Cheerful Ghost: An Awesome Community For Gamers

Have A Cheerful Thanksgiving!

I want to wish everyone(who celebrates) a very Cheerful Thanksgiving! Like many of you, I enjoy this time of year and it's demand I eat more stuffing than I should begging the question "who's the actual Turkey?"

If you wanted to stuff yourself on video games, checkout the latest Steam sale. It features some deep cuts on some great games like Portal 2, Harvester & Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake.

http://store.steampowered.com/

If you are looking for something to watch all day while you putter around the house, why not Mystery Science Theater 3000 Turkey Day? Joel has been dropping spoilers on social media bout the reboot and to start things off we got to see the bots!... Read All

The Latest Terraria 1.3 Update Video Brings the Nyan Gun

Why is Terraria one of the greatest Indie game ever made? The fact that they keep updating it for starters and this video is one more reason. Kudos to someone that can pick out each new thing teased in this video.

http://forums.terraria.org/index.php?threads/1-3-spoilers.5901/

EDIT After looking at the video again the cat weapon in question is called the "Meowmere."

Travis Admin wrote on 11/25/2014 at 11:36pm

I'm more interested in the fact that you can apparently click to teleport to people and there are new indicators for helpful info below the health bars. Again, this is going to feel like a sequel to the game we've been playing.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 11/25/2014 at 11:39pm

The person in the video crafted a Teleportation potion, which allows her/him to click the persons face on the map to teleport to. Which, yes, is really amazing. I hope it's not really hard to craft.

Travis Admin wrote on 11/26/2014 at 03:59am

Ah, nifty. I know of this teleportation potion, but it's totally random, kinda like a get out of jail free card.

http://terraria.gamepedia.com/Teleportation_Potion

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/26/2014 at 08:55pm

I like the purple house at the beginning of the video. That new weapon looks cool. I saw a "wormhole potion" in the inventory. I've been at my grandparent's in Kentucky for one full day now and I oh so miss my PC. I wonder when this update will be released. Honestly, I feel like Terraria is like MineCraft, in that I look forward to new updates and good excuses to start playing again.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 11/26/2014 at 09:10pm

Terraria is quite a lot like Minecraft and they seem to update it about as much too.

I have actually started to wonder with all this great new Terraria content, what will come to Terraria 2?

Travis Admin wrote on 11/27/2014 at 05:58am

Red has said in the past that there's a lot he wishes he had done differently with the development, but that's all behind-the-scenes. I would imagine something more portable, no .NET/XNA dependency.

I've heard 2.5D is a possibility. The same kind of charming graphics but with added depth.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 11/27/2014 at 05:24pm

Multiple planets? Spaceships? Quests? smile:

Seriously though, I don't know much more they could add, the game is pretty great already.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/28/2014 at 12:18am

Yeah we've previously noted that the two games are similar. We can certainly dream and discuss our update desires for both games. Quests, planets, and outer space would be cool. While Starbound does this, I feel like Terraria and Minecraft could do if better.

Travis Admin wrote on 11/28/2014 at 12:24am

They aren't just similar, Tiy, the main dev of Starbound, has said it's a spiritual successor.

But actually I do think Red mentioned the possibility of multiple planets. I kinda don't see the point of quests if the progression is as tight as Terraria 1.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/28/2014 at 04:47am

Yeah, Travis. I'm looking forward to Starbound 1.0. As for quests, Terraria has the fishing ones, which I thought were cool.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/28/2014 at 10:24pm

http://terraria.gamepedia.com/1.3 "Spoilers!"

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 11/29/2014 at 02:30am

Portal gun? Wow, they are going to add everything.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/29/2014 at 02:47am

I can't wait. I hope this comes soon.

Travis Admin wrote on 11/29/2014 at 06:50am

I'd heard portal gun rumors. I'm glad they were true!

