Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and More – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Threads: @kirbyconversations

Bridget

Threads: @no1kirbyfan

Sean Douglass

Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

Gigi: Carrd link

Our show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).

Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Interview with Gigi, the Prolific Kirby Translator and Editor-in-Chief of WiKirby

Épisode 20

mercredi 28 août 2024 • Durée 51:52

If you've ever read an English translation of a Kirby article or developer interview that was originally published in Japanese, chances are you've encountered the work of Gigi. We've cited her work several times on this podcast in the past and also refer frequently to WiKirby, the massive Kirby wiki for which she serves as editor-in-chief. So it's an honor to have her join us on this episode for a wide-ranging interview, where we cover topics like how she become such a prolific Kirby translator, the most surprising Kirby facts she's ever unearthed in Japan-only content, and what Kirby culture is like in Brazil, her home country. We learned so much in just an hour with her, and chances are you'll walk away from this episode having learned about more than a few pieces of Kirby content, from novels to board games, that you never even knew existed.

We encourage listeners to give Gigi a follow on Bluesky at @gigi9714.bsky.social you can follow this Carrd link to her many projects and communities.

Got a question or comment for the show? You can reach us at mail@kirbyconversations.com, and we may share your letter on a future episode.

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd be so grateful if you could leave us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app.

Kirby Conversations

Threads: @kirbyconversations

Bridget

Threads: @no1kirbyfan

Sean Douglass

Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/). Our show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).

Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would Masahiro Sakurai Ever Make Another Kirby Game?

Épisode 12

mercredi 3 juillet 2024 • Durée 01:07:33

Delivery Waddle Dee has just dropped off a fresh stack of listener mail, so for this episode we're responding to your comments and questions. We cover a range of topics, from Kirby's 3D future to whether Masahiro Sakurai, Kirby's creator, would ever return to direct a new game for the series. (Apparently this could be a slightly controversial topic, so for what it's worth Kirby Conversations is a big fan of both Sakurai's games and Shinya Kumazaki's current work on the series, so this isn't meant as a comparison between the two. It's just a fun thought experiment.) Then for Act 2, we discuss the games we're looking forward to playing this summer, from Animal Well to Tekken 8 and more.

If you'd like a monthly bonus episode, along with merchandise, shout-outs, and more, we hope you'll check out our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/KirbyConversations. We really appreciate your support, and we offer a free trial, so you can start listening to a long library of bonus audio today at no cost to you.

Thank you to SuperNindado, Krysta Yang, and Kit Ellis, who submitted questions for this episode. For some of our favorite expert commentary on the gaming landscape from former Nintendo employees, be sure to check out Kit and Krysta's YouTube channel and other links at https://www.youtube.com/@kitandkrysta.

Kirby Conversations

Threads: @kirbyconversations

Bridget

Threads: @no1kirbyfan

Sean Douglass

Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).

Our show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Scenes of Nintendo's Merchandise Photography

Épisode 11

mardi 18 juin 2024 • Durée 53:22

So Nintendo's hired you for a merchandise shoot and they've sent you a big plush Kirby. Now what? In this episode, Ky takes us inside her work as a photographer for Nintendo, going behind the scenes of some of our favorite photos involving Kirby, Zelda, and more. Then for Act 2, we're playing a game where we imagine new photo assignments for Ky by combining random themes, moods, and game series, with absurd and hilarious results.

For Act 3, found only on Patreon, we're going inside more photoshoots with Ky, this time focusing on what happens when multiple companies get involved. Check out our Patreon for other rewards too, including access to our Community Chats and physical prints of Ky's photos. https://www.patreon.com/KirbyConversations

Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com. We're particularly interested in any questions you might have for future Q&A segments on the show.

Kirby Conversations

Threads: @kirbyconversations

Bridget

Threads: @no1kirbyfan

Sean Douglass

Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).

Our show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2001, People Waited 90 Minutes to Play This Canceled Kirby Game

Épisode 10

mercredi 5 juin 2024 • Durée 01:01:29

At Space World 2001, Shigeru Miyamoto presented a showcase for Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble 2, a cutting-edge Kirby title that demonstrated the power of the upcoming GameCube and its connectivity with the Game Boy Advance. Crowds flocked to the play the game at the convention, press covered it widely alongside other key GameCube fixtures like Luigi's Mansion or Super Smash Bros. Melee, and then it...never got released. What happened to the mysterious Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble 2? That's the main subject for our episode today, as Sean and Bridget dig into the history of this canceled game and reflect on the GameCube Kirby that might have been. Then for Act 2, we've brought some questions for each other, with a Q&A segment on the games that brought us emotional experiences, our favorite "bad" games, and more.

