Shows
Zez Retro / Cathode Ray PodcastThe State of Retro in Japan w/ Vinnk from Famicom Dojo - Zezcast #6The Zezcast is my solo podcast where I interview creators and individuals in the retro gaming community who I think are interesting.
In this episode I talk to Vinnk from Famicom Dojo, who for me is one of the OG retro video creators. Famicom Dojo is a series which has been around longer than YouTube (!) and started with Vinnk living in Japan and wanting to make the first documentation of the cool stuff he saw back in the day (some before it was retro).
He continues to make videos and streams with his partner Sean...
2022-03-301h 50
Podcasts by That's Orange, LLC154: The Price of Nintendo Switch OnlineNintendo's online service for the Switch was free for longer than they said it would be, but the paywall still took us a bit by surprise. Had Nintendo earned the money? Sean and Vinnk share their experiences so far with the paid version of the Nintendo Switch Online service, tease how to get the channel for Famicom games on US Switches, and somehow let the newest physical version of Night Trap onto our respective Piles of Shame... Details about the podcast, links to related articles, and supplemental audio/video are available at FamicomDojo.TV: http...
2018-12-081h 35
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy POWETcastFamicom Dojo Video Game Podcast Intro (2015)It's year five of the podcast, and we're looking to make a fresh start! New format, new segments, new podcast network, and a new logo, but the same old banter about contemporary video games and how they relate to retro game history.
Oh, and herbs gathering. Lots, and lots of herbs.
Details about the podcast, links to related articles, and supplemental audio/video are available at FamicomDojo.TV: http://famicomdojo.tv/podcast
Leave us a voicemail at 608-492-1923, or share your thoughts on Facebook (http://facebook.com/famicomdojo), Instagram (http://instagram.com/famicomdojo), Twitter...
2015-02-0607 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast100: Growing Up GamerWhen we were kids, someone introduced each of us to the world of video games. Maybe it was a parent, or a friend who had the latest and greatest. Or maybe that love developed in arcades and translated into the home. This week, we revisit the formative years that made us gamers. And we have other stories that listeners like you sent in to celebrate our 100th episode.
Sean and Vinnk interview their families, play user submissions, and give their own individual stories about what it meant Growing Up Gamer.
"Famicom Thrash" and "RPG" theme songs...
2014-08-151h 18
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast99: PapaCast and FerbThe thing about being a gainfully-employed adult and parent is that time becomes your most precious commodity. So any time you use for games can only be used on the good ones -- if you can figure out which ones those are.
Vinnk and Sean reveal how they balance their real lives with gaming life, how the Wii U is great for that, and get all excited over Future Retro that's really just a quasi-remake of a 20 year old game.
"Famicom Thrash" and "RPG" theme songs by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net.
This...
2014-06-271h 04
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast98: Nintendo Wins E3 (2014)It's amazing how things looked a year ago, with Nintendo all but left for dead by the gaming press. Now, with a much-needed lift by Mario Kart 8 and a killer showing at E3, Nintendo looks like it might earn the title of number one console (in Japan) -- and not just because the PS4 is selling so poorly there. And perhaps do better in America too. Whatever works.
Sean and Vinnk skip Future Retro and Pile of Shame to dedicate the entire episode to E3 reactions. And maybe pepper that stuff throughout the show anyway. You better believe...
2014-06-181h 22
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast97: Nintendo AdaptsNintendo appeases the hardcore Super Smash Bros. tournament crowd with a wired adapter for GameCube controls, playable at the Smash Bros Invitational. The newest Mario Kart was released
last week, selling out Pro Controllers everywhere, crashing the Club Nintendo website, and increasing sales of the Wii U in the UK alone by 666%. In less than a week, Mario Kart 8 has sold 1.2 million copies worldwide. YouTube announced a monetization scheme for users uploading Nintendo videos. Is Nintendo finally listening to its fans, or did it just take this long to unlock the Wii U's potential?
Vinnk and Sean put...
2014-06-0657 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast96: DisKinectWe've long been wary of digital services on consoles at Famicom Dojo, because every time one shuts down there's the inevitable pain that follows, and features that can never be recaptured. This is what is happening with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection going dark this week, which takes with it all online multiplayer (and related features) for not only Wii and DS titles, but anything that relied on GameSpy for online connectivity. Similarly, Microsoft has continued its Xbox One backpedaling and has decided that the Kinect 2.0 isn't required hardware after all.
Sean and Vinnk wonder if this change to...
2014-05-231h 01
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast95: The Price of DLCPhysical game releases, and increasingly their digital versions as well, often get a hefty price cut as the game ages, but the price of the DLC never goes down. Should it?
Vinnk and Sean backtrack on some earlier positions to talk about DLC they like, grapple with their feelings on DLC in general, and what alternatives publishers can pursue without giving up a revenue stream that helps to increase the software development tail of a game and its engine.
"Famicom Thrash" and "RPG" theme songs by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net.
This podcast...
2014-05-1658 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast94: SequelitisNES Remix 2 is chock full of sequels to games from NES Remix 1, and of course NES followups to other games not seen in the series before. Conventional wisdom dictates that sequels are mere cash-ins of a great idea, but sometimes they can perfect that idea in fun and surprising ways.
Sean and Vinnk discuss the sequels we think are better than the originals, some clearly superior, others more controversial. Vinnk touches a game designer's hair in Future Retro, and pile of shame goes digital-only... kind of like this podcast!
"Famicom Thrash" and "RPG" theme songs by...
2014-05-0954 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast93: Crossovers and CameosRecent installments of the Super Smash Bros. series have included characters from third party companies as fighters joining the Nintendo menagerie. Game developers often hide references to their other titles in some of their games, either by obscure references or through sharing characters -- sometimes where they don't really belong. Gamers seem to enjoy these cross-overs and in=jokes... but why?
Vinnk and Sean share their favorite cameos in well-known games as well as more obscure titles. Future Retro looks more at the recent past, and Pile of Shame spans a couple of generations.
"Famicom Thrash"...
