The GoGoGo! Episode

[fishbang]

In-Game Chat is rushing the flag at this link (http://ingamechat.net/audio/IGC20090407.mp3).

“Never mind maneuvers,” Lord Nelson said “just go right at ‘em!” I’ve been a fan of this doctrine for some time where objective flags, capture points, gold crates and things of that nature are concerned - though I’d like to think the admiral wouldn’t begrudge me the occasional bunny-hop or circle-strafe on the way to my goal. It’s not a suitable behavior for everyone, but it’s the only one that’s brought me any success, and, as with so many other things, I’m (unforgivably) appalled more people aren’t doing it my way.

You’ll be listening to this no less than a week after the launch of the DSi, but as of the recording it had been only 48 hours. This presented us with the opportunity of unboxing a freshly purchased handheld, with news and commentary and the usual shenanigans woven into and throughout the account. We apologize for the undertone of sweet chimes and optimistic ditties emanating from the device, but we were too drunk on the new-toy smell to notice.

Finally, yes, it has been some time since we published a show. It’s all Scott’s fault.

[lucklesswonder]

I was delightfully surprised that you guys read my e-mail. More so that you all liked the pics.

You made a good point about Cortana. I hadn't even considered her potential as an archive (dumb of me, I know, that's one of the things she's best at). And Arbiter slips my mind from time to time.

Despite what I said about the limitations of first person perspective, I'll agree. With Chief being the main character, and such an involved one, at that (always throwing himself into the thick of it), you would think he'd be privy to more of the overall sweep of things. But Chief isn't an inquisitive character. As the quintessential soldier-type, he doesn't ask questions, he just takes care of the objective. Cortana changes it, though. Chief is "need-to-know". Cortana is "have-to-know". I can see Chief ignoring anything that doesn't pertain directly to the mission. I cannot see this from Cortana, however.

A roundabout way of saying, "I see your point, sir."

[Chris_D]

Wow, sounds like you guys are getting into the DSi more than I expected. Initially I thought the device seemed like a complete waste of time (especially being an iPod touch owner and already owning a DS lite that works fine). But enhancements like the slightly bigger screen, removing the sliders, brightness adjustment in game, not needing to turn off to go back to the menu, nicer buttons are starting to sell me. All trivial stuff, but adds up to a much nicer experience overall.

Hmmm....

[Psykoboy2]

If you've decided not to buy one, you probably won't. If you are, in any way, on the fence about it. Chances are you're going to get one.

[skwish]

it will be a for sure purchase for me, once its lower then 170 bucks and being in canadia that is probably 200 canadian space bucks

[Chris_D]

If you've decided not to buy one, you probably won't. If you are, in any way, on the fence about it. Chances are you're going to get one.

I guess for me, it feels strange. The key features, the cameras, the DSi-ware store.. I couldn't give 2 hoots about them. But the small stuff, hell even the upgraded WiFi protocol (forgot to mention that, will probably need it one day), quite tempting.

[lucklesswonder]

I don't need it. My Lite provides all I need in this fashion. However, I am a sucker for all the bells and whistles. Larger screens? Yes. Actual internet access? Oh yeah. Don't really care about the store, I don't like mini-games that much.

Now. If only it could make stuff 'splode.

[Iron Past]

It's funny you mention Super Mario Galaxy and it's motion controls. I just recently popped it back on to go through and actually finish it, and for the most part I have no problems with waggling to shoot through a star or up a vine. But whoever thought those levels with the goddamed rolling ball was a good idea needs to be fired. Holy shit, requiring movements that need to be precise and timed with a piece of finicky equipment like that raised my blood-pressure to unhealthy levels. The challenge level with that thing was the one that really got me. It took hours.

Also, I've never been so pissed at a camera. I deal with bad cameras all the time, but they usually don't result in instant death because it decides to randomly flip around or put itself in the most awkward position imaginable. And turning the screen upside down when I center it behind me? WTF? A really, really fun game otherwise.

[Ravenlock]

Actually, I thought the camera in Galaxy was brilliant given how many messed up situations it needed to handle. Way more competent than most 3D game cameras that DON'T need to go upside down. You're right about the rolling ball levels, though, those were hellish.

With regards to the Wii Fit board, if you end up stuck with one, Shaun White Snowboarding is definitely worth the $30 it'll probably cost you to get now. It controls really well with the board, and the cel-shading-esque visual style they gave it for the Wii looks great, arguably better than the more realistic look they went with for that game on 360/PS3. A very good example of designing a Wii version for the Wii rather than just porting your title over. Don't get me wrong, it's still just a snowboarding game, but it's a good one. :)

[Ravenlock]

Also, I just finished listening to the episode in the car on my drive home, and need to mention that it's kind of surreal hearing myself advertise another podcast on the podcast that got me listening to gaming podcasts in the first place. This is totally an "awww, look at Timmy trying to live up to his big brothers" moment for me. :p

Anyhow, yeah, thanks for airing our spot. ;)

[phoenyx]

I'd just like to bring up a mention of a "I like the way it is" feeling I have. Just the guys chatting about games is more then fine for me. It sounds like Ravenlock and I use it the same way, something to listen to on the commute.