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/30/2014 at 08:16pm

I'm so glad to be home and see that video on my own PC! I'm so very excited for the new update! I did some searching to find out when it'll be released, but the best answer I could find was "when it's finished." It seems it might not be out until early 2015, which isn't that far away.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 12/02/2014 at 06:36pm

I kind of expect that I'll find out about the 1.3 release here, but instead of waiting on one of you to post about it, I'd like to keep up with Terraria news. So, I want to hear from you. How do you find out when a new version is released? Is it on the main page under "News?" I've begun to check that section of the web site frequently as I'm really looking forward to this update.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 12/02/2014 at 09:45pm

The website is a good source but I follow Terraria on Twitter which is my primary source.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 12/02/2014 at 09:49pm

I figured one of you would say that. I'm not as over-active on Twitter as I used to be. I tweet very rarely now and almost never check the site. I only get on there when I think of something I want to tweet.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 12/02/2014 at 10:05pm

Oh! I just found you, Cheerful Ghost, and Tim via Travis's followers list. =)

Travis Admin wrote on 12/03/2014 at 04:45am

I'm subscribed to /r/terraria (and mod there, actually) so I see things pretty quickly. One of the beta testing team is a mod there too.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 12/17/2014 at 04:16pm

http://forums.terraria.org/index.php?threads/a-small-spoiler.7339/

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 12/17/2014 at 06:13pm

Awesome! I've started playing Terraria on my Kindle Fire. I think I'm finally getting used to the controls.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 12/18/2014 at 12:29am

More 1.3 spoilers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjm6IyXgWQk&feature=youtu.be&a

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 12/18/2014 at 01:33am

That is so awesome! I'll take a look later at Hero's other videos later. My guess is that he might have one that explains the first video of spoilers we saw here. Remember that video and you wondered if we could spot all the spoilers? That's what I like about this video that you just shared. He explains all or most of the spoilers contained in the GIF you previously shared.

I am really excited about 1.3 and I'm sure you, Travis, and Tim are, too. I can't wait until we get the new release! I keep checking the Terraria official site News section, hoping to see breaking news of 1.3.

As I mentioned, I've started playing the mobile version of Terraria on my Kindle Fire. I got a good bit of game play in yesterday and I noticed that I'm getting used to the touch screen controls. I've been building up my house, which is huge because that's the first thing I always start doing. I always start by making enough rooms for all of the NPCs. I end up making some more so I at least have a place for me and my chests. I'm not sure, but I think I've re-created my first world once or twice due to not spawning in a "nice" area. The final time, I spawned in a perfect spot which will prevent zombies from entering my house. If I can figure out how, it'd be cool to share a screen shot of that.

A final note. Although I'm getting used to the touch controls, I'm wishing I had controls that responded to voice commands. I think that would make things a bit simpler, especially when trying to switch between items. Oh, and I'm also wondering if Starbound will get a mobile or tablet version since Terraria and MineCraft have them. If so, it will probably be a long time from now.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 12/18/2014 at 04:21am

> A final note. Although I'm getting used to the touch controls, I'm wishing I had controls that responded to voice commands.

I bet that would. It's hard for me to play it on a small phone, voice commands would be great. Something like "Build me a killer house" or "Gear me up for the wall of flesh" would be lifesavers

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 12/18/2014 at 04:29am

I'm glad you like that idea! Maybe I should send it to the developers. Hahahaha. "Defeat Duke Fishron" would be one I'd choose. That or "conquer Frost and Pumpkin Moon events." Really though, I imagine something like "sword" or "pickaxe" so that you could switch tools easier.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 12/18/2014 at 06:16am

Here's what Cenx posted yesterday about the release date of 1.3, "the update will be done no sooner than 1 month from now and no longer than 1 year from now."
http://forums.terraria.org/index.php?members/cenx.5/#profile-post-37930

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 12/19/2014 at 01:31am

That's quite the timeline. So they are either still trying to convince the community to stop asking about timelines OR they really just don't know. Either way 1.3 should be great.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 12/19/2014 at 03:50am

Last night, I did a YouTube search on 1.3 spoilers and it is going to be nothing short of amazing!! I can't even decide what I like best. I love that liquid physics are going to be much smoother now, natural-looking instead of blocky. Reading "no sooner than 1 month from now" is kind of disappointing, but I understand that they want to make sure they get in everything they want and make sure that it works like it should. It's amazing that once again I have this great anticipation for something to come out. While I hate the wait, I love it when a game comes out and proves that it was totally worth it. It's like being a child waiting for Christmas morning all over again! So, I'm very grateful that they've made a fantastic game and have found ways to make it even more fantastic. I can't wait for the update so I can dive right back into the PC version again. =)

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 12/19/2014 at 10:31am

I figured out how to take a screen shot with my Kindle Fire HDX, so here are some links for you to take a look. As I said, I've been playing the mobile version. The Kindle's version hasn't updated to the newest 1.2-ish version, but should hopefully soon.