For Act 3, found only on Patreon, we're looking back at the other announcements from Space World 2001 through the lens of Nintendo Power issue 149, among other sources. It was a time of peak GameCube anticipation, Wind Waker controversies, and...Donkey Kong Racing? Watch for our Act 3 segments to regularly post a few days after the initial episode. Check out our Patreon for other rewards too, including tickets to our monthly livestreams and physical prints of Captain Dangerous's photos. https://www.patreon.com/KirbyConversations

Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com. We're particularly interested in any questions you might have for future Q&A segments on the show.

Lastly, congratulations to Luis Beltran-Valera, winner of our $500 Nintendo Switch shopping spree giveaway! Thank you to all who entered, and we hope you enjoy your games Luis!

Kirby Conversations

Threads: @kirbyconversations

Bridget

Threads: @no1kirbyfan

Sean Douglass

Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).

Our show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tumbler Account: Our Thoughts on Playing Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble in 2024

Épisode 9

mercredi 22 mai 2024 • Durée 01:07:00

Today we're looking back at Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, a groundbreaking game that was the first handheld console software to include an accelerometer. While moving Kirby by tilting the Game Boy Color was novel at the time, we consider how it holds up in 2024 and which of the many methods to play it today works best. (If you're a speedrunner, that might even be the GameCube?!) As usual, we also cover history and trivia for the game, and Ky shares her unique childhood strategy for keeping the non-backlit Game Boy Color screen illuminated. For Act 2, we explore the gaming landscape Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble was released into by looking back at issue 143 (April 2001) of Nintendo Power. (You can follow along here: https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-143-april-2001_202307/mode/2up?view=theater.)

For Act 3, found only on Patreon, we're discussing more trivia for Kirby's Dream Land 2 (including one risqué reference the map designers must've slipped passed Iwata and Miyamoto) and talking about our other favorite games with motion controls, from deep cuts to popular entries that helped define many aspects of motion controls today. Watch for our Act 3 segments to regularly post a few days after the initial episode. https://www.patreon.com/KirbyConversations

Want to support the show and potentially win a huge collection of new Switch games? Kirby Conversations is giving away a $500 Nintendo Switch Shopping Spree to one lucky listener! See all the ways to enter here: https://gleam.io/HFrXY/win-a-500-nintendo-switch-shopping-spree.

For a speedrun of Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble using the GameCube, you can watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4ItUH9Tcto.

Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com. We're particularly interested in any questions you might have for future Q&A segments on the show.

Kirby Conversations

Threads: @kirbyconversations

Bridget

Threads: @no1kirbyfan

Sean Douglass

Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).

Our show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Be Kine, Rewind: A Look Back at Kirby's Dream Land 2

Épisode 8

mercredi 8 mai 2024 • Durée 01:05:11

In this episode of Kirby Conversations, we're getting nostalgic with Kirby's Dream Land 2—or at least Sean and Bridget are, as Ky's playing this one for the first time. We consider how well this nearly 30-year-old title holds up today, from its introduction of Kirby's animal friends Rick, Kine, and Coo to its satisfying (and challenging) puzzle design. KDL2 was also a game designed for the Super Game Boy, a 1994 peripheral that used the Super Nintendo to bring Game Boy games to your TV with enhanced visuals, sound, and other features. So for Act 2 we look at the history of that device and discuss our other favorite experiences with peripherals that attach to games and consoles, including Ky's promotional work for Nintendo on Nintendo Labo.

For Act 3, found only on Patreon, we're staying with the retro theme of this episode to ask, "What is retro?" We also consider how you can enjoy retro games without spending a fortune, and Sean shares a recent favorite video game experience fighting a cow.

Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com. We're particularly interested in any questions you might have for future Q&A segments on the show.

Kirby Conversations

Threads: @kirbyconversations

Bridget

Threads: @no1kirbyfan

Sean Douglass

Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).