It is an opinion show. We all know the news from the posts here, other websites, or even peoples links and reactions on twitter. But I, at least, listen to hear your thoughts on games and game related items. (And to hear spoilers on games I can never afford to play. :) )

[Psykoboy2]

Just a reminder...we're going to be recording tonight so throw any emails our way (everyone@ingamechat.net) if you'd like them read/answered/discussed tonight.

[lucklesswonder]

It is an opinion show. We all know the news from the posts here, other websites, or even peoples links and reactions on twitter. But I, at least, listen to hear your thoughts on games and game related items.

Definitely. There are other podcasts that do strict news. Let them have it. IGC has great banter and intelligent discussion. That's rare.

[Psykoboy2]

Definitely. There are other podcasts that do strict news. Let them have it. IGC has great banter and intelligent discussion. That's rare.

Hey thanks for that! We appreciate it.

By the way, we dropped a little something into this episode. Don't know if anyone has found it yet. No one's mentioned it if they have, however.

[Ravenlock]

I heard the bit at the tail end after the Immortal Machines ad, but I haven't tossed it into Audacity yet, I figured somebody else would save me the trouble. ;)

[Iron Past]

Just a reminder...we're going to be recording tonight so throw any emails our way (everyone@ingamechat.net) if you'd like them read/answered/discussed tonight.

Did you get the one about rented/used games and DD? I'd like to hear your thoughts on that, especially with the Patapon 2 news.

[Chris_D]

Just got back with my new (but purchased secondhand) DSi. Justified it to myself by giving my old DS Lite to my girlfriend for her Eiken studies and trading in a bunch of my games.

The unit was white and I was able to look it over before hand, seems basically as new, including the touch screen. Anyway, I have 3 months where I can take it directly back to the shop if there's a problem rather than having to go through Nintendo. It cost 14,800 yen, to which I applied a 100 yen coupon (woooo), plus 9,700 yen worth of game trades (6 DS games and 3 360 games).

No plans to do anything particularly DSi-y with it but should enjoy the extra comforts while playing my DS games.

[Spigot]

If you've decided not to buy one, you probably won't. If you are, in any way, on the fence about it. Chances are you're going to get one.Yeah, screw you guys for this episode. I have spent the entire weekend having to fight my urge to dash out to the store to either spend $200 I don't have or trade in a lot of games I don't want to trade in to make the DSi more affordable. Add in the excitement of arguing with my wife about why I want to get a DSi after spending some time a few weeks ago explaining all of the reasons I wasn't going to buy one... Sigh.

So thanks for nothing!

I have managed to resist the siren's call so far but I think I'll have one by the end of May if I can save up a few extra bucks and not buy any new games between now and then.

[lucklesswonder]

How much does trading in your old DS knock off the price, anyway?

[Iron Past]

How much does trading in your old DS knock off the price, anyway?

The commercial I saw last night said $70.

[lucklesswonder]

That's actually not bad.

[Dave]

Scott,

I just finished listening to this episode and had a few questions/comments.

I have the Legends of Wrestlemania game; would you and/or Jeremy be up for playing that over at your place when I come home this month?

Is there (or has there been) any serious talk of having games from the Wii's Virtual Console availible for play on the DSi? I don't know if anyone else feels the same way, but if a lot of the older 8-bit and 16-bit era games were available for a handheld like this that might be a good selling point for the DSi. (It's probably already got great selling numbers. I honestly haven't followed anything in regards to that, but after listening to the broadcast it piqued my interest in the system and its possible future capabilities.)

Also, I didn't know if you rented or purchased Mad World, but that's another title that I think has looked really neat and I was just wondering if you still had that one. I'd like to see/play it myself, if you've still got it.

[Spigot]

I spent some time last night with the multiplayer in MadWorld and while it's just the Bloodbath Challenges, it's fun, esp. since you can toss your opponent into the turbines, under the death press, etc.

[Psykoboy2]

Scott,

I just finished listening to this episode and had a few questions/comments.

I have the Legends of Wrestlemania game; would you and/or Jeremy be up for playing that over at your place when I come home this month?

Is there (or has there been) any serious talk of having games from the Wii's Virtual Console availible for play on the DSi? I don't know if anyone else feels the same way, but if a lot of the older 8-bit and 16-bit era games were available for a handheld like this that might be a good selling point for the DSi. (It's probably already got great selling numbers. I honestly haven't followed anything in regards to that, but after listening to the broadcast it piqued my interest in the system and its possible future capabilities.)

