39. Optimization and Player Choice

Pixel Noise

We kick things off with more Nintendo belly-aching, including Pokémon Snap, Pokémon GO, Ring Fit follow up, the new Nintendo Direct, and Tony wishing Nintendo had a game pass. A fascinating view on the purpose of Kirby in Nintendo’s lineup is proposed, and the interesting bits of Super Mario 3D are extolled. In the second half, we veer off into Alex’s motivations when playing games and Dan and Alex’s experiences beating Hades. Finally, things get a little spicy as we discuss the relative merits of player choice and optimization in games through the lens of save mechanics and more.

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Pokemon Snap 0:00:00

- New Pokémon Snap, Switch Trailer

- Bioshock

- Breath of the Wild

Pokemon Go 0:05:09

- Ingress

- Among Us

Dan’s Ring Fit Adventure 0:18:08

The Value Proposition of Nintendo 0:23:07

- Nintendo Direct 2/17/2021

- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Switch Bundle

- Nintendo Top Selling Title Sales Units

- Uncharted 4 Playstation 4 Bundle

- Wii Sports

- 1-2 Switch

Kirby 64 The Crystal Shards 0:33:37

- Classic Kirby Games

- The Kirby Series

Super Mario 3D + Bowser’s Fury 0:45:50

- Bowser’s Fury

Alex’s Motivation in Gaming 0:53:53

- Overwatch

- Celeste

Dan finished Hades 0:56:11

Saving, Optimization, and Player Choice 1:12:28

- Skyrim

- Slay the Spire

- The Last of Us

- Half-Life

- Dark Souls

- Baldur’s Gate II: Dark Alliance