• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Radio Free Nintendo | A Nintendo Podcast for Grownups

Boogiepop

Member
Thanks to a sudden need for podcasts in my life, I actually just started listening to this... from the very start (and for the first time). 23 episodes in, plenty to go. I wasn't quite as heavy into game news at the time so it's actually pretty interesting hearing some of the in depth analysis of the lead up to the Wii release (and hindsight makes for some chuckles. Much as I enjoy the game well enough, it's kind of funny hearing the insanely over the top praise for Super Paper Mario after that first E3 showing).
 

silks

Member
Thanks to a sudden need for podcasts in my life, I actually just started listening to this... from the very start (and for the first time). 23 episodes in, plenty to go. I wasn't quite as heavy into game news at the time so it's actually pretty interesting hearing some of the in depth analysis of the lead up to the Wii release (and hindsight makes for some chuckles. Much as I enjoy the game well enough, it's kind of funny hearing the insanely over the top praise for Super Paper Mario after that first E3 showing).

You're starting from the beginning? Ooohhhh boy. I think the quality of the show has improved a lot since the early days. We started off just getting our footing, trying to get the format down, the people down, the technical stuff down. Nowadays we're a well-oiled yet supremely flawed machine.
 

Ondore

Member
A nice, long Thunder Round ends the Thanksgiving weekend.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/41576/episode-455-winds-of-thunder-round
Episode 455 "Winds of Thunder Round" said:
The Thanksgiving holiday forced some changes to the Radio Free Nintendo recording schedule, so this week's episode is an mailbag-only thunderish episode. Greg, Gui, James, and a late-joining Jon attempt, and ultimately fail, to thunder through a collection of emails covering topics from the future of RPGs on NX to playing old RPGs on retro consoles. We cover the fullness of time on RFN. You can let us cover your fullness by sending an email to our mailbag.

We won't be recording RFN next week because THIS SATURDAY Nintendo World Report will be having our 6th Annual Telethon for Child's Play. Starting at 11:30 AM EST, we have up to 13 hours of content coming to you. The more donations we collect, the longer the show. Team RFN will be starting us off at 11:30 with a live Now Playing, followed by an hour conversation on franchises stuck in 2D. At 3:00 PM, James and Jon will be back to have strategic conversations on the future of business. And, if we hit our $6000 goal, team RFN will host a live Hot Takes-off. You call in with your hottest takes, and the person swinging the deepest fire wins the Hot Takes trophy. There will be an actual trophy - of sorts.

We're doing this for a good cause, so if you can't afford to donate right now, please try to get the word out about the show. It's the most fun thing NWR does all year. We hope you can join us. We will make the recordings available on the RFN RSS feed next week.

Lastly: yesterday we announced the first RFN stretch goal. If we get 12 donations before RFN starts their noon segment, Greg, James, and Jon will do an NFL playoff podcast, leading into Wild Card Weekend. Send an email to the mailbag with proof of your donation to let us know you're donating for that.

Time: 1'19"45
Outro: F-Zero GX: Big Blue (Arranged)
Downloads: MP3 | AAC
 

Cindro

Member
Fantastic news. Wishing you all the best tomorrow - I'll be working for the early parts of the show, and then I have movie plans with friends right after work, so I'll probably miss all of it. Can't wait to hear how it goes, though - I'm sure you guys will crush it, as you always do :D
 

Ondore

Member
We're in a post telethon world now. Please be excited.
https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/41645/episode-456-the-editor-in-the-high-castle
Episode 456 "The Editor In The High Castle" said:
Despite it not being addressed in the introduction, Jon is out this week. James, Gui, and Greg soldier on without a substitute, focusing instead on producing the first episode of RFN in a post-telethon world. A quick word of thanks for all who participated gives way to New Business. James and Greg lead off with "early" thoughts on Monolith Soft's Xenoblade Chronicles X. To paraphrase, "If you're listening right now and you don't know what this game is, you're probably being forced to listen to this podcast." Guillaume follows with Camelot Software Planning nee Sonic! Software Planning's Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya, originally for the Game Gear, via the 3DS Virtual Console (RIP). He then turns his 3DS, and low expectations, towards BOXBOY! It turns out the HAL Labs puzzle-platformer is really good. Lastly, Greg has some words of concern for unlocking the seventh world of Chibi-Robo Zip Lash. Didn't know there is a seventh level? Not surprising. Heed his warnings within.