Also, I didn't know if you rented or purchased Mad World, but that's another title that I think has looked really neat and I was just wondering if you still had that one. I'd like to see/play it myself, if you've still got it.

By all means bring Legends. I'm not any good at it, but you know I enjoy watching you play the beat'em ups.

As for the DSi, that's something I think we're all hoping for, honestly, but there's been no word yet that we'll ever be able to do that.

As for Mad World, I did rent and play it. It was a nice little title, but I have since sent it back.

[Dave]

By all means bring Legends. I'm not any good at it, but you know I enjoy watching you play the beat'em ups.

As for the DSi, that's something I think we're all hoping for, honestly, but there's been no word yet that we'll ever be able to do that.

As for Mad World, I did rent and play it. It was a nice little title, but I have since sent it back.

I'm not great at LoW myself, but I think you might have some fun with this one if for nothing else than it has a lot of older wrestlers in it.

I'm not sure how much games are going for over at BBV these days, but do you think that Mad World would be worth checking out to play over at your house, and would you be up for seeing/playing it again? I'm just wondering how much fun it was because I had seen some video footage of it on one of the G4 shows that they play over here over AFN (we get Attack of the Show and X-Play) and it just looked bloody as all shit... in a really funny over-the-top kind of way, you know? Just wondering.

The House of the Dead: Overkill looked pretty funny too. Any play/interest in that at all? I'm not a big light-gun shooter kind of guy, but the Grindhouse-esque trailer for that one looked pretty cool. Check it out!

YKUD2sLE5rM

[Spigot]

Dave, MadWorld is as bloody and over-the-top as all get out but man, it's one of those games where you just have a stupid grin on your face the whole time.

Great stuff.

[Psykoboy2]

Dave, you only get so long back home from fucking Hoth, so we can play any games you want, man.

[Dave]

Dave, MadWorld is as bloody and over-the-top as all get out but man, it's one of those games where you just have a stupid grin on your face the whole time.

Great stuff.

I like games like this! I have a bad feeling that with conflicting schedules being what they are, that I may only get a day or two with Scott... but I may have to rent this (I don't have a Wii, but Scott does) and give it a go. This sounds both hilarious AND fun!

[Dave]

Dave, you only get so long back home from fucking Hoth, so we can play any games you want, man.

I feel like I've made like a really small dint in your vocabulary now that you're calling it that. Ha ha ha ha ha!!

Cool.

It's been a while since I've been home, but do you ever have Saturdays as a down day? If it's still how it used to be, I know that you have Sundays at least kind of free.

I'm just wondering. Dana and I were kicking back the idea of doing kind of like an Atlanta day-trip of sorts. I didn't have any particulars as to where we might go, although Criminal Records (if still around) was a neat little comic shop/record store. I mean half the fun is going, right? If we could ever hammer down a date for something like that, would you be cool with it? I really wish that we could get Ben on for a Birmingham trip. Again, not that we'd really have any place to go... but shit like that where we're all stuck in a vehicle (and bullshitting as we drive) I miss, you know?

This probably isn't the place to discuss such matters, but seriously give it some thought and let me know if you'd be cool with something like that. I hadn't talked to Ben in regards to Birmingham, but I have talked to Dana about Atlanta. Anyway... I can't wait to get out of here.

[Straximus]

I have the Legends of Wrestlemania game; would you and/or Jeremy be up for playing that over at your place when I come home this month?

I'm all for it.

[Dave]

I'm all for it.

Cool! I'll bring Smackdown Vs. Raw 2009 along too, just in case you guys wind up NOT being a fan of the controls.

[Straximus]

Cool! I'll bring Smackdown Vs. Raw 2009 along too, just in case you guys wind up NOT being a fan of the controls.

I'm not familiar with any modern wrestling control scheme. The last two I really got into were Royal Rumble (SNES) and Super Fire Pro Wrestling Premium X (SNES).

[Dave]

I'm not familiar with any modern wrestling control scheme. The last two I really got into were Royal Rumble (SNES) and Super Fire Pro Wrestling Premium X (SNES).

I almost brought up WWF Royal Rumble on the SNES a few days ago when I saw the "favorite weapon in a game" thread. That's the first wrestling game that I remember you being able to use a chair in... and I used the hell out of that chair. :D

oK_dS4Vj9OU

I think I rented that game something like thirteen times before I actually wound up buying it. Put simply, I LOVE THAT GAME. (With the small exceptions of Super Mario Kart--which is still my favorite version of that game, The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past, the Super Star Wars series and Zombies Ate My Neighbors... WWF Royal Rumble may just be my favorite title for the SNES.)

Fire Pro games are really fun too, but I completely suck at them. I did pick up the Fire Pro Wrestling Returns game for the PS2 though. I've yet to play it, but I hear that it's pretty great--you know, if you're a fan of those games.