Friend Code - Episode 11

Hi Allies, I just discovered your programming during this past E3, and I’m already a big fan. I get a special kick out of the Player’s Pulse section of Friend Code because I worked at Nintendo Power for 10 years—first as a writer, and eventually as Editor in Chief, until the magazine ceased publication in 2012. In fact, I’m the “NOA Steve” that was mentioned in one of the letters you read last episode. I also edited the Player’s Pulse section for a few years, choosing the letters and writing the responses. Anyway, keep up the good work. Your passion, enthusiasm, and sincerity is a breath of fresh air in today’s overly cynical games media. And the team’s chemistry is just so much fun to watch, reminding me of the good times I had with the NP crew. I’ll wrap up with a question. Which obscure Nintendo franchise would you like to see make a return? I’d have to go with Drill Dozer, one of the GBA’s hidden gems. L&R, Steve

Wow my suggestion for the name got used feelsgoodman

Love the episode again! I don't know if other people were confused by it (not me I have to say), but I can imagine that other people who know Nintendo or games less well can be confused by the fact that there is a Nintendo Switch console 'showing' games that aren't on the system (i.e. using the Switch graphic to show games that you're talking about). If no one thinks that's confusing then what the heck, keep the graphic. I like it, but I was just thinking of 'the greater public' or something along those lines.

Backlog Crusader

Appreciate the extra work you put in Damiani! the scans and extra video overlays add a ton to friend code. Love friend code. Unrelated - maybe easy allies could sell some fresh merch at the end of streams and videos as well. i know you have merch already but hey add a couple new shirts and please sell them to the community. Its a great way to support content creators.

Daffy DD has to be the funniest pronunciation of my name ever! Thanks for choosing my question guys! Love you all! Ps. Was very glad Huber was there for that question! L&R, Daf Gape (pronounced Dav)

Dafydd Gape

Thanks for the question shout out Damiani! Was great to hear the panel's thought on the topic. Keep up the great work!

Stephen Sosa

I can sort of understand the feeling that Wind Waker HD looks worse than the original because of the enhanced lighting, but for me, the original has always been unplayable for two graphical reasons - the emphasis on primary colours (say what you want about people who call it this, but the original WW's colour palette simply SCREAMS "kiddy"), and Link's proportions, which I always described as a grapefruit on a stick with pegs for feet. Both of these (for me) drawbacks were fixed in HD. The new textures/lighting are more nuanced, and don't look as out of place compared to OOT/MM anymore. And I don't know if the actual model was changed or just the textures/lighting, but Link looks like a proper character now. More streamlined, more subtle facial features, more flowing/less robotic animations. I was so glad they removed all the "icky" parts of the visuals. It's not one of my favorite Zeldas (it's WAY too easy), but HD at least made it worthy of inclusion within the Zelda pantheon.

TurboChickenMan

Patrons Pulse is a great name for the user submitted questions segment, it gets my vote.

What a goofy show! I love this episode xD

Mac

Wind Waker HD is one the best remakes ever! Soooo looking forward for a Skyward sword remake!!!

Mugen Himura

I really like the extra effort that was put into this episode with the trailers running on the switch screen and the scan of the Nintendo Power magazine, very well done.

AH! They read the letter I wrote in about Wind Waker! I was probably 13 then. Still got my copy of that volume, and I remember my parents being so proud that I was a "writer" hah!

Hm, Huber really should realize that what he likes, or what the general media hype up is not necessarily the same as what is big commercially. The fact is that commercially Zelda really isn't all that big for Nintendo, Mario Kart, Smash Bros., Animal Crossing mainline games, and Pokemon are way bigger. Some of these are also bigger than 3D Mario games.

Correction Brad.... not everyone with a Switch wants Animal Crossing :P Sorry. :(

Mitchell Collier

how come so many indie games: golf story, axiom verge and more can use sprite art for their games and clearly have a small budget but get full length games out of it? it doesn't make sense to me for it to be a budget issue.

sam

The extra production time was well worth it. Thnx Damiani

Mike & Brad... (THE HYPE TRAIN)

Mitchell Collier

Hey Brad, Twilight Princess isn't a mainline Zelda game, because it's more about Midna than Zelda, Link is a wolf, and spoilers Ganon doesn't show up until the very end ;) See how easy it is to arbitrarily discredit games from being part of a main series? It's strange you consider Galaxy mainline but not 3D World, even after Nintendo has out and said 64/Sunshine/Odyssey are one design and Galaxy/Galaxy 2/3D Land/3D World are another.

MBUN

Good on you Damiani for being straight with the Patreon pitch. Truth be told it always kind of irks me on a show or stream, not specifically Friend Code but all of them, when you guys goof off when trying to convince people to actually give you money.

Olf Himself

The Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD remakes were the best remakes I ever played. They changed a lot of little things.

Bart Spits

Huber and Brad? It doesn't get more hyped than that dynamic duo! :)

jif52