After the break, the trio turns to Listener Mail! Topics include the future of Final Fantasy on NX, predictions (uh oh) for the final Smash presentation, Nintendo patents (extendable computers, distributed computing, weird screen-based controllers, shoulder scroll wheels, etc), Nintendo's unpredictable 2015, and a volcanic eruption of bile over Nintendo Badge Arcade. You can project your magma-like bile into our mailbag.

If you have a few minutes, please do us a favor and take an audience survey. It's a bit long, so we appreciate your time. The survey will help us both understand the makeup of our audience and what they like/dislike. Thank you.

Lastly, if you missed any of last week's telethon, the entire show is now available for your listening pleasure. Check the RFN feed or here to catch up.

Time: 2'08"52
Outro: The Grand Finale - Mario and Luigi's Bow
Downloads; MP3 | AAC
Xenoblade X: Exhausting as hell
 

Makonero

Member
Just want to say it was cool talking to you all on the telethon! I'm sorry my audio had the skype ring in the back (I'm not sure how that happened, but I was scared to disconnect the call and I couldn't get it to stop). In any case, it was really cool to be in a part of a thing I love. And I'm so glad you guys had such a great success with donations!
 

Cindro

Member
Just want to say it was cool talking to you all on the telethon! I'm sorry my audio had the skype ring in the back (I'm not sure how that happened, but I was scared to disconnect the call and I couldn't get it to stop). In any case, it was really cool to be in a part of a thing I love. And I'm so glad you guys had such a great success with donations!
Hey cool! Which section were you on? I've been skipping around a bit because I don't have a spare 11 hours, but from what I've heard so far the telethon sounded like good fun. I'm bummed I had to work while it was live.
 

Makonero

Member
Hey cool! Which section were you on? I've been skipping around a bit because I don't have a spare 11 hours, but from what I've heard so far the telethon sounded like good fun. I'm bummed I had to work while it was live.

I was Zup (that's my other handle) in the very first section. I was also the first amiibo winner (can't wait to get that Wii Fit Trainer!).
 

Fewr

Member
Still a couple of hours left to listen from the whole marathon podcast. The bits I didn't like were the talking business and the games we love to hate part. The first I found it uninteresting overall, and the second didn't feel like it had a plan and had quite a few technical problems.

I thought I wouldn't like the dinosaur talk, but it was very interesting. The best part was the eshop evolution and all that.

What's the name of the ugly dinosaur?
 

Makonero

Member
The "Business" stuff was supposed to be funny, but James repeated it just a bit too often to fill in gaps and it just felt like stalling. I ended up skipping it after hitting the halfway mark. Sorry James!

I also ended up skipping the "Games we love to hate" bit because, like you said, it didn't feel as planned out. The other segments all felt like they had stuff to say, but some of the segments were kind of meandering and made it frustrating to listen to in podcast form.

I'm assuming this is why the show needs a good editor? Thank you Guillaume!
 

Somnid

Member
Games we love to hate definitely had no planning and it showed. That said, Josh is a hilarious guy to listen to and you should definitely guest him on RFN sometime.
 
James I'm blaming you for there being another Fire Emblem character in Smash now.

People complain about too many Fire Emblem and Pokemon characters, but those are like the only two Nintendo franchises that constantly get a ton of new characters. Just be thankful the new Fire Emblem is also a dragon and doesn't have blue hair.
 

OMG Aero

Member
When deciding who should be the last Nintendo character added to the game, I'm glad Sakurai decided to pick Greg's favourite archetype of main character from an RPG with a sword.
 