2014-05-021h 05
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast92: The (PlayStation) Death of ConsolesWhile the rest of the world is picking up the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One at an admirable pace (sorry, Wii U), the former was only just released earlier this year in Japan, and the latter is not yet on store shelves. The latest Nintendo Direct makes it seem like the company doesn't understand that they need to support the Wii U over the 3DS with games like Smash Bros., but perhaps the situation underscores a deeper problem.
Sean and Vinnk discuss what happened to all of the console gamers, where they went, and what it means for the...
2014-04-151h 08
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast91: Needs More PolysWe're four generations deep into reasonably realistic 3D graphics based on nothing more than colored triangles, but if you go back to the first fully 3D console graphics the picture isn't so pretty. And yet we loved these games all the same. Was it am amazing as we thought, or were we just kidding ourselves?
Vinnk and Sean try to take off their rose-colored glasses and give a serious look to the Nintendo 64, Playstation, and Sega Saturn. What game franchises were born in that generation? Which ones met their untimely end?
"Famicom Thrash" and "RPG" theme...
2014-04-081h 00
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast90: Your Friend's HouseWe take a trip over to our friend's house where everything sounds different. Er, where you play the games that you didn't play at your house because you didn't own the system, didn't own the game, weren't ALLOWED to own the system or game, or just like the atmosphere better than at your place. And for this episode, we invited a few friends over to our house!
Zac (@ZacShipley), aDam (@aDamRulz), and Ernie of No Topic Required (@NoTopicRequired) take over the show for this April Fool's Day episode. Supposedly Sarah Rattle (@SarahRattle) was there too, but we sure...
2014-04-011h 16
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast89: Audio BonusSometimes the show runs a little long, or goes completely off-topic. That's when we create an audio bonus, exclusively for the website! When we first started the podcast, we fully intended to create such extra content to help drive traffic back to the website since there was no other way to listen to it. But, as it turns out, people just don't find that enticing! So, despite the desire to keep things "exclusive", we want to share these audio bonuses with you in a way that most listeners will actually be able to hear it. They're just so good!
2014-03-1436 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast87: Every Game is Terrible (Except the One You Like)In the ever-shifting landscape of video game development, there are major players and the scrappy underdogs. Kickstarter has given smaller studios a bigger voice, but back in the day before the Internet was a thing, which companies set themselves apart? And which ones have fallen apart since?
Sean and Vinnk talk about their favorite publishers and developers of today, the classics of yesteryear,
and ponder whatever the heck happened to them. Some evolved, some, disbanded, and some should be put out of their misery. Did your favorites make the list?
"Famicom Thrash" and "RPG" theme songs...
2014-02-2851 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast86: Rad Sports GamesBefore EA, official sports titles were more spread out, and used in all kind of ways. Games like NBA Jam are hard to come by these days (barring updates to NBA Jam). Before annual installments of Year of the Same Game, you had crazy sports game ideas that were one and done. These weren't simulators, like we have today, but imaginitive riffs on the sports to make up for any technical proficiency that hardware of the time may have had. And that's what makes them Rad Sports Games.
Vinnk and Sean talk about their favorite titles, including the...
2014-02-2148 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast85: Remakes vs. RebootsSometimes a game gets a second life on a new platform or console, typically with upgraded graphics, additional sound effects and/or voices,
and additional Internet-enabled features only a Millennial could love. Sometimes a familiar name is slapped onto an entirely new game that
seeks to upend the status quo for the franchise and provide a clean slate -- usually with a new developer, and sometimes a new publisher --
to begin totally anew.
Sean and Vinnk compare video game remakes to reboots, decide which games deserved them, and which actually got them, and which ones they ended...
2014-02-1447 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast84: Free 2 PlayPhil Bond on the subject of f2p gaming: "When you make a game where paying any money whatsoever feels like cheating, that has to be a mistake -- right?" Or, as Vinnk puts it, you can pay to play more, or pay to play less. Sometimes both in the same game. Just don't say that Nintendo should follow this model, or... we'll say something not nice, or something.
Vinnk and Sean trade stories of their particular Free-2-Play addictions (Puzzles and Dragons, and Candy Crush, respectively), and their guilt over never paying any money for these games...
2014-02-0751 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast83: Broken Age of Adventure GamingSpearheading the revival of adventure games,
Broken Age Act 1 was released last week on Steam for the Kickstarter backers (and press reviewers). A decision to black out reviews until later in January was reversed only a couple of days after the game came out. Broken Age is just that good. Even though we haven't finished it (as of recording this episode), we wholeheartedly agree that it will become an instant classic.
Sean and Vinnk talk about what killed the adventure game for our generation, revel in its revival thanks to companies like TellTale and Doublefine, and crowdsourcing for...
2014-01-2445 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast82: Game of the Year of LuigiIt can be difficult choosing a top game for 2013 when you've only played a fraction of the ones
released during the year, but we're sure gonna try!
Vinnk and Sean talk about their respective top game of 2013,
and try to convince the other why it's so much more awesome than all the others.
Plus, more Future Retro, and Pile of Shame! Including some titles that could have been GOTY contenders...
if we had only played them.
"Famicom Thrash" and "RPG" theme songs by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net.
This podcast is brought to...
2014-01-1741 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast81: NES RemixWith the latest Nintendo Direct, a very interesting title was released Wii U eShop. Nintendo has gone all ROM hacker on us, and created a challenge game based on a dozen titles from the NES launch lineup. More than that, these challenges directly focus on the secrets within games, and show you how to beat more difficult stages or bosses.
Sean and Vinnk share their impressions of NES Remix, whether they're too awesome at video games to really like such a title, and worry just a tiny bit that Nintendo is (rightfully) horning in
on Famicom Dojo's retro-educational...
2014-01-1042 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast80: Kickstarter RetroEver since Double Fine Adventure (a.k.a. Broken Age), Kickstarter has been the go-to place to fund games in genres long-thought dead (e.g. Adventure Games), by creators long thought dead (e.g. Al Lowe -- kidding! We love ya puddin'), or franchises long thought dead (e.g. the Mega Man-esque Migthy No. 9 by Keiji Inafune). Is this a good thing? And can it possibly last? While Vinnk was in the US, he joined Sean for a live Famicom Dojo screening at the Madison Underground in Madison, WI.