Our show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Button Masher Turned His Love of Kirby Into a Grammy

Épisode 7

mercredi 24 avril 2024 • Durée 46:56

In 2022, Jake "Button Masher" Silverman and Charlie Rosen won the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella. Their song was a new arrangement, performed by Button Masher and Rosen's 8-Bit Big Bang, of "Meta Knight's Revenge" from Kirby Super Star. In our episode today, Button Masher joins us to reflect on how this update of a classic Kirby song—the only Grammy-winning video game cover ever—came together, his experiences at the Grammys, and the technical brilliance of composer Jun Ishikawa's work. Then for Act 2, we discuss Button Masher's work on Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, a new game inspired by the classic Zelda CD-i titles, and his plans for exciting new live shows that blend music with ROM hacks.

For our Patreon-only 3rd Act posting later this week, join us for an additional segment where Jake discusses his childhood and early musical experiences and Ky shares her father's unique background playing with Guns N' Roses before they were Guns N' Roses (like, for real—it's a wild story): www.patreon.com/KirbyConversations.

Follow Button Masher's work on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@_buttonmasher or on Instagram. Hear the Grammy-winning arrangement of "Meta Knight's Revenge" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIP3HdFl-JM

Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com. We're particularly interested in any questions you might have for future Q&A segments on the show.

Lastly, Kirby Conversations is giving away a $500 Nintendo Switch Shopping Spree to one lucky listener! See all the ways to enter here: https://gleam.io/HFrXY/win-a-500-nintendo-switch-shopping-spree

Kirby Conversations

Threads: @kirbyconversations

Bridget

Threads: @no1kirbyfan

Sean Douglass

Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).

Our show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are Kirby Games Too Easy?

Épisode 6

mercredi 10 avril 2024 • Durée 01:04:36

The Kirby series often strives to be accessible for children and newcomers to video games. But are they too easy for everyone else? In this episode, Sean and Bridget discuss this classic question of Kirby difficulty and consider the intentional layers and inclusivity that Masahiro Sakurai and Shinya Kumazaki bring to the games they design. Then for Act 2, it's time for a funny and insightful reflection on difficulty in a different light with our new game Retirement Party, where Bridget has to guess which game each round had the higher retirement rate (percentage of players quit on it) based on data from howlongtobeat.com)

For Act 3, the conversation on difficulty continues as Sean and Bridget share stories on some of their favorite video game accomplishments from childhood and adulthood. Act 3 is available only on Patreon, along with other rewards including bonus episodes, merchandise, live events and more. There's also a free tier, and you can sign up at www.patreon.com/KirbyConversations.

Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com. We'd love to hear your questions or comments and might share them in a future Q&A segment on the show.

Kirby Conversations

Threads: @kirbyconversations

Bridget

Threads: @no1kirbyfan

Sean Douglass

Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).

Our show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside the Competitive Scene of Kirby Fighters 2—With Lucy "Winters" Hayes

Épisode 5

mercredi 27 mars 2024 • Durée 58:20

Kirby Fighters 2 had humble beginnings as a lower-priced Kirby title released in the middle of a pandemic. But a community of dedicated players have embraced the game, continuing to hold tournaments, explore its deep meta, and even refine the game in a new Community Edition. One of those players is Lucy "Winters" Hayes, a co-owner of the Kirby Fighters 2 Discord, and in this episode she sits down with Sean and Bridget to describe the game's current competitive scene, how new players of all ability levels can get involved, and the surprising ways fans have continued to update and chart a future for the game. Then for the 2nd Act, we hear some of Lucy's other game recommendations, like Octopath Traveler 2 and Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes.

You can join the Kirby Fighters 2 Discord at https://discord.gg/vup8ysT and find Lucy's Twitch and X accounts at https://www.start.gg/user/0e0ecd15/details.

For our Patreon-only 3rd Act posting later this week, join us for an additional segment with Lucy, where she discusses speedrunning Super Smash Bros. Brawl's Subspace Emissary, how to get started speedrunning your own favorite games, and more: www.patreon.com/KirbyConversations.

Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com. We're particularly interested in any questions you might have for future Q&A segments on the show.

Kirby Conversations

Threads: @kirbyconversations

Bridget

Threads: @no1kirbyfan

Sean Douglass

Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker