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
46: Matrimony
May 18, 2012 06:00 - 24.4 MBThe 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 h...
45: Only Mostly Dead
April 27, 2012 12:00 - 25.3 MBInjuries 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. Al...
44: Don't Believe the Hype
April 06, 2012 12:00 - 26.3 MBHype 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 a...
43: Console Versus PC
March 23, 2012 06:00Could 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? Check out ways to fix the Mass Effect 3 face i...
43: Consoles Versus PC
March 23, 2012 05:00 - 28.2 MBCould 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://imari...
42: Development Hell
March 09, 2012 13:00 - 26.4 MBThere'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 ...
41: Video Game Babies
February 24, 2012 13:00 - 27.6 MBKids 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 orig...
40: Romance In Video Games
February 17, 2012 15:00 - 27.6 MBThere 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...
40: Romance in Video Games
February 17, 2012 15:00There 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 e...
39: Games of the Mundane
February 10, 2012 15:00 - 25.2 MBVideo 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" the...
38: Rampant Speculation
February 03, 2012 14:00 - 20.9 MBThe 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 ...
37: HudsonSoft 16-Shot Salute
January 27, 2012 07:00 - 26.5 MBWhat 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 ...
36: Played to Death
January 20, 2012 13:00 - 22.5 MBGaming 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. T...
35: User-generated Content
January 13, 2012 16:00 - 21.8 MBDoes 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...
34: We Can't Breathe
January 06, 2012 16:00 - 25.5 MBIt 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 ...
33: Can't Wait for 2012
December 30, 2011 22:00 - 21.4 MBWhat 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 Vi...
32: Why Christmas Games Are Terrible
December 23, 2011 13:00 - 26.7 MBThe 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 ...
31: Used Games Are Not Evil
December 16, 2011 08:00 - 27.7 MBWith 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 th...
30: Tales of Same Plot
December 09, 2011 07:00 - 26.8 MBOperation 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 V...
29: iOS Ascendant
December 03, 2011 04:00 - 27.4 MBShould 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://ima...
28: A Touching Tale of Touchscreens
November 25, 2011 15:00 - 27.7 MBIs 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/fam...
27: PapaCast - How Young is Too Young?
November 18, 2011 07:00Is 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'...
27: How Young is Too Young?
November 18, 2011 07:00 - 27.7 MBIs 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...
26: Chiptunes and Totaka's Song
November 11, 2011 13:00 - 27.1 MBAfter 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/fam...
25: The Fanwank Episode
November 04, 2011 06:00 - 26.1 MBSix 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.
24: Hale to the Spectre
October 28, 2011 06:00 - 26.8 MBWomen 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 th...
23: Apples to Apples
October 21, 2011 16:00 - 27.5 MBThe 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 r...
22: Nostalgia Goggles
October 14, 2011 13:00 - 27.7 MBIt'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...
21: Get N or Get Out
October 07, 2011 12:00 - 27.4 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.
20: Learning Japanese Through Gaming
September 30, 2011 11:00 - 26.8 MBJapanese 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 ...
19: TGS 2011 - 3DS vs PS Vita
September 23, 2011 04:00 - 42.8 MBWhile 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"...
18: TGS 2011 - You Might Get a T-shirt
September 16, 2011 15:00 - 37.3 MBInstead 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. T...
17: Rocking Playing Game at TGS
September 09, 2011 06:00 - 23.2 MBVinnk 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.
16: A World Without Mega Man
September 02, 2011 04:00 - 27.5 MBRetro 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...
15: Should Nintendo Go Third Party?
August 27, 2011 03:00 - 27.7 MBIn 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 br...
14: Too Much of a Good Thing
August 19, 2011 14:00 - 26.2 MBIn 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...
13: Welcome to Die
August 12, 2011 05:00 - 25.4 MBWhen 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 Doj...
12: 3DS Price Drop? We Called It
August 05, 2011 12:00 - 21.1 MBNintendo'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 no...
11: Movies About Video Games
July 29, 2011 04:00 - 26 MBIt'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, ...
10: Never Played Pokemon
July 22, 2011 04:00 - 23 MBIt'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 ...
9: A History of Console Region Locking
July 15, 2011 06:00 - 24.2 MBRegion 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...
8: Operation Rainfall
July 08, 2011 06:00 - 14.9 MBXenoblade, 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, hea...
7: Video Game Movies
July 01, 2011 05:00 - 18.1 MBCan 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/f...
6: Bleak Games of the Cold War
June 24, 2011 09:00 - 16 MBDid 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...
5: Dreamcast Final Days
June 17, 2011 04:00 - 10.9 MBIf 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 th...
4: Ooh! Wii U
June 10, 2011 08:00 - 24.2 MBThe 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 b...
3: Retro HD Gaming
June 03, 2011 05:00 - 13.3 MBHow good do retro games look on your HDTV set? SeanOrange and Vinnk talk about the perils of interfacing 8-bit systems with current technology, how to cope with some of the technical challenges, and what alternatives exist for the modern gamer interested in the title of the previous millennium. This podcast is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo Video Series. Train Your Game at https://youtube.com/famicomdojo.
2: OUTATIME
May 27, 2011 05:00 - 12.2 MBDespite an infamous history of poor titles to overcome, TellTale Games has pulled Back to the Future out of the movie tie-in gaming doldrums to create a worthy addition to the mythos. SeanOrange and Vinnk talk about their experiences with all of the episodes released so far. At least, as many as they've been able to play. Thanks to the PSN Store being down most of May, not many have been able to play Episode 4 yet (which is no excuse for Sean, since he bought his copy on PC). Just in tim...
1: The DLC Apocalypse
May 20, 2011 05:00 - 12 MBSean's bad experience trying to reauthorize downloadable content for his new Xbox 360 turns into a horrifying realization that games modern downloadable games will not leave behind any artifacts for future generations. Is retro game collecting in trouble? Assuming we all survive the more literal apocalypse on 5/21/2011, that is... Vinnk and SeanOrange discuss the pros and cons of this brave new service-based world for this premiere episode of the Famicom Dojo audio podcast. NOTE: We reco...
Famicom Dojo Podcast Intro (2011)
May 17, 2011 07:00SeanOrange and Vinnk introduce the new, weekly audio netcast from Famicom Dojo! This episode is brought to you by the Famicom Dojo web series. Get Season 1 on DVD today: https://famicomdojo.tv/store/fdojos1.php