People complain about too many Fire Emblem and Pokemon characters, but those are like the only two Nintendo franchises that constantly get a ton of new characters. Just be thankful the new Fire Emblem is also a dragon and doesn't have blue hair.
Honestly don't care if there is a new character, was only messing :p

Its strange, I'd actually take a new Pokemon character, well an old one, I was kinda hopping to see either Squirtle or Ivysaur making a return as a fully playable character ala Charizard.
 

Zonic

Gives all the fucks
FYI, Badge Arcade DID get Metroid badges, as part of NES Remix. There was SMB2 & even Punch-Out badges as well.
 

Makonero

Member
So, Gui, whenever James says the word "business" can you replace it with some kind of bird call or animal noise? Cuz that's all I hear anyway, a guttural groan as my eyes roll up into my head.
 

Crimm

Member
Sorry I've not been monitoring this thread, tis the season and what not.

I hope it comes through that J&J was meant to be an end-of-the-night "let's be idiots" thing. The problem was scheduling shifted it up. My desire to make the longest telethon we've ever done meant I had to rely on people I trusted to make it work. Jon and I are perfectly capable of carrying the torch for an hour, and I hoped to use it at around 10 PM to get a second wind, an hour where I didn't have to monitor anything - just do what came naturally.

I get some people would find it idiotic or even unlistenable (I would say unwatchable but...), but I just view the segment as a full expression of Jon and my id. It's unfiltered by the decorum (har har) of RFN, an expression of the absurdest comedy we enjoy and our love of the early 90s industry that still hadn't figured out how to be a business. I will say, I based my character on a businessman I actually know, and whose company I suffer on a regular basis; this man is real, his ideas for the business world are half-cocked at best, please be careful.

The segment is less structured than the original intent, which would have subjected members of the NWR staff to our business acumen, under false pretenses. I still kind of wish we'd done that, even if I would have had to quit the site afterwards.

Defense aside, I'm proud of everyone. I only really had to assist one segment out of a full 13, and I only needed to prod a few to get them back on target. If you don't do podcasts or you haven't done the live show it can be daunting so good work by them.

I'm not going to take the fall for Fire Emblem characters; even if he does look like a Pokemon when he transforms. The drill thing and literally everything about Bayo are going to make them fodder for the screen capture tool
 

Morfeo

The Chuck Norris of Peace
I didnt really like the segment either, but come on, you guys just managed to raise a ton of money for children, no need to apologize for anything. Keep up all the great work you do on the site and the podcast!
 

Ondore

Member
Awesome, extended Xenoblade Chronicles X talk from my trai... OH GOD.
https://www.nintendoworldreport.com...e-winning-to-the-persistently-non-competitive
Episode 457 "Define Winning to the Persistently Non-Competitive" said:
It's the last episode of 2015, and in a move that was definitely NOT a scheduling gaff we are joined by friend of the show, and two-time conqueror of Xenoblade Chronicles X, Syrenne McNulty. No one was out this week, we absolutely planned to have five people this week and three last week.

Syrenne is here to answer all of our Xenoblade questions. However, we start New Business with Guillaume, who has the finally-released SteamWorld Heist on 3DS, which he is very impressed with, and a report on Axiom Verge, which he is less so. Syrenne has potential Wii U game of the year, Devil's Turd, and let's us know how many awards it should win. She follows with some insights on the Japanese mobile industry that she gleaned from playing all of the Japanese App Store's Top 100. Finally, we reach the main event. Jon, Greg, and James provide their current Xenoblade Chronicles X thoughts, and turn to Syrenne to answer their burning questions.

We wrap up 2015 with an abbreviated Listener Mail. Questions cover identifying a franchise that could go from Non-tendo to Smash in a generation, and if it is a matter of time that keeps us from "competitive Smash." The answer is no, by the way. You can ask us the unanswerable via our inbox.