Here is the big house I built, obviously capable of having 21 total NPCs move in: http://i.imgur.com/wn3cFBa.jpg
As I tried to explain, I spawned on a really cool spot that makes it hard for walking mobs to get in: http://i.imgur.com/rRix7iv.jpg

I'm afraid that once my Kindle gets the latest update I'll have to re-create my world and thus this giant house I made and I may also lose that great spot. I did notice some Harpies flying around when I was at the top of it.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 12/19/2014 at 05:52pm

That looks pretty good. Is it slower goings on the HDX than PC?

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 12/19/2014 at 08:21pm

Thanks! Are you talking about game play or updates? The game plays just fine and I don't notice any lag. As for updates, yes. The most recent mobile update is pretty much the 1.2 PC update. Unfortunately, it seems that Amazon hasn't pushed that update yet. IOS and other Android devices got it, but there seems to be some issues, perhaps that's why Amazon hasn't released it yet.

Travis Admin wrote on 12/21/2014 at 04:19pm

I doubt it's just issues. The thing I hear most often about the kindle fire is how terrible the App Store is. Mu think you can fairly easily hack it to get the Google store.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 12/21/2014 at 06:59pm

Yeah, you can root it. I did that on my first Kindle, which got stolen. I haven't done it on this one because I don't want to. I did find out that I could install 1Mobile and get the apps from it, which I tried. The Terraria that I had downloaded that way didn't even load. So, I ended up just getting the game from Amazon's app store. So now there are two versions of Terraria I am waiting for.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 01/13/2015 at 08:06pm

More 1.3 spoilers.

http://forums.terraria.org/index.php?threads/new-1-3-spoilers-enhancing-the-user-interface.9424/

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/13/2015 at 08:36pm

Terraria 1.3 is going to be amazing!!! Thanks for sharing the new spoilers!!

Travis Admin wrote on 01/13/2015 at 09:52pm

That's really slick. Nothing major in the new spoilers but a lot of quality-of-life stuff that really helps.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/13/2015 at 10:01pm

I can't wait to see the new improvements first-hand. I wish we still had an idea about when it will be released. I'm thinking it won't be out until Spring at least. At least the version I have for my Kindle Fire HDX updated to 1.2 yesterday.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 01/24/2015 at 05:28am

DUDE.

http://forums.terraria.org/index.php?threads/the-terrarian-times-1-3-spoiler-recap-interview-with-cenx.9767/

Some incredible stuff here.

Travis Admin wrote on 01/24/2015 at 05:42am

There's going to be a rideable unicorn that farts rainbows.

I need to give them more money.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/24/2015 at 05:48am

I read that hours ago, Jon. I thought about sharing it here, but I obviously didn't do so. My only disappointment is that the interviewer didn't even ask CenX when we might see 1.3 released. I'm ready for 1.3, I've been ready. I want to have some fun again. I wish it would come out soon! I've been checking the Terraria and Starbound pages at least daily for news. LOL @ Travis.

Travis Admin wrote on 01/24/2015 at 06:25am

There's sometimes an agreement that you don't ask about release dates. Since they said earlier that it's going to be ready when it's ready, between a month and a year from December, I doubt there was much new info.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 01/25/2015 at 12:59am

This release will be huge and they are right not talk to much about because it would slip if they did. It seems they are just tossing in a ton of stuff, which should make it awesome if not hard to iron everything out.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 02/27/2015 at 02:33am

New soundtrack spoiler!!!!!!
http://forums.terraria.org/index.php?threads/sampling-the-sounds-of-1-3.13064/

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 02/27/2015 at 04:40am

Yep. I have some questions out about it with the soundtrack composer, hopefully he gets back soon.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 02/27/2015 at 10:34pm

Feel free to let us know what those questions are and if you get answers. I've been so thrilled with the 1.3 spoilers and I really can't wait for it to be released. I've been more excited about that than anything else. This soundtrack spoiler is superb, I love it!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 02/28/2015 at 04:11pm

Yeah, me too.

Travis Admin wrote on 03/01/2015 at 07:58pm

http://forums.terraria.org/index.php?threads%2F1-3-achievement-suggestions.13344%2F

Looks like Steam achievements are making it into 1.3. I hope there aren't any truly off-the-wall achievements.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 03/01/2015 at 08:05pm

Awesome!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 03/02/2015 at 04:08pm

Those will be a nice addition to a future play through. I like how Terraria has it's own time for adding certain features. Few games are developed this long and many don't add achievements at the long tail of development. That said, i'd rather have the zillion other features they added than achievements so it's good they added all the other stuff first

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 03/02/2015 at 07:35pm

It seems the mobile version has achievements, so I imagine they can pull from those. I played a bit more of it yesterday. From time to time it tells me how many enemies I've killed. Adding achievements definitely gives the game replay value. There are still a few things I haven't done with the game such as finishing the moon events and beating Duke Fishron. I also haven't played during every calendar event.

With that said, I've been thinking about Terraria mods and I know nothing about them. I think, Travis, you mentioned one when we were playing on the server and I wonder if you could remind me of that. I think it might be cool to use one to run through the calendar events.

Travis Admin wrote on 03/02/2015 at 09:40pm

The first few times you beat Duke Fishron he gives you amazing swag that makes killing him much easier in repeated attempts.

The mod we were using on the server was tshock, and it's just a server mod to allow for better control over things and warp points and stuff like that. You can set it up on your own PC and connect to it, rather than going single player, to get the benefits. There are commands to trigger all the moon events. You can even keep resetting the time so the event never ends.

Travis Admin wrote on 03/02/2015 at 09:40pm

AND calendar events. You can trigger Halloween and Christmas time so that pumpkins grow or the frost legion can invade, and presents drop, etc.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 03/02/2015 at 11:18pm

Cool. Thanks for the reminder. I'm interested in the seasonal events (http://terraria.gamepedia.com/Seasonal_event). I see there are a lot of them, but mostly mobile exclusives. I may some time see if that version can be modded as well so I can play those. Otherwise, I may just have to keep them in mind and play during those times. I've only played during the Christmas and maybe Halloween events, which makes sense since they're the only ones for PC. I've played through the Christmas one a couple of times on PC and once on mobile. I'm still interested in getting the game for the PS3 so I can check out those exclusives.

Yesterday I watched Redigit and "Blue" play the Alpha version of Terraria (http://youtu.be/Udp5ozoYfxM?list=PL4129CC1F5130E0C9). One of the good things was that Redigit said the correct pronunciation of the game "ter-rare-ia" instead of "ter-rawr-ria." They were quick videos, but it was cool to see and hear Redigit playing through the game. He and "Blue" got totally destroyed quite a few times. I like how "Blue" said that he loves the color blue (stating something I've said a few times) and that he's begged Redigit to add more blue stuff.

I do want to play the game again, but I don't want to get burned out with it before 1.3 comes along.

Oh! As for Duke Fishron, I searched YouTube and found one really good guide for beating him. The guy used a Snowman Cannon and pretty much didn't take any damage. I may have to give that a try.

Oh and I think it'd be cool if we could run a server again. I *might* try it out and see how it runs from here.

Feel free to share your thoughts on all of this (another long comment)!

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 03/03/2015 at 03:04am

Thanks again for the info, Travis. TShock was easy to set up. I might play with it more eventually. Part of it was made easier because I already had my router configured to do port forwarding for the Minecraft server I was hosting for my son and a friend of his. I was able to use that open port and I found my public IP address (again) easily enough. Perhaps some time in the near future I (or we) could do further testing. I'm not sure how much bandwidth would be necessary to host a server, but it could be possible in the near future (even at least for testing purposes).

Travis Admin wrote on 03/03/2015 at 03:32am

You could just do it with your local ip, or 127.0.0.1. If only PCs within your house are going to use it, port forwarding and public ip addresses aren't necessary.