Vinnk and Sean discuss their one-night-only Madison Underground live...
2013-09-131h 17
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast79: Wii U vs. 3DSVinnk was in the US for a few weeks, and came back to Japan with a new Wii U and a bunch of games! Then just last week Nintendo announced the $50 price drop and the Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD bundle. Sean bought a 3DS XL right before the seemingly-ridiculous 2DS announcement, but he ain't even mad, bro.
Sean and Vinnk discuss their new systems, similarities (good and bad), and how they feel about purchasing them just before major shakeups in the market. We also learn that Sean doesn't think Super Mario Galaxy was that great of...
2013-09-061h 34
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast78: The Secret Origin of Famicom DojoDid you know that there was an episode of Famicom Dojo before there was a Famicom Dojo? Not just the one released on Zac Shipley's channel, but one we never released for public consumption? Sure you didn't! We know lots of stuff from back in 2006.
Learn more from Vinnk and Sean as they talk about their memories of Famicom Dojo before there was a Famicom Dojo, how the name was chosen,
and the relevation that even the first episodes took a super-long time to create! Oh, and we explain a bit more about our plans for the future...
2013-07-191h 02
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast77: To E3 or Not to E3 (2013)E3 is over, but did anything of substance happen aside from Sony stabbing Microsoft in the side and twisting the knife? Everything of substance occurred before or after E3, including Microsoft's "Xbox 180" announcement about its disc DRM and "always on" connectivity. In this digital world, has E3 outlived its usefulness as a press-only event?
Sean and Vinnk unpack the reasons why Microsoft reversed course, and struggle with which next-gen console to get to compliment the Wii U. And Sean finally realizes that maybe he shouldn't have passed over the PS3 last generation.
"RPG" theme song by...
2013-06-281h 38
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast76: Digital Apocalypse NowWhen we first started this podcast, we thought the DLC Apocalypse would be a generation or two off, but if Microsoft has its way (and Sony decides to follow suit next week at E3), it'll be a lot sooner than anyone wanted. Any gamers, anyway. Microsoft seems pretty happy to keep us in the dark (or they did until the day before this podcast was posted). With disc DRM and a persistent internet connection prevalent on everyone's minds -- even leading to Adam Orth leaving the company -- you'd think Microsoft's messaging would be more on-target. Now they won't even...
2013-06-071h 22
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast75: Xbox OneLast week, Microsoft unveiled their next-generation gaming console, controller, and name. While the "XBONE" jokes are already flying, more is being made of what Microsoft didn't say at this event than what they did say. (Or did. Or showed.) Which is kind of too bad, because even amongst the crazier ideas (e.g. cloud computing), there were some pretty cool concepts. Oh, and that whole pesky "used games" and "always online" messaging fiasco.
Sean welcomes guests Zac Shipley (No Topic Required) and Justin Severson (Powet.TV) to talk about these missteps, try to focus at least a little...
2013-05-311h 20
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast74: An Unprecedented PartnershipEA has thrown its stake in the ground, and determined that it does not need or care to support Nintendo on the Wii U. No Frosbite engine, no current development on Wii U, and a senior developer who openly tweeted that Nintendo's console platform was "crap". So much for that "unprecedented partnership"!
Vinnk and Sean make the obvious comparisons to Dreamcast (which was the last console EA totally shut out), speculate on the future of proprietary, company-branded game console hardware, and try to determine if Nintendo even needs EA in this generation... or any other.
"RPG"...
2013-05-241h 25
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast73: The Next XboxThe Wii U might seem like it's in trouble, but even if the least bad of the "always on" rumors for the next Xbox prove true, will Microsoft be the worse one off this generation? Is this company that only entered console gaming this side of the millennium trying as hard as it can to apply the digial download methodology of gaming to physical media, or is it just a bunch of baseless fanboy fears and rampant speculation?
Sean and Vinnk run down three possible scenarios for what to expect when the new Xbox is finally announced later...
2013-05-031h 19
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast72: It's About TimeEven in the 8-bit days, the theme of time travel in video games was all around us. For some, it was a story excuse to visit
historical landmarks and offer. Other explored idea of what it meant to manipulate time Usually, they were some poorly-designed
movie tie-in. But each one offered an unmentioned promise that someday, somewhen, the ultimate time travel game would arise. Now, if only someone would invent actual time travel and send that game back to us in time for this episode!
Vinnk and Sean discuss their favorite (and sometimes not-so-favorite) time travel games, what...
2013-03-291h 16
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast71: PlayStation DeathOne of the many interesting things about the PS4 is the name itself, since one of the Japanese words for "Four" is also the word for "death". Prophetic, given the state of Sony and the PS3, or just a harmless pun? They'll need a lot of killer apps to overcome that name, amiright? (Thanks to @Cheesemeister3k for that joke.)
Sean and Vinnk discuss the PS4 reveal, the DualShock 4 controller redesign, and whether or not either of them will be getting one. Sony, y u no show console? Ah, no matter. What matters is the games, right? We...
2013-03-151h 10
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast70: Zombi Wii URayman Legends is ready to ship for Wii U, but now won't be released until multi-platform versions are ready. Wii U sales are down, but if games aren't coming out that people want to buy, who's to blame? Nintendo is offering a Wii U bundle with Ubisoft's ZombiU (and Nintendo Land, AND a Pro Controller), but is it too little too late?
Vinnk and Sean try and suss out Ubisoft's strategy, and discuss what Nintendo can do today to get people to buy Wii U without dropping the price. (*COUGH*Wii U Virtual Console!*COUGH*)
"RPG"...
2013-02-221h 31
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast69: Region Free AmericaThere's a White House petition going around to make region locking a thing of the past -- at least in the United States of America. Does such a law have any chance of passing, and can it even be effective if it did? And what would the side-effects be?