We had really great response to our survey, you all are the best. If you haven't had time to fill it out, please do us a favor and take it. The survey will take a few minutes, and will ask you about a ton of podcasts you've never heard of, but it will help us understand what you all want to hear. As always, thank you.

Lastly, I (James) wanted to add a personal note as we end 2015. Obviously, I didn't start the year with the intention of taking over as host. When Jonny asked, I was terrified to do so; I was worried I would let down our listeners. Instead, you all have been unbelievably kind as I learned how to run and host the show. It's all incredibly humbling. Going forward into 2016, I hope to continue to improve both myself and the show so please let us know how we're doing and what you'd like to hear us talk about. You can use the mailbag for your suggestions. I want to thank Gui for his continued efforts to edit the show, Jon for agreeing to stay on and being my sounding board, and Greg for helping me plan the transition and ultimately agreeing to return to the show. And of course, thank you to all our listeners. Oh, lastly, if you want to get the show something for Christmas, please use the break to fill our Mailbag with interesting questions!

Time: 2'10"52
Downloads: MP3 | AAC
Outro: Busted Bayou - DKC Tropical Freeze
 

silks

Member
Man, I'm still going through the telethon podcast and you guys have put out two others already...

It's BUSINESS, baby. BUSINESS.

J&J Dream Factory would have went a bit smoother had James and I not picked the same game inadvertently (Konami's Exciting Boxing). We wanted each selection to be a surprise, and it backfired in that case. Goes to show the similarity of our senses of humor, though; we picked the same game to mock out of a selection of literally hundreds without even knowing it.
 

Ondore

Member
Guess who's back / back again / RFN's back / tell a friend
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/41754/episode-458-auguratio-ex-japonicum
Episode 458 "Auguratio Ex Japonicum" said:
It's been two weeks since RFN last released an episode, and in the intervening time we've celebrated the holidays and inaugurated a new year. With the conclusion of 2015, RFN's team of Jon, Greg, Gui, and James celebrate the last year of games by naming their individual Top Five games. The two weeks without getting to talk games results in a particularly feverish discussion. Thankfully, no effort is made to hash out Radio Free Nintendo's "Game of 2015," because that is a losing proposition.

Speaking of losing propositions, after a lonely Now Playing, the team christens 2016 with our annual predictions. Funnily enough, while there are plenty of NX predictions to go around none of them deal with what the NX actually is. Instead, topics like Mario Galaxy 3, Splatoon clothing, and the return of Pokémon. Come for the well-reasoned predictions, stay for Guillaume's Seussian visions of the future.

Next week we'll be returning to the normal New Business/Listener Mail format. It's a new year, so let's get some new emails in our inbox.

Time: 2'21"23
Outro: Pollyanna - Mother/Earthbound Beginnings
Downloads: MP3 | AAC
No Glitter Metroid: But Federation Force is Game of the Year, so it all works out.
 
Could someone post a spoiler list of their top five games? I'm on vacation and need to save bandwidth and can't listen at the moment. I just want to see what made it and then when j get home I can listen to their reasonings.
 

Kansoku

Member
I had managed to lose my desire to play Xenoblade Chronicles X (since I don't have a Wii U, to expensive to buy with the shit Real right now, and NX right around the corner), but you guys said everything I wanted to hear about the game, now I want to play it and I can't.

Thanks a lot. :<
 
I had managed to lose my desire to play Xenoblade Chronicles X (since I don't have a Wii U, to expensive to buy with the shit Real right now, and NX right around the corner), but you guys said everything I wanted to hear about the game, now I want to play it and I can't.

Thanks a lot. :<
My issue, as it always has been, is time.

Off-TV play is going to get pounded once I get a hold of XCX.
 

Somnid

Member
My issue, as it always has been, is time.

Off-TV play is going to get pounded once I get a hold of XCX.

You'll be disappointed, the implementation is extremely janky due to the game making use of both screens and heavy UI. Also doesn't replicate the sound correctly across both devices which is highly annoying.
 