Travis Admin wrote on 03/03/2015 at 03:33am

Also, te-rare-ia may be how Red pronounces it, but it's always going to be Ter-rawr-ia to me.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 03/03/2015 at 04:12am

Yeah, I know, but at least I now know how to set it all up. It might be something we might think about some time after 1.3 is released. =)

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 03/03/2015 at 04:24am

I am going to try really hard to pronounce it Te-RARE-ia. Sounds odd to my ears, but I am going to try.

Travis Admin wrote on 03/03/2015 at 04:25am

NEVER

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 03/03/2015 at 04:30am

Come on Travis. What about just once while no ones looking?

Travis Admin wrote on 03/05/2015 at 04:55am

Release goal (not a guarantee): June

http://forums.terraria.org/index.php?threads%2Fre-logic-game-developers-conference-blog.12848%2F#post-389697

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 03/05/2015 at 05:14am

Man, I was hoping it'd be sooner. Still, at least we know what their goal is.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 03/05/2015 at 06:10am

Must a ton of new stuff in 1.3.

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Hyrule Warriors Master Quest DLC and amiibo Functionality

When Hyrule Warriors came out months again, I noticed that there were a few DLC packs available, so I purchased all of them. I was also able to get some of the DLC for free by registering the game at Club Nintendo. Some of the content includes different costume sets for various characters, one of which is a Dark Link costume for Link.

It seems as though some of the DLC wasn't available right away. I don't know if it was released at a later date or I had to accomplish some in-game goals to unlock them. I recently noticed more content was available such as playable characters, which mostly included the game's enemies. This also seemed to open up a new story-line in... Read All When Hyrule Warriors came out months again, I noticed that there were a few DLC packs available, so I purchased all of them. I was also able to get some of the DLC for free by registering the game at Club Nintendo. Some of the content includes different costume sets for various characters, one of which is a Dark Link costume for Link.

It seems as though some of the DLC wasn't available right away. I don't know if it was released at a later date or I had to accomplish some in-game goals to unlock them. I recently noticed more content was available such as playable characters, which mostly included the game's enemies. This also seemed to open up a new story-line in Legend Mode called "Cia's Tale," in which you can play as Cia, Wizzro, or Volga. I played as Cia and Wizzro, but have not yet tried to play as Volga. However, I did watch a video to help me get through one of the missions. In that video a the guy was playing Volga and was showing how powerful that character is.

Epona has made her debut in Hyrule Warriors as a "weapon." Selecting her as a weapon allows Link to fight on horseback for the selected mission. I'd also like to note here that I saw a picture of Epona as a kart in the new Legend of Zelda DLC pack for Mario Kart 8, even though i haven't seen her in-game yet.

With the recent release of Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U, Nintendo released the first set of amiibo figures. Functionality is expected to come to Hyrule Warriors very soon. The Link amiibo (which I purchased) will add a new weapon for Link, which is the Spinner from Twilight Princess. Other amiibo figures, like Zelda, will unlock weapons, rupee bonuses, and crafting materials. You can find details about compatible amiibo and their rewards here: https://www.nintendo.com/amiibo/games/detail/hyrule-warriors-wii-u/

I recently just started playing the game's "Adventure Mode," which I think is fun and interesting. In Adventure Mode, you are placed on a world map that comes from the very first Legend of Zelda game for the NES. Each square contains a battle and there are numerous rewards that can be received such as Heart Containers and Gold Skulltulas. There are also items, such as the Candle, that can be used to "search" an area of the map for hidden places. On one of places on the map, I found a tree that could be burned with the Candle, which unlocked a new reward. Some of the rewards are given based upon the rank you receive in a battle. Some can only be unlocked by certain characters, just as some battles can only be fought with certain characters. It also seems as though other rewards include unlocking more weapons and playable characters.

I have never played a Dynasty Warriors game, but playing Hyrule Warriors makes me want to try those games. I have really enjoyed playing Hyrule Warriors very much and I highly recommend the game.

Try Out The Destiny Demo On Playstation and XBox

If you are interested in trying out Destiny before you buy it, you are in luck. Bungie has released a demo for download on XBox 360, XBox One, PS3 & PS4. A few days ago I downloaded the demo and spent a few hours playing it today. The demo contains a pretty complete version of the game and so far, I haven't made it to the end of it. So far I have played the introduction, the initial Earth mission and spent some time in the Tower interacting with people. After the first mission, "The Divide" the other missions you can play are "The Dark Within" and "The Warmind."