Vinnk and Sean discuss the perils and pitfalls of region locking, if it even makes sense any more in an increasingly digital-only medium, and the kinds of odd behaviors it causes in those who actually want to buy games or consoles across regions. We also discuss the (successful) GCW-Zero...
2013-02-0855 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast68: Destructoid Stole My BeerBe careful about bringing your beer to a Destructoid room party! They might claim
they don't know you, and then keep your beer!
Sean tells Vinnk about his time at MAGFest, the fun panels he attended, the cool people he met (and re-met), the awesome videos he watched -- like JewWario's trailer for his new FamiKamen Rider series, and how Sean would go to a Destructoid room party again (even if he has to bring more beer to get in). Discussion about the MSX also re-ignites the debate of what can or can't be considered a game console.
2013-02-0152 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast67: Play as the VillainRarely do games place you in the role of the villain. Either it's too difficult, tongue-in-cheek and therefore not serious, or being a villain is ultimately too unpalatable to pull off except for the briefest moments.
Vinnk and Sean take a look at the games that try to bridge this gap, whether or not they were successful, and just which ones are worth playing -- even if it's juts for laughs. Also, we DIDN'T forget the most obvious example, we just saved the best for last!
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
2012-12-281h 00
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast66: Timed Exclusives"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2012-12-211h 01
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast65: Wii U Be MineFor as long as the Wii has been around, fans and critics alike maligned it for not supporting the HD or hardcore gaming crowd. There's no way it can be a success! Now that the Wii U is out, supporting even HDMI out of the box (a first for consoles), and now it has a hard time supporting older televisions and standard definition. Nintendo is turning its back on classic gaming!
Vinnk and Sean explore why the launch of the Wii U wasn't quite the same as that of its predecessor (also the only console launch of any...
2012-12-071h 24
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast64: LucasArts and CraftsGeorge Lucas recently sold all of LucasFilm to Disnet for $4 billion.
Not only does that mean there will be a new Star Wars movie in 2015, but all of
LucasFilm's ancillary businesses came with the deal: the graphic effects powerhouse Industrial Light and Magic, used by almost every major motion picture studio for photorealistic effects; Skywalker Sound, which does for audio was ILM does for video; and the once-mighty Graphic Adventure game shop LucasArts.
Sean and Vinnk reminisce about their favorite LucasArts games from their childhood -- such as Loom, Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle, the Indiana Jones...
2012-11-0959 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast63: Failed Console TreasuresThere are so many consoles on the market that it's easy to forget that there used to be so many more. Not only have big players like Sega come and gone, but Atari has gotten out of the hardware race, as well as Bandai (now part and parcel of game publisher Namco).
Vinnk and Sean reminisce about their favorite failures, from the Dreamcast to the Lynx, and the Wonderswan to the 64DD.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series...
2012-10-261h 08
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast62: The Next GenerationWith the unveiling of the iPhone 5 and the Wii U within a day of each other, last week was a next-gen extravaganza for two of the biggest juggernauts in their
industry. Oh, and Vinnk had a baby the same day -- the REAL next generation who won't eve know anything less sophisticated!
Sean and Vinnk try to decide which of these devices they'll be getting first (if at all) this fall, and if either one is a big enough change compared to the competition.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This...
2012-09-2145 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast61: Nintendo Power DownNintendo Power is going away, although the Nintendo Power that we knew and loved went away years ago. How can a monthly, paper publication hope to compete in the realm of up-to-the-minute online blogs, weekly podcasts, and videos with talking consoles?
Vinnk and Sean talk about the art of magazine creating, how the medium is dying (especially among video game publications), but mostly just reminisce about all of their good times with Nintendo Power. RIP, Nester!
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the...
2012-09-0741 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast60: This Famicom LifeThis week we have something very different. SeanOrange did not have the time to record a podcast with Vinnk this week, and asled Vinnk to see what we could come up with on short notice.
We hope you like the show and we will be back soon with our normal hosts and format.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2012-08-3124 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast59: Neo Geo XIt costs more than a 3DS XL and just as much as a Wii, contains (at least a few) games available more cheaply on either the eShop or Wii Virtual Console, and comes with a dock that looks like the AES, but doesn't actually play Neo Geo carts. And yet we still want one. Or two.
Sean and Vinnk wonder what the heck is wrong with them that they'd blow their hard-earned cash on such a frivolous item. Is it because it's sexy and iPhone-like? Is it because of nostalgia? Is it because they're stodgy old-timers who are...
2012-08-171h 01
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast58: Now Streaming On Your Yogurt AppIt's hard being a gamer! Or maybe it's just hard being an aging gamer. Why buy new games when there are so many old ones, and so many of them are just SO good? Why add to one's pile of shame when you can just whittle it down instead? Or, even more interesting, how histories intersect and create games you never know existed, like a Super Mario Bros. game designed by HudsonSoft and written for computers older than the Famicom!
This week, Vinnk and Sean are very tired. But it's because they've been working otherwise tirelessly to bring...
2012-08-1046 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast56: Oh Yeah OuyaThe Ouya is making waves in the console world. Not many get a chance to be a part of history and fund a new console that could change the way we look at console gaming. But will it? Can it even make money? And what value is the experience if hackers are encouraged to do what they want?
Vinnk and Sean grapple with these questions, answer listener voicemail, and
talk about the new Famicom Dojo episode The Neo Geo Affair, and the onslaught of videos that are being released every week for the rest of the summer!
2012-07-271h 00
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast55: Video Game VideosDo you watch video game videos to find out which game to play next? Or do you watch the videos so you don't have to play those games? Or, GASP, do you not watch video game videos at all?
Sean and Vinnk answer more listener calls, launch the "Vinnk Was Wrong" segment, and announce their weekly video release schedule for the summer! Get an inside look at the newest episode, and find out why it took so long to make!
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought...
2012-07-2047 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast54: Rent It Now From Your Grocery StoreThings were very different before Game Fly, Netflix, and Red Box. Heck, even before the now-mostly-defunct Blockbuster, the best place to rent video games was from the local grocery store. Do you remember those weird plastic slip cases that VHS tapes would sometimes come in, or the clear plastic shells for NES carts with a badly xeroxed copy of the box cover inside? Of course you do.
