Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast
251 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 49 ratingsSean and Vinnk take to their microphones about the latest video game news, review Future Retro titles, and lament their growing Pile of Shame. Produced by That's Orange, LLC. Updated Fridays.
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Episodes
94: Sequelitis
May 09, 2014 06:00 - 25.2 MBNES 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...
93: Crossovers and Cameos
May 02, 2014 06:00 - 30 MBRecent 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...
92: The (PlayStation) Death of Consoles
April 15, 2014 06:00 - 31.6 MBWhile 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,...
91: Needs More Polys
April 08, 2014 06:05 - 27.6 MBWe'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?...
90: Your Friend's House
April 01, 2014 06:00 - 35.1 MBWe 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 e...
Vinnk to the Past: Vinnk Gets Pwned By a Car
March 28, 2014 13:00While we smooth out some technical difficulties with our next episode, we thought we'd share another audio bonus that will soon become extremely relevant to listeners of this show. Episode 90 should be available early next week. In the mean time, enjoy Vinnk getting hit by a car. I mean, enjoy the story of it. I mean... just... (This story was originally released on the 4 Color Rebellion Podcast under Vinnk's "Rebel in Japan" segment, and subsequently became an audio bonus for Episode 41...
Vinnk to the Past: Vinnk Gets Pwend By a Car
March 28, 2014 13:00While we smooth out some technical difficulties with our next episode, we thought we'd share another audio bonus that will soon become extremely relevant to listeners of this show. Episode 90 should be available early next week. In the mean time, enjoy Vinnk getting hit by a car. I mean, enjoy the story of it. I mean... just... (This story was originally released on the 4 Color Rebellion Podcast under Vinnk's "Rebel in Japan" segment, and subsequently became an audio bonus for Episode 41...
89: Audio Bonus
March 14, 2014 06:00 - 16.6 MBSometimes 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 ...
87: Every Game is Terrible (Except the One You Like)
February 28, 2014 07:00 - 23.8 MBIn 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...
86: Rad Sports Games
February 21, 2014 07:00 - 22.3 MBBefore 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 an...
85: Remakes vs. Reboots
February 14, 2014 07:00 - 21.7 MBSometimes 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 rebo...
84: Free 2 Play
February 07, 2014 07:00 - 23.8 MBPhil 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...
Justin Carmical
January 28, 2014 03:00No podcast this week. It doesn't feel right. We don't know that this feels right either, but it helped us, so we hope it helps you too. The world is a worse place without him. His last video, with Jonathan Mann: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRKyCnC6nlw And an earnest message to anyone who had the same thoughts that he did: You are not stupid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tN60yFjO-g We can't say anymore than we've already said. We miss you, Justin. And we love you.
83: Broken Age of Adventure Gaming
January 24, 2014 07:00 - 21.1 MBSpearheading 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 generat...
82: Game of the Year of Luigi
January 17, 2014 07:00 - 19 MBIt 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:/...
81: NES Remix
January 10, 2014 07:00 - 19.5 MBWith 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...
80: Kickstarter Retro
September 13, 2013 06:00 - 35.4 MBEver 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. Vi...
79: Wii U vs. 3DS
September 06, 2013 06:00 - 43.4 MBVinnk 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 ...
78: The Secret Origin of Famicom Dojo
July 19, 2013 06:00 - 28.7 MBDid 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 ...
77: To E3 or Not to E3 (2013)
June 28, 2013 06:00 - 44.9 MBE3 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 fin...
76: Digital Apocalypse Now
June 07, 2013 06:00 - 37.7 MBWhen 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 ...
75: Xbox One
May 31, 2013 06:00 - 36.9 MBLast 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 Req...
74: An Unprecedented Partnership
May 24, 2013 06:00 - 39.4 MBEA 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...
73: The Next Xbox
May 03, 2013 06:00 - 36.4 MBThe 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...
72: It's About Time
March 29, 2013 06:00 - 35.3 MBEven 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! Vi...
71: PlayStation Death
March 15, 2013 06:00 - 32.5 MBOne 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 ...
70: Zombi Wii U
February 22, 2013 07:00 - 42.3 MBRayman 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*Wi...
69: Region Free America
February 08, 2013 07:00 - 25.4 MBThere'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 regio...
68: Destructoid Stole My Beer
February 01, 2013 07:00 - 24.3 MBBe 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 ...
67: Play as the Villain
December 28, 2012 07:05 - 27.8 MBRarely 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...
66: Timed Exclusives
December 21, 2012 07:00 - 28.2 MB"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.
65: Wii U Be Mine
December 07, 2012 07:00 - 39 MBFor 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 onl...
64: LucasArts and Crafts
November 09, 2012 07:00 - 27.2 MBGeorge 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 th...
63: Failed Console Treasures
October 26, 2012 06:00 - 31.5 MBThere 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 Do...
62: The Next Generation
September 21, 2012 06:00 - 21.2 MBWith 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: ht...
61: Nintendo Power Down
September 07, 2012 06:00 - 19 MBNintendo 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 ...
60: This Famicom Life
August 31, 2012 06:00 - 11.4 MBThis 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.
59: Neo Geo X
August 17, 2012 06:00 - 28 MBIt 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 stod...
58: Now Streaming On Your Yogurt App
August 10, 2012 06:00 - 21.5 MBIt'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...
56: Oh Yeah Ouya
July 27, 2012 06:00 - 28 MBThe 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...
55: Video Game Videos
July 20, 2012 06:00 - 21.9 MBDo 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 ...
54: Rent It Now From Your Grocery Store
July 13, 2012 06:00 - 21.6 MBThings 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 an...
57: Video Game Soul Food
July 06, 2012 06:00 - 21.5 MBNew 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 son...
53: It's All About the Cheevos
July 06, 2012 06:00 - 21 MBIt'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://...
52: Extra Large
June 29, 2012 06:00 - 23.1 MBGranted, 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://imaritone...
51: Added Content
June 22, 2012 05:00 - 27.8 MBAdded 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 ...
50: E3 2012
June 15, 2012 14:00 - 30.3 MBDid 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 wan...
49: System Fragmentation
June 08, 2012 14:00 - 27.7 MBThe 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...
48: Gamer and Developer Entitlement
June 01, 2012 06:00 - 25.7 MBIn 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, ...
47: Developer Worship
May 25, 2012 06:00 - 27.2 MBWhat 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? ...