Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt

Do You Love Legos and Want To Build a Retro Pie?

LGR has a new video where he builds a NES themed Retro Pie out of Legos! It's a really fun hack you can build yourself from a kit that doesn't seem to be too expensive.

Nintendo's New Switch Online Service Is A Step Closer to A Nintendo Netflix Subscription

Today Nintendo dropped the details of it's Switch online service and it looks quite interesting. I don't love that consoles charge you money for online play as that's typically included in the price of PC games. That said, the way Nintendo is rolling it out isn't too shabby because the first year of service will just be $20. But what do you get for that first year?

Online Play

20 NES games with added online play

Save data cloud backup

Nintendo switch online app & special offers

I haven't heard great things about the online app & special offers just sound like discounts on things we'd already get. The interesting part is the 20 NES games with added online play... Read All

The NES Classic Returns June 29th!

Nintendo is finally bringing back the NES Classic as it promised and we now have a date to expect it.

"#NESClassic Edition will return to stores on June 29! This system and the #SNESClassic Edition system are expected to be available through the end of the year."

Good news to everyone that wasn't able to get a NES Classic or is having a hard time securing a SNES Classic! That said, I imagine you could take the "available through the end of the year" to mean Nintendo might discontinue them? I gotta think that they don't mean that but... well if you want one, now's a good time to get one. I know the NES & SNES Classics mostly sit unused for most but I play them a lot... Read All

It’s As If Lucky Charms Has A More Sugary Little Brother In A Smaller Box - Cheerful Ghost Reviews Super Mario Cereal!

In the 90’s Nintendo sold us everything from Mario underwear, trading cards and cereal. I was down to get all of it, or at least as much as Mom and Dad would buy me. One seemingly unattainable aspect of the 90’s Mario craze was Nintendo’s Cereal System that had a split box of Zelda and Mario cereal. The only time I ever had any was at my cousins house and it was pure magic to open the box, eat Zelda cereal and after breakfast play Nintendo all day. Fast forward to the dystopian hellscape of now and Nintendo doesn’t sell us trading cards or underwear anymore but the cereal thing is back in the form of Kellogg’s Super Mario Cereal.

At this time Super Mario Cereal is a... Read All

How Did Kosmic Get The Super Mario Brothers Speedrun World Record?

On February 16th Super Mario Brothers Speedrunner Kosmic got the new world record ANY% in 4:56.462 besting Darbian, the previous record holder. The run is incredible and if you were wondering the tricks he used to do it you need to watch the video linked above. It goes over every part of the run and also explains how Speedrunners have broken it down to a very particular science. The current theory is that at some point humans might not be able to optimize the run further but it's possible someone might find something new that breaks that assumption wide open.

Travis Admin wrote on 03/05/2018 at 01:29am

Super Mario Bros. is the one game’s speed runs that I follow, because it’s the one that I tried to set best times for. As I understand it we are within a half second of the theoretical human limit. So at this point any new record is truly exciting.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 03/05/2018 at 03:48am

What is your personal best?

Travis Admin wrote on 03/05/2018 at 04:14am

I honestly can’t remember. I want to say I was thrilled when I broke 6 minutes but I could just as easily be remembering that wrong and subtracting a minute or two.

Travis Admin wrote on 03/05/2018 at 02:17pm

Now that I think about it, I think that memory was when I broke 7 minutes. I think I made it lower, 6:45 or so.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 03/05/2018 at 07:38pm

This was a super interesting video! If you'd like to learn even more about level 4-2, this video is dedicated to the history of speedrunning level 4-2. https://youtu.be/i1AHCaokqhg

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 03/07/2018 at 05:30am

Thanks Adam. Added that to my watch later queue!

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Happy Presents Day – What Loot Did You Get From The Presents Elf?

Wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Presents Day! I hope the mythical Presents Day Elf brought you everyone you wanted and more and that you can bathe yourself in cookies and egg nog. Since it’s Presents Day some of us might have some fresh new video games we are all playing and other cool stuff so if you are interested in sharing what you got drop it in the comments!

Travis Admin wrote on 12/25/2017 at 04:57am

Wishing every one happy times with family and friends!

Travis Admin wrote on 12/25/2017 at 05:03am

Also just a comment on that video--- that kid went to give his parents money for that, that's awesome, what a sweet kid. But his brother, I worry about him. Had no interest in playing the NES and just kept pretending to shoot himself in the face with the light gun. We need a "where are they now" follow up.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 12/25/2017 at 05:07pm

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

It's not gaming related, but I'm now the proud owner of about $6 in both Bitcoin and Litecoin lol

Travis Admin wrote on 12/25/2017 at 11:03pm

That $6 will either be worth $50 or a few pennies in a few days depending on who you listen to.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 12/26/2017 at 01:56am

Exactly lol

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 12/26/2017 at 05:14am

I got a SNES Classic but I knew I’d be getting that as I got it for myself

With that I also got Metroid Samus Returns special edition on 3DS and some music and movies.