Sean and Vinnk wonder if game rental is a good way to distinguish between what
is a video game console and what is just a computer. Or maybe there's no distinction...
2012-07-1346 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast57: Video Game Soul FoodNew games come out every year, and we tend to play them now and again. But there are also those games that you come back to year after year, when
something new and fancy just won't cut it, and you just need a little bit of that video game soul food.
Sean and Vinnk bring up their favorite games which have that exciting spark even years after first playing them. Sometimes those games aren't even all that good, just supremely... comforting. Which games are your
"soul food"?
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones...
2012-07-0646 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast53: It's All About the CheevosIt's nice to feel like you've accomplished something in a game, but rather than bragging about your accomplishments, doesn't comparing achievements instead make you judge your friends for not being as awesome as you are?
Vinnk and Sean reminisce about what they did before achievements and tropies, and if they really enhance the gaming experience -- or just feed into already-present addictive gaming behaviors. Also: our first listener voicemail!
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game...
2012-07-0645 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast52: Extra LargeGranted, it was announced since recording this episode that the 3DS XL is going to have its own circle pad, but that didn't stop us from wondering a couple of things: a) Why it wasn't built into the XL, and b) why it wasn't announced during E3.
Sean and Vinnk grapple with the relevancy of the biggest gaming industry event in the US, and come to the terrifying conclusion that just MAYBE Nintendo might not want third parties to succeed...
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought...
2012-06-2950 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast51: Added ContentAdded Content is not something you find much in video games any more. Long gone are the days of Infocom's "feelies", but great text adventure classics like Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy had some of the most creative in the business.
Vinnk and Sean followup on their "DLC podcast" promise by adding episode content from listener requests! Guest panelist Sindra joins Sean to review the Silent Hill movie, while Vinnk reminisces about the days of hint lines, program books, and peril-sensitive sunglasses.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast...
2012-06-2259 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast50: E3 2012Did Nintendo try to steal the show, only to stumble? Is the Wii U just an expansion for the Wii, with only enough extra horsepower to run the GamePad screen? Did Sony and Microsoft play it too close to the vest, or can we expect something greater from them in 2013?
Sean and Vinnk talk about the ups and downs (sometimes it feels like mostly downs) of E3, Vinnk's game of the show Project P-100, and all of the reasons we tell ourselves that E3 wasn't that great, even thought we just really wanted to be there in person.
2012-06-151h 05
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast49: System FragmentationThe Wii U Pro Controller presents two problems: 1) It's just like the Wii Classic or Wii Classic Pro Controllers: the adoption rate is poor, nothing that works on it NEEDS to work on it, and we totally forget about it. 2) It actually takes off, and threatens one of the core value propositions of the
Wii U. Only Nintendo makes games for it, and 3rd parties just ignore it after a while.
Vinnk and Sean discuss the problem of hardware fragmentation in video game systems, and trot out some well-worn examples as well as more recent ones: the Sega...
2012-06-0859 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast48: Gamer and Developer EntitlementIn the waning years of the 20th century, secret codes were a common feature in games that would unlock secret content or make the challenge a bit less difficult.
But now if you want those extras, you can "unlock" them for just a few dollars! Is that this a terrible shift in developer entitlement, or another example of how gamers feel like they shouldn't have to pay more than a few dollars for a new game?
Sean and Vinnk look at the things that developers do to get more money out of gamers, and what gamers do to...
2012-06-0155 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast47: Developer WorshipWhat companies or individuals make games that you will buy just because their name is on it?
Vinnk and Sean examine the perils and the pitfalls of Developer Worship, and wonder aloud if there's really anything our favorite personalites and companies can do to make us hate them. We list some of our favorites: Harmonix, Square and Enix (before they were one company), BioWare, Shigeru Miyamoto, Hideo Kojima, Grasshopper Manufacture and Suda 51 and more! Which ones are your favorites, and why?
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is...
2012-05-2559 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast46: MatrimonyThe idea and practical applications of marriage barely come up in video games.
Sure, there's not much of a place for it in Angry Birds, and it theoretically might be
the ultimate goal of dating sims. But what about games where you're playing as a character
or interact with NPCs who just ARE married?
Sean and Vinnk (gamers who are, apparently miraculously, each respectively married with children)
explore the reasons why games might actually shy away from the trapping of matrimony, and how the few games that do use it (Fable, The Sims, Alan Wake) want to milk...
2012-05-1852 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast45: Only Mostly DeadInjuries in video games tend to be minor annoyances rather than the game-stopping events they should be. But wouldn't having to heal from actual injuries be a sure way to kill gaming fun?
Vinnk and Sean discuss how injury has been taken out of games with the advent of armor and shielding, and on the other side of the spectrum games that are all about healing. And somewhere in between, there's the worst offender of the blurry line between life, death, and severe crippling injury: RPGs. Also, we give out copious amounts of Phoenix Downs.
"RPG"...
2012-04-2755 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast44: Don't Believe the HypeHype is great... until your game comes out. Quite different from development hell, these are games that come out, but when they do they don't quite live up to the promises made by the marketing department -- and sometimes the developers themselves.
Sean and Vinnk discuss the raft of hate against the Mass Effect 3 ending, the lack of ending for the Shenmue series, Peter Molyneux's retirement from Lionhead Studios, and more. Suffice to say, it's been an interesting year for the hype machine and its consequences.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
2012-04-0656 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast43: Consoles Versus PCCould the console and PC wars have been snuffed out in the early '80s if NES hadn't been released? Or was Nintendo's intervention in the market overblown?
Vinnk and Sean ponder the rift between PC and console gamers, those who do both, and what kinds of games seem to be better suited to one over the other. Are the two devices on a collision course? Or is the idea of a Steam Box or other PC-based "console" nothing more than a fever dream?
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
...