Ecliptor

Member
Could someone post a spoiler list of their top five games? I'm on vacation and need to save bandwidth and can't listen at the moment. I just want to see what made it and then when j get home I can listen to their reasonings.

Here you go! (I hope this isn't too late)

Guillaume

5. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
4. Super Mario Maker
3. BoxBoy!
2. SteamWorld Heist
1. Splatoon

Greg

5. Code Name S.T.E.A.M.
4. Splatoon
3. Yoshi's Wolly World
2. Xenoblade Chronicles X
1. Super Mario Maker

James

5. Human Resource Machine
4. BoxBoy!
3. Yo-Kai Watch
2. Super Mario Maker
1. Xenoblade Chronicles X

Jon

5. 3D Outrun
4. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
3. Super Mario Maker
2. Splatoon
1. Xenoblade Chronicles X

Jonny

5. SteamWorld Heist
4. FAST Racing NEO
3. Xenoblade Chronicles X
2. Elliot Quest
1. Super Mario Maker
 

Weetrick

Member
So glad to hear the podcast again after the long break!

I have next Monday off (and my wife doesn't!) so I'm thinking of buying XCX and diving headfirst into it. I was hesitant to buy it at first but James and Jon made me too curious to pass.

I'm not sure I can finish a 100 hour JRPG to be honest, but that's OK. I didn't finish the first Xenoblade but I really enjoyed the time I spent with it.
 

Neifirst

Member
Great discussion of Xenoblade Chronicles X! I put off finishing the final story chapter for 140 hours just because I was enjoying mopping up the missions so much. I'd love to hear your thoughts on a spoiler-cast as to whether or how Monolithsoft could split the difference between Chronicles and X when it comes to character & party development. I *think* I understand the story implications as to why they went with a mute player-created avatar, but I really missed having characters like Shulk, Reyn, Fiora, and Riki along for the journey. Elma was good, Lin ok, Tatsu was no Riki, and the rest I found to be forgettable. Would a smaller party with more affinity and story missions be a better option next time around?
 
Here you go! (I hope this isn't too late)

Guillaume

5. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
4. Super Mario Maker
3. BoxBoy!
2. SteamWorld Heist
1. Splatoon

Greg

5. Code Name S.T.E.A.M.
4. Splatoon
3. Yoshi's Wolly World
2. Xenoblade Chronicles X
1. Super Mario Maker

James

5. Human Resource Machine
4. BoxBoy!
3. Yo-Kai Watch
2. Super Mario Maker
1. Xenoblade Chronicles X

Jon

5. 3D Outrun
4. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
3. Super Mario Maker
2. Splatoon
1. Xenoblade Chronicles X

Jonny

5. SteamWorld Heist
4. FAST Racing NEO
3. Xenoblade Chronicles X
2. Elliot Quest
1. Super Mario Maker

Thanks for this!
 

Ondore

Member
The first normal show of the year brings a guest and COLLUSION.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/41790/episode-459-the-wii-u-is-a-bit-sad
Episode 459 "The Wii U Is A Bit Sad" said:
It's a return to normalcy after over a month of weeks off, telethons, and annual wrap-ups. Radio Free Nintendo finally has an episode that falls back into the normal format of New Business and Listener Mail, with the exception that Jon Lindemann is out. Thankfully, we're joined by friend of the show, and host of Radio Trivia, Michael "TYP" Cole.

As the guest, Mike leads off New Business with a look at NES "Do-it-all" The Adventures of Bayou Billy, now available of the North American Wii U Virtual Console. He and Greg have tag-team impressions of Shantae and the Pirate's Curse and Super Mario Maker. It's almost as if they planned to play the same games, but if they did the rest of us were not informed, and such a withholding is not appreciated. Guillaume has impressions of Steam Link, a device which broadcasts your PC's video to an TV in your home. The conversation quickly shifts to the viability of an "Internet of Things" NX device, as defined in recently unearthed patents. Lastly, James has some thoughts on why FAST Racing NEO is actually less forgiving than infamous sadist F-Zero GX, followed by a report on gloriously silly and stridently Japanese Johnny's Payday Panic, a weird part time job simulator from the makers of Cooking Mama.