Travis Admin wrote on 12/26/2017 at 06:29am

So far-- a Logitech MX Ergo trackball. It's been a while since I've done trackball over mouse, so this is taking some getting used to but it's great. Not for gaming, just for general computing. My wife and I were both drooling over it, and we both got the brilliant idea to buy it for each other.

vdogmr25 wrote on 12/26/2017 at 04:00pm

I was given XCom 2, Necrodancer, and Prey. Then I got the gift of throttling to 256KBs from my ISP. Only a few more days until I can play them.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 12/26/2017 at 05:58pm

I got Super Mario Odyssey, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Monopoly for the Switch and the book “Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made”.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 12/26/2017 at 09:20pm

I got a $20 Gamestop gift card, so I used it to buy a $20 Steam card. :)

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 12/26/2017 at 11:35pm

Smart man!

Travis Admin wrote on 12/27/2017 at 06:20am

I used to do that with gamestop gift cards too, until I joined this console generation. I've enjoyed the brick-and-mortar experience of buying games again.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 12/27/2017 at 04:41pm

> I used to do that with gamestop gift cards too, until I joined this console generation. I've enjoyed the brick-and-mortar experience of buying games again.

After getting my 3DS and with collecting retro games I enjoy have the actual game too. Digital is really nice but having a box and a cart, even if super small is really nice.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 12/27/2017 at 04:58pm

Travis, I want to think that was an "I used to be an adventurer like you..." joke? If so, I loved it. If not, I want to live in my ignorant bliss!

Travis Admin wrote on 12/28/2017 at 02:38am

In that case I will not disenchant you ;)

Travis Admin wrote on 12/28/2017 at 02:39am

To add onto the thread: Breath of the Wild and a Google Home round out the awesome stuff this year!

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 12/29/2017 at 12:11am

Ok, thanks to Amazon gift cards, I was able to finally buy the Razer Chroma keyboard I've been wanting. The keys light up and when Terraria updates, the key lights will reflect the biome I'm in. I'm excited! Also thanks to Steam gift card and a little extra money I bought South Park: The Stick of Truth and Fable Anniversary Edition (along w/ all DLC for both games).

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What Are You Playing This Freedom Roasted Holday?

https://www.mariowiki.com/images/d/d1/Fireworks.gif

For many people in The United States this 4th of July holiday is an extra long weekend. As the freedom explosions encompass our neighborhoods I'm curious what you're all playing and watching?

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 07/03/2017 at 05:39pm

Diablo 3

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 07/03/2017 at 05:59pm

Playing Diablo 3, watching Family Guy

Travis Admin wrote on 07/03/2017 at 06:29pm

Diablo 3! Katie and I are going through the necro together. I just realized a couple days ago that the only other class I didn't have at 70 was the witch doctor so I ran a few bounties with Cain's set and got him bumped up.

It's been a while since I've played D3 so I'm coming back to quite a few chances aside from the new stuff in patch 2.6. I'd never even seen a greater rift for instance. It's amazing how it's still Diablo 3 like it has been since launch, but it's so very different.

Travis Admin wrote on 07/03/2017 at 06:30pm

(Oh and that's a perfect header image, Jon)

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 07/03/2017 at 06:59pm

I haven't got the Necro pack yet. Any good? I still haven't put much time into it, so I have yet to put money into buying Necro.

Travis Admin wrote on 07/03/2017 at 07:44pm

Necro is amazing fun. There are some issues with it and people on the internet are complaining loudly, as they do, but I love the class so far. There's an ability that allows you to explode corpses to damage other enemies. So then you get new corpses to explode and you can just chain them together for crazy mayhem. And that's in the first hour, you just get more crazy things after that. I'm slightly afraid they'll nerf it.

Travis Admin wrote on 07/03/2017 at 08:07pm

Find me on B.net at Namwen#1800 and I'll send you an invite to the CG clan! :)

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 07/03/2017 at 08:27pm

Will do!

Travis Admin wrote on 07/04/2017 at 04:33am

So weird thing-- apparently you can't invite people to clans or communities who aren't online? Which is odd since I noticed Greg wasn't in them and sent him invites to both earlier.

You can search for Cheerful Ghost in the clan search and community search and join both there if you like, or next time we're online at the same time I'll get you invites!

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 07/04/2017 at 05:46am

The clan is a cool idea, thanks for the invite. You helped me find Katie :) I still need to get used to the chat. You sent me a message days ago and I only noticed it today.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 07/05/2017 at 02:17pm

I am in the clan now! Thanks Travis!

Travis Admin wrote on 07/05/2017 at 10:17pm

ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 07/05/2017 at 10:42pm

OBLIG:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y_KNYNzN6A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2HX5wsQVEA

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 07/05/2017 at 11:56pm

Ha ha!!

As for this topic, I ended up finding my son's 3DSXL with Pokemon Sun, so I started playing it. So far I like it, but I haven't played for very long.

As for D3, I played that, too. i finished the campaign with my male Neck Romancer, so I started a female Corpse Bride.

Travis Admin wrote on 07/06/2017 at 03:16am

So question for you Greg-- what's the benefit for you in playing male and female? Since the skill assignment lets you totally change your build at will, is it just for the dialogue? Because after my second time through I just skip that.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 07/06/2017 at 03:41am

I don't know exactly, but I'd dialogue is part of it. I started with one male character per class and then decided to have females as well. It did make the campaign a bit tedious at times. I remember thinking I never want to run through the campaign again, but here I am with my second necromancer. After that, I'm planning on getting more into Adventure Mode.

Travis Admin wrote on 07/06/2017 at 03:47am

I always do the campaign once with each new class but never really touch it after. It's a good curve to really learn the class as you're leveling but after that it's all adventure mode!

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 07/06/2017 at 03:56am

Yeah, I like the opportunity to learn my class as I go, which campaign mode is great for, as you said. I've hardly touched adventure mode. I completed some bounties, but it's been awhile since I've tried it again.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 07/06/2017 at 03:51pm

I still need to finish campaign with one class to open up adventure mode. Soon!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 07/11/2017 at 04:08am

After taking a bit of a break I'm back to playing Link Between Worlds and having a blast, it's such a great game.

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The NES30 Pro by 8Bitdo Looks Like The Perfect Wireless Controller

I recently read a review on Gizmodo about the NES30 Pro wireless controller by 8Bitdo and it looks fantastic. Heavily modeled after the original NES controller this looks to be aimed squarely at the retro and PC gamer community. The NES30 uses Bluetooth to connect Windows 7, 8, 10, Android, MacOS, Steam, Switch, Rasperry Pi, Wii, Wii U & PS3.

The action on the controller looks like the best of the NES and Super NES world with the analog thumbsticks styled similarly to the Gamecube / Dual Shock controllers. Gizmodo called the NES30 Pro "the best controller for the Switch" and from what I've seen, I don't find that hard to believe.

... Read All

Travis Admin wrote on 07/01/2017 at 05:33am

Oooooohhhhhh. I want this. It would be perfect for modern retro games like Shovel Knight and Duck Tales Remastered. Modern D-pads don't get the love they deserve.

Travis Admin wrote on 07/01/2017 at 06:00am

It may be worth waiting for the SNES30 Pro, though. The layout seems a bit more friendly.

https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/6/15/15809834/8bitdo-snes30-pro-bluetooth-controller-switch

Travis Admin wrote on 07/01/2017 at 06:05am

This is the layout I mean: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCOZPEhU0AA_Aij.jpg:large

The NES30 Pro has the shoulder buttons side by side instead of stacked.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 07/01/2017 at 01:30pm

That's cool. So the benefit is the dual shoulder buttons? Hmm might want to hold out for that one.

Travis Admin wrote on 07/01/2017 at 02:06pm

Well, they both have dual shoulder buttons, they are just next to each other instead of stacked.

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--drbGwfw1--/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/ofyyuwsqbuyuz9e1mudt.jpg

It's not a deal breaker but my fingers already have the muscle memory to use them stacked and moving inward rather than down for L1 and R1 would take some getting used to.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 07/01/2017 at 02:10pm

Right. It would. That seems like that matter more in a traditional shooter and I have the XBox 360 PC controllers for that.

Travis Admin wrote on 07/01/2017 at 02:17pm

Yeah, for the games I'd play with this I doubt it would matter much.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 07/01/2017 at 02:47pm

I agree.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 07/02/2017 at 03:11am

As long as the analog sticks feel good, this could be the perfect retro controller. Sexy!

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Cygnus Destroyer Puts The Super Mario Brothers Movie On Trial!

I'm not going to lie. I like the 1993 Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo & Dennis Hopper Super Mario Brothers movie. Are nostalgia goggles blinding me to the reality that this movie is total junk? It's possible but I'm ok with that.

Cygnus Destroyer runs The Super Mario Brothers Movie through the Innocent Until Proven Guilty court and I thought his verdict was fair. What do you think though? Is the Super Mario Brothers movie a gaming film classic or is it a steaming pile of goomba poop we all need to let go of?

Still Can't Get The NES Classic? Check Out The Retro USB AVS!

"The NES Classic is the hot ticket item of the holiday season and it's currently sold out across the country due to the high demand. Nintendo is working on supplying retail stores with the mini NES, but a full restock isn't expected to take place until after Christmas. Fortunately, there's an alternative for retro gamers seeking an HD 8-bit experience that's more authentic than the popular Nintendo plug & play console. In this Cygnus Destroyer special, we take a look at the RetroUSB AVS."

The Retro USB AVS was all over the Portland Retro Game Expo this year and looks to be one of the best ways to play your NES games on your HD TV. It sports a premium price but... Read All