2012-03-231h 01
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast42: Development HellThere's something to be said for a game missing its release to make it more awesome, but after a while there's the law of diminishing returns. Then there's also the trap of trying to make everything SO MUCH MORE awesome than anything else out there, you keep changing things -- even things that have or should be long since settled -- that you enter the inferno known as "development hell" where ideas both good and bad go to eternally torment fans and developers alike.
Sean and Vinnk discuss Duke Nukem, the fate of Silicon Knights and their dedication...
2012-03-0956 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast41: Video Game BabiesKids get a bad rap in video games. Sometimes they're beat up to pull emotional heartstrings, but mostly they're just annoying. Is there a way for kids to be used or portrayed in games that isn't exploitative or make you want to cause yourself bodily harm?
Vinnk and Sean run down the appearances of children in games, from the NES all the way to the upcoming Mass Effect 3, across consoles and the PC. We also run down the history of
unlicensed NES publisher Color Dreams, and what their originally shocking games turned into.
"RPG" theme song...
2012-02-2459 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast40: Romance In Video GamesThere are a lot of couples in video games, but is there romance? Mario and Peach,
Luigi and Daisy, Link and Zelda, The Brooding Loner and the Star-crossed Japanese Flower Girl Who Loves Him, and -- of course -- Samus and the baby Metroid. Do any of these games do romance well, or is it just assumed? And how far is too far with player-to-NPC romance?
Sean and Vinnk wonder if video games can truly ever be your Valentine as they discuss these problems, the likelihood of your characters ever finding true digital love, and the potentially unfortunate...
2012-02-1759 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast39: Games of the MundaneVideo games aren't just about blowing up bad guys, pretending to be a secret agent, or saving galactic civilization from moon-sized cuttlefish. Sometimes they're about everyday, ordinary things, like stock brokering! Or newspaper delivery! Or making dinner!
Vinnk and Sean discuss these more "mundane" titles, and how surprisingly fun they can actually be. Haven't you ever wanted to be a lawyer? Or start your own football league? With the power of video games, this could be you!
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by...
2012-02-1055 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast38: Rampant SpeculationThe Wii U is set to launch by the end of 2012... but is it really? We've been seeing the same
tech demo since E3 2011, but no actual titles running on Wii U hardware. Will Nintendo make
the projected launch date, or is it all smoke and mirrors?
Sean and Vinnk disagree about what this means, encourage Sony to get out of the hardware
market since the PS3 has never gotten above third place in North America, the PS Vita's
launch has been a larger thud than the one for 3DS, and rumors that the Next Xbox from
Microsoft...
2012-02-0345 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast37: HudsonSoft 16-Shot SaluteWhat is the amazing truth behind the Bungeling Empire, Sim City, Bomberman, and Choplifter?
You'll be surprised! No, really! It's pretty surprising! But you'll have to listen to the
podcast to find out. Hint: they're all connected by HudsonSoft, makers of the TurboGrafx-16,
PC Engine, countless awesome 8-bit peripherals, and home of the honeybee
-- may they rest in peace.
Vinnk and Sean reminisce about the company that they thought they knew, but clearly didn't,
and now will miss more than they thought possible.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
...
2012-01-2757 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast36: Played to DeathGaming can be deadly. Oh, we're not preaching about violence in games becoming violence
in real life. More about self-inflicted injury -- like playing Starcraft in an internet
cafe for 36 hours straight until your heart gives out.
Sean and Vinnk discuss their narrow brushes with that big game pad in the sky by way of
a variety of titles mobile, PC, and console.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2012-01-2030 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast35: User-generated ContentDoes allowing gamers to create their own worlds within a game make that game better, or does it just excuse the developers from having to create any content themselves?
Vinnk and Sean discuss their first experiences with user-generated content (on the NES!), the wonders of the Famicom Data Recorder, and which games they thought were helped or hampered by being able to draw dongs on the sides of racecars.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game...
2012-01-1347 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast34: We Can't BreatheIt seems like it's getting harder to play video games all the time: an especially embarrassing realization when you've
gone halfway across the country to attend the tenth annual Music and Gaming Festival aka "MAGFest"
Sean is joined by guest panelists
Justin "JewWario" Carmichael
(@JewWario),
Brenna "Sindra" Wilkes
(@TastesLikeSin),
and Powet.TV founder Zac Shipley
(@ZacShipley)
discuss the potentials and pitfalls of the Wii U, the events of the first day of MAGFest, ruminations on the seeming necessity of the waiver policy in light of ninja refrigerator attacks, and the importance of personal hygiene -- even if in...
2012-01-0654 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast33: Can't Wait for 2012What a year! 2011 brought its share of good games, bad weather (including a tsunami that devastated parts of Japan),
and lots of changes for Famicom Dojo.
Sean and Vinnk discuss what games they're looking forward to in 2012, if the PS Vita is already a failure before
it's even been released in the US, and if the Wii U will be making its appearance before the end of the year.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game...
2011-12-3045 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast32: Why Christmas Games Are TerribleThe Christmas season, in the video game industry, is more about big sales of blockbuster titles, console launches,
and a bit of rubbing-it-in-the-face for people who perennially spell Nintendo's doom. (The 3DS is already outpacing
sales of the DS in its first year.) If you're a kid, subsequently, it means new video game time!
Vinnk and Sean talk about their favorite Christmases, the games they got, their favorite Christmas games (yeah, there
are a few), their most HATED Christmas games (there are even more), and more!
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
2011-12-2357 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast31: Used Games Are Not EvilWith a slow shift to digital-only content, and the inability to share such content like you would lend a book or a disc,
and publishers deliberately devaluing their game content through the use of activation codes and central server
authenticaion, will there ever come a time when used games become a thing of the past?
Sean and Vinnk explore why console games cost so much, why iOS games cost so little, and the ruin that would be
visited upon the gaming industry if no one could lend out their games or buy used ones ever again.
"...
2011-12-1659 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast30: Tales of Same PlotOperation Rainfall is so far one third successful, but the only way we'll be getting Xenoblade Chronicles is through GameStop or the Nintendo online store.