After last week's depressing Now Playing, James couldn't be moved to offer yet another solo performance, so a short musical interlude is followed by the return of Listener Mail. Topics covered include: giving Wii U games new life on NX, the naming conventions of self-professed faeries, cross-pollination of 2D platformers, the end of the instruction booklet, and surprises/disappointments of 2015. You can let us know how much of a disappointment we were last year, this year, and all times into the future, via our mailbag.

We're gearing up for our next RetroActive, and while we intend to decide by executive fiat, we're open to suggestions. Given the absolute glut of upcoming RPGs and our collective post-Xenoblade hangovers, we're looking for your "anti-RPG" suggestions. Send us your least RPG-like games via our mailbag.

Special thanks to Mike for joining us this week. If you don't already, you should be listening to Radio Trivia; it's a whole lot of fun. The RFN crew are regular guests, but a wide collection of the NWR staff have made the rounds. If you want to see more of his Mario Maker levels you can check them out here.

Also available, for your playing pleasure, are Team RFN's profiles: Greg, Gui, James, and Jon

Time: 2'18'07
End music: Shantae Half Genie Hero - Mermaid Waterfall
Downloads: MP3 | AAC
I'd link my Mario Maker profile: But I'm more of a player than a creator.
 

llehuty

Member
I'm just catching up with the 2015 top 5 games podcast, and I'm completely dead at Guillaume's predictions. The way he prepares the
Cooking Tatsu
prediction, making all of us believe for a second "ok, he's coming with a serious prediction". Good stuff.

The top 5 discussion was really interesting and I'm feeling like I'm going to instabuy Elliot Quest just by the short Jonny snippet in this episode.
 

Ondore

Member
Henshin-a-go-go BABY!
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/41832/episode-460-asleep-at-the-rpg-switch
Episode 480 "Asleep at the RPG Switch" said:
Jon is out again this week so Greg, Gui, and James anchor a three-man show. Guillaume leads New Business with the recently-released Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 on the GBA Virtual Console. For those keeping track at home, it's 2 * Super + 3 + 4. James has impressions of iPhone to 3DS eShop RPG dungeon-crawler/restaurant management/chef game Adventure Bar Story. It's "an Atelier game" without magic, a comparison that probably only makes sense to three people reading this. Greg rounds out New Business with impressions of the demo of mega-mashup Project X Zone 2. One of these games is full of creative mechanics the other lets you throw file folders as weapons.

After a break, it's time for Listener Mail! Topics covered include: getting into RPGs with Xenoblade, Nintendo's self-inflicted binds, and if now is the time to invest in a Wii U. You can petition us for investment advice via our mailbag*.

*All Personalized Trade and Investment Advice is offered for entertainment purposes only. Always speak to an adviser before investing.

It's time for our next RetroActive! We'll be playing Viewtiful Joe for the GameCube. You've got a few weeks to procure your copy. We're planning to talk about it in the third week of February, but that is subject to change. You can post your comments in the RetroActive discussion thread.

Time: 1'47"17
Outro: Yooka-Laylee - Jungle Challenge
Downloads: MP3 | AAC
Join the conversation: Using the hashtag #MakeRomanLoo... er, #YearOfTheRPG*

*note: no hashtags actually required. RIP WrassleGaf: 2009 - 2016
 

leroidys

Member
Awesome choice for the retroactive! I didn't really appreciate Kamiya games when I first attempted VJ, so it didn't really click with me when it first came out. Looking forward to revisiting the series.
 
I'm a relatively new listener. Just wanted to know, does Greg have anymore online presence? I find we have very similar tastes and views and he just seems an all-round cool chap. Does he have a YouTube channel or does he have any other Nintendo/Videogame related material elsewhere?

Also looking forward to the retroactive, it's about time I played Viewtiful Joe properly. It's only been on my shelf since about two months after launch :/
 
Top Bottom