Part of this long episode was recorded live from the LA Convention Center floor at E3 2015, where Jonah and Paul were fresh off waiting in line for Disney amibos. There were some news items covered there, while a few more news items were recorded here.
Rather than list all of the news items, we’ll just relay the Question of the Week: “If Nintendo isn’t revealing a new console, should they skip E3 altogether in 2016?”
All this and listener feedback, too.
Nintendo has announced that the Wii will receive a price drop from $199.99 to $149.99, in effect on May 15, while a new Wii bundle for $199.99 will feature a colored Wii, Mario Kart Wii and a Wii Wheel accessory of matching color.
Nintendo is also launching its own version of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 bestselling line with its “Select” value line retailing at $19.99 each. The first games to be released under the budget line includes The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Animal Crossing: City Folk, and Mario Super Sluggers.
This weeks gaming podcast covers a bunch of crazy content, we’re putting out the question, are collectors editions games going a bit too far? Also, a look back at UniRacers, before Rockstar North was known as Rockstar and history on the gameboy and its portable madness.
In the news:
Of course, we’re always looking for more user comments and questions. If you’ve got a few minutes rate us in iTunes and digg the podcast. Last week to enter into the Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords give away.
It’s amazing to think we’re in our third year of “next generation” console bliss. Three years have passed since the first Xbox 360 shipped, for good or bad, and it’s time to start thinking about the future.
Or is it?
Bobbie Bach, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices president, seems to believe this generation of consoles will expand out further than the typical four-year release cycle. Perhaps because the console developers have invested so much money in defeating each other in the market and making their console “number one” in the eyes of their investors.
Bach does not believe we’re cresting on the current generation, that is for certain, and we’ve yet to hear any hype over a new next-generation console from Microsoft. They were the first to market so, theoretically, they should be the first in the next-generation as well, right?
Their move to be number one was really a strategic attack which has paid out well, leading them above the past domination of Sony and Nintendo before it. However, they are holding strong with the Xbox 360 and there might be cause to sit tight and let this generation playout before bringing in another piece of hardware.
Bach stated that he believes consoles today are competing at different levels than ten years ago. There isn’t one clear winner, there isn’t one dominating console. There will be victors in different areas of the industry; casual consoles, top game sellers, best graphics and others. It’s not about sheer “units sold” it’s more about being profitable and building a community around your hardware, see Xbox Live as a great example.
Next generation will be full of fantastic new features, ways to connect and crazy hardware specifications, no doubt, but… for many of us, it will take years before we forget the pain and suffering we paid shipping our dead Xbox 360’s back to Microsoft for repairs. Would you be willing to buy into their next generation as their first customer?
(Thanks, 1up)
Paul should stay because he loves Amibos and there’s nothing like collecting them. Can’t wait for Disney Infinity 3.0 and please, please, please stay, Paul. We need you!
Great long episode with many topics to respond to!
@Gamergate at E3: I agree with Paul women have been in gaming since their was video games. I’ve grown up with Rosella of Daventry, Laura Bow (From Dagger of Amon Ra and Colonel’s Bequest), Final Fantasy 6’s Terra and Celese, Crono Trigger’s Luca, Ayla and Nadia/Marle, Jill of the Jungle, Chell from Portal, etc. The list of characters goes on and there are many of those available online, not to mention all the games that allow you to choose your gender. So really there shouldn’t be any of this “worry” or “hesitation” when games with female leads do fine.
Also in Fallout 3 you can play female, here’s my daughter’s character Stella:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=469288564
I made an error on last episodes comments I meant that Fallout4’s Boston will be 2x the size of Skyrim and was commenting on Jonah’s feeling burned out on huge Open world games.
While still on the topic of Fallout Paul I’m sorry if you feel snubbed but you made your disdain of the series pretty clear, I didn’t think you would be interested at all.
I’ve never liked this mentality and have rebelled against the idea that hardware should be replaced after 2 years. I know my Nes and Super Nes lasted MUCH longer than 2 years.
@QotW: I think Nintendo should represent it’s self, I would still want to know what games they are working on for current hardware.
Great and entertaining episode guys!
This is the first time I’ve written in, and I just have to ask this of Paul: which are you more into, Disney or My Little Pony?