Sean and Vinnk explain their misgivings with GameStop, why they're sure Nintendo expects Xenoblade to fail (or at least doesn't care if it succeeds), and actual precedents that should exonerate Nintendo for being so cautious.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2011-12-0957 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast29: iOS AscendantShould Nintendo be scared? Since the launch of the iPhone -- which encouraged the rise of the Android platform --
smartphone gaming is set to become a majority of the handheld market, eclipsing Nintendo for the first time since
the release of the Game Boy in 1989.
Vinnk and SeanOrange take a look at the data, how the mobile gaming pie is growing, why smartphone gaming has
been so successful, and what (if anything) Nintendo can do about it.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you...
2011-12-0359 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast28: A Touching Tale of TouchscreensIs the Wii U touch controller a naked attempt to try and compete with the iPad, and if so does it stand a chance
to succeed?
Sean and Vinnk go through a brief history of touch panels in consumer devices, from the Apple Newton to the Tiger Game.com,
the Nintendo DS, and -- of course -- Apple's iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2011-11-2559 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast27: How Young is Too Young?Is there a right way to introduce your child to the world of video gaming? It might be a more difficult proposition
for the children of adult gamers, whose boundaries are a bit less clear on the subject, but their non-gamer
spouses (if indeed they are non-gamers) might keep them in check. Maybe.
With Vinnk already a father of a 2 year old daughter, and Sean a father-to-be in 2012, we try to tackle those questions.
How young is too young? How much is too much? What's appropriate, and what's deemed okay? Plus, in an audio bonus exclusive to the...
2011-11-1859 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast26: Chiptunes and Totaka's SongAfter a recent performance of Video Games Live, Sean and Vinnk talk about the merits of bleeps and bloops,
the chiptunes musicians who still love them, hidden music in Nintendo's titles (including one hidden for the last
nine years in the GameCube menu screen), and the more symphonic offerings of the 16-bit age and beyond.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2011-11-1158 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast25: The Fanwank EpisodeSix months on, how is the Famicom Dojo Podcast doing? Vinnk and Sean take some time out to answer listener mail,
reflect on some of their past episodes, and give updates on some of the information that may have gone out of date or had developments since the original episodes were released.
Also, Vinnk got a 3DS.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2011-11-0456 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast24: Hale to the SpectreWomen in gaming have made tremendous strides, both onscreen and off, behind the scenes,
or playing the games. Fans of the Female Shepard in the Mass Effect series: male and
female alike, encouraged BioWare to finally put her in their advertisements and materials
just so that other gamers would know she exists. It's 2011; are women still being
overlooked in gaming?
Sean talks to guest panelists Sindra and Megan about what it's like to be such a minority
in gaming culture, and discuss their favorite heroines from the aforementioned Shepard, to
"Lady Hawke" from Dragon Age 2, Samus in Metroid...
2011-10-2857 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast23: Apples to ApplesThe recent passing of Steve Jobs has left us to reflect on how he and his business ventures
have affected our lives and the rest of the world. For us retro gamers (at least our age), that
means looking back on the Apple ][, Apple //e, and that line of PCs that literally made "computer"
a household name.
Sean and Vinnk recall a time when "Apple" was still synonymous with "gaming" -- before the iPhone,
before the Macintosh, and (in some cases) before Nintendo. Also, a history of Apple's rise to dominance,
Steve Jobs' gig at Atari, and why...
2011-10-2159 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast22: Nostalgia GogglesIt's difficult to admit, but we all wear them. Maybe it's because something made an impression on us at a young age. Maybe it's because we just can't admit flaws in the things that we love. It often takes seeing something through someone else's eyes to finally see the things you refuse to see for yourself.
Vinnk and Sean examine the games and movies of the '80s where they must admit, sometimes painfully, that their nostalgia goggles are firmly in place. Even so, are there specific games (or movies) that are actually immune to the march of...
2011-10-1459 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast21: Get N or Get Out"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2011-10-0759 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast20: Learning Japanese Through GamingJapanese retro games can't help you learn a new language, but if you're a motivate collector you might
find it's a good way to keep your skill sharp if you don't follow Vinnk's recommendations: 1) Move to Japan, 2) Marry a Japanese person, 3) Take (or audit) a Japanese class.
Sean and Vinnk tease their interview on
Zoom In!! Saturday,
and get sidetracked by their time searching Akihabara for some awesome video game deals.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train...
2011-09-3058 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast19: TGS 2011 - 3DS vs PS VitaWhile the 3DS was cleaning up at Tokyo Game Show, Sony announced that the PS Vita would be region-free -- unlike its Nintendo competitor.
The war is heating up! Who will win the holiday season this year?
Will it be enough to turn things around for Sony?
Sean and Vinnk reflect on the final two public days of Tokyo Game Show, if mobile devices and "the cloud" are really the future
of the gaming industry and the current oneupsmanship between Nintendo and Sony is really all for naught.
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http...
2011-09-231h 32
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast18: TGS 2011 - You Might Get a T-shirtInstead of being productive these last few days, all we did was play video games. Well, that’s not entirely (or even slightly) true. Find out all about our first 2 (of 4) days at the Tokyo Game Show.
We will talk about games we played, people me met, sights we saw, and a new life philosophy that will make you a better person (or at least maybe get you a T-Shirt)
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Ga...
2011-09-161h 20
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast17: Rocking Playing Game at TGSVinnk and SeanOrange preview their trip to Tokyo Game Show 2011, reminisce about their previous coverage in 2007,
and discuss what wonderful things can be done with their new theme song!
What are you looking forward to at Tokyo Game Show?
"RPG" theme song by the Imari Tones: http://imaritones.net
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2011-09-0950 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast16: A World Without Mega ManRetro games may be beloved (if not exceedingly difficult), but do their descendants still have a place
in the modern gaming world? When the original creator of a franchise moves on, is it time for the publisher
to move on to something else? What about the fans?
Phil Bond joins Sean and Vinnk this week as we discuss the cancellation of Mega Man Legends 3, and
what nearly 50,000 people are trying to do about it.
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2011-09-0259 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast15: Should Nintendo Go Third Party?In a word, no, but don't worry: we'll totally qualify that position.
