulate it. I’ve also emulated games, both in the past and present, but only for older titles that I can’t purchase because of them being out of print, like a few N64 games.
But why would you try pirating modern games that you can get still get official copies of? It doesn’t make sense, and it honestly sounds like a recipe for disaster if you were developing and releasing an emulator dedicated to running games still on the market. Just wait a few more years until the Switch and it’s games are discontinued and THEN you can start emulating them.
Re: Review: Cavern Of Dreams (Switch) - A Rich, Rare Homage To The N64's Finest 'Formers
@LikelySatan Yep. I saw it with my siblings and I can remember the audience consisted of lots of families and children seated. I can remember them having a great time together!
I also had a similar experience when I saw the second Sonic the Hedgehog movie in theaters. Just hearing how excited and happy the children were during parts of the film (especially at the mid-credits scene) enhanced my experience there too! I would have had the same reactions and feelings if I were their young age again. I’m pretty excited for the third movie releasing later this year!
Movies, especially fun ones like the two video game film adaptations mentioned above, have their experience enhanced when you watch them with groups, like your family or friends. It’s just so fun to hear and see others reactions to it!
Re: Review: Cavern Of Dreams (Switch) - A Rich, Rare Homage To The N64's Finest 'Formers
@KoopaTheGamer Agreed. While I do not think both films were masterpieces, I remember little of that Ratchet & Clank movie, and it seems a lot of people do too, or they think about it negatively. I remember more of the Mario movie, and I’d say I liked it a lot! Wouldn’t say it’s entirely great since it has some issues, but it was a fun, good ol’ experience in the theater with others. Of course, anyone can disagree with me, and that is ok!
Also, to others (not everyone) in the forum, can we please not argue and just respect opinions, even if we disagree with them? I feel like I see negativity everywhere in regards to gaming now…