Nintendo's financial troubles in 2011, and initially slow sales of the 3DS, followed by its
steep price cut have renewed perennial calls for the company to forego the hardware market
and release its titles on other platforms.
SeanOrange and Vinnk discuss whether or not such a move would be vialbe for Nintendo, and
if the company is leaving a lot of money on the table by not embracing the iOS market.
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series...
2011-08-2759 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast14: Too Much of a Good ThingIn our younger days, we couldn't have all the games we wanted. We had to play what we were given (or could afford),
and we often played those games to death. Now? It's incredibly easy for anyone young or old to buy more games
at bargain-basement prices than they could ever hope to play in a lifetime. How much is too much?
Vinnk and SeanOrange talk about their trip to Chicago Comic Con 2011, taking photos with Felicia Day,
what we expect to see at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show, and more!
This podcast is brought to...
2011-08-1956 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast13: Welcome to DieWhen did video games start using "lives"? More importantly, when and why did they stop? With this changing,
what does it mean to die in a game?
Vinnk and SeanOrange examine the games that pioneered this mechanism, and take a look at when and why
it started changing. Was it with games like Myst, or did adventure-style games always buck this trend?
Has the fall of arcade gaming lead games to be easier, and therefore no longer need "lives"?
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https...
2011-08-1255 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast12: 3DS Price Drop? We Called ItNintendo's steep price cut of the 3DS may have taken some news outlets by surprise last week, but we called it way back during E3. When Sony introduced the PSVita at the same price point as Nintendo's new handheld that was already struggling in sales, we knew a
price cut could not be far behind. It looks like Nintendo agreed!
SeanOrange and Vinnk discuss the 3DS Ambassador program, the wisdom of deciding not to release the GBA Virtual Console games to the general public,
and whether or not these 20 free games will entice us (or anyone) to buy...
2011-08-0545 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast11: Movies About Video GamesIt's one thing to try to translate a video game plot and characters into a movie, but movies that are about
the culture of video gaming, the people who play them, and what it's like to be stuck in one are an altogether
different animal. Many such movies were released in the 1980s, coincidentally around the same time as the video
game crash that threatened to destroy this nascent industry forever.
Vinnk and SeanOrange reminisce about Scott Pilgrim, TRON, The Wizard, The Last Starfigher, Cloak and Dagger,
and War Games: when we saw them, what kind of impact...
2011-07-2955 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast10: Never Played PokemonIt's hard for the average gamer to play absolutely EVERYTHING, even everything that's good. But is that any excuse? Should gamers be shamed for failure to expose themselves to certain kinds of games?
In our first Video Game Confessional, Vinnk and SeanOrange talk about the game franchises we should have played, but didn't. And for good measure, we also discuss a few games we love to death, but have no business liking.
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2011-07-2250 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast9: A History of Console Region LockingRegion locking is nothing new. Though it has taken many different forms, it wasn't always deliberate. Many handhelds were exempt from this scheme (including the Game Boy and DS series), but all things change with time.
SeanOrange and Vinnk discuss the very state of affairs that necessitates the existence of organizations like Operation Rainfall, how they came to be, and where they might go from here.
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2011-07-1552 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast8: Operation RainfallXenoblade, Pandora's Tower, and The Last Story have been released in Japan and Europe, but the US has been passed over. That's where Operation Rainfall comes in: to urge Nintendo of America to release these games that have already been localized for the major languages spoken in North America. At a time when the Wii is suffering a drought of games -- let alone good ones -- don't we deserve better?
SeanOrange and Vinnk interview Chris Ward from Operation Rainfall to discover their goals, headway they've already made through Amazon.com and a reply from Nintendo, and why...
2011-07-0832 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast7: Video Game MoviesCan a movie based on a video game ever be any good?
If their Rotten Tomatoes scores are to be believed, these films are never critical darlings.
Some find fans in niche places, but many are just... you know... BAD.
Vinnk and SeanOrange plumb their memories of video game movies to find out if either of them
belong to the "so-SO-bad-but-I-still-love-it-even-though-geez-it-sucks" club!
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2011-07-0138 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast6: Bleak Games of the Cold WarDid the Cold War make early video games unintentionally bleak? Or was the "kobiyashi maru" style of gaming in the 1970s and '80s more a function of limited memory space and the need for arcade machines to get kids to keep pumping in the quarters?
Vinnk and SeanOrange chew over these questions, and how the era of home consoles allowed an escape from this repetitive experience,
allowing games to finally, sometimes mercifully, end.
Also in this episode: Rebel in Japan "Poop is Funny", and the premiere of the first audio version of Famicom Denshimail!
2011-06-2434 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast5: Dreamcast Final DaysIf Sega were still making consoles today, what would they have brought to E3?
When we last left off, SeanOrange had quasi-seriously prophesied that the Wii U might be the next generation's Dreamcast. With rumors of a new Microsoft console being announced by E3 2012, will those fears come to pass? And would that be such a terible thing?
Vinnk and Sean reminisce about the final days of the Sega Dreamcast, and what a current-day Sega system might be like.
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game...
2011-06-1723 min
Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast4: Ooh! Wii UThe Wii HD rumors are true! (For once...)
At this year's E3, Nintendo announced its next console: Wii U.
The system's major innovation is its new controller with a touch screen that can be used
to stream video content, but will it be enough? Should Nintendo be worried about connectivity
between the PS3 and PSVita stealing their thunder a year before they even launch Wii U?
Vinnk and SeanOrange tackle these questions, and clear up rumors about the Wii U's functionality.
This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video...
2011-06-1052 min
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy POWETcastFamicom Dojo Podcast IntroSeanOrange and Vinnk introduce the new, weekly audio netcast from Famicom Dojo!
Subscribe on iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/famicom-dojo-podcast/id282442598
Or get the direct feed here:
http://feeds.thatsorange.com/famicomdojo-netcast
Use Promo Code NOSHAME to get a discount on the Famicom Dojo Season 1 DVD:
http://famicomdojo.tv/store/fdojos1.php
2011-05-1705 min