Destiny is one of those games that received a ton of praise and criticism. After spending time playing... Read All If you are interested in trying out Destiny before you buy it, you are in luck. Bungie has released a demo for download on XBox 360, XBox One, PS3 & PS4. A few days ago I downloaded the demo and spent a few hours playing it today. The demo contains a pretty complete version of the game and so far, I haven't made it to the end of it. So far I have played the introduction, the initial Earth mission and spent some time in the Tower interacting with people. After the first mission, "The Divide" the other missions you can play are "The Dark Within" and "The Warmind."

Destiny is one of those games that received a ton of praise and criticism. After spending time playing the game I can understand the criticism but think much of it was simply unmet player expectations. Destiny is good and I appreciate its simplicity and gameplay. The story is interesting yet vague leaving me to wonder how much more will open up over the game or if they are planning on telling the tale over the base game and DLC?

I am playing the Destiny demo on the PS3 and beyond the initial jolt of coming back to PS3 gaming after being PC bound, it's a fun ride. Sure some of the graphics don't look as great as PC titles I am playing, but that's to be expected on the PS3. That said, the overall art of the game looks great and coupled with the music the game sets a very somber tone. I applaud Bungie for doing such a good job porting to the PS3, I didn't notice any lag or bad performance while playing it. Many modern triple A games still ship on PS3 and if Destiny is any indicator, it will be a great experience.

The ultimate tell of any demo is if you get the game. More than likely I won't pick this up on PS3 right now. I am still holding out hope that Destiny will come to PC at some point and I imagine this will happen well into the lifetime of the game or beyond. For now, playing the demo here and there will do and if you have any of the consoles I seriously recommend you give the game a try.

http://www.destinythegame.com/free-trial

The Case For Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Cygnus Destroyer started a new YouTube series called "Innocent Until Proven Guilty." In this episode he looks over the NES classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This game is usually panned as terrible popularized by The Angry Video Game Nerd. Cygnus Destroyer covers much of the games history and his deep dive on the topic is worth checking out.

"In the Innocent Until Proven Guilty court, Matt will do what no one else has dared to: give it a fair trial/review. Will the final verdict condemn it to a hell of fire and brimstone, or will the accused be exonerated of its crimes? Find out on this controversial episode of Innocent Until Proven Guilty!"

1982 What's Up America: Video Warriors

I enjoy watching these old documentaries of video game culture. This is a episode of Showtimes What's Up America showcasing the popular arcade culture.

"This recording was discovered on an old betamax video tape, recorded in September of 1982. This upload contains fifteen minutes of uninterrupted programming from SHOWTIME including promos, bumpers, an "Mini-Doc" from the series WHAT'S UP AMERICA! (Video Warriors) and a Hollywood Close-Up with Bill Harris."

Strange Old Japanese Mother Commercial

"No crying until the ending. Guaranteed masterpiece. MOTHER is finally complete."

Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby Released

Nintendo recently released Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby for the 3DS. I purchased both games to share with my son. He decided to start playing Omega Ruby, so I have begun playing Alpha Sapphire. I remember playing Pokemon Sapphire years ago on my Gameboy SP. I really enjoyed the game, as I have been enjoying Pokemon games since I started playing them before my son was born, which has been over 10 years now.

I was looking forward to the new games and enjoyed the little bits of news I found out about them. Nintendo sent me a download code for the demo almost a month ago. While I spent only a little time playing the demo, my son played it quite a few times. The... Read All Nintendo recently released Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby for the 3DS. I purchased both games to share with my son. He decided to start playing Omega Ruby, so I have begun playing Alpha Sapphire. I remember playing Pokemon Sapphire years ago on my Gameboy SP. I really enjoyed the game, as I have been enjoying Pokemon games since I started playing them before my son was born, which has been over 10 years now.

I was looking forward to the new games and enjoyed the little bits of news I found out about them. Nintendo sent me a download code for the demo almost a month ago. While I spent only a little time playing the demo, my son played it quite a few times. The demo mentioned that you could transfer any Pokemon you find to the game when it was released, although I have not yet tried to do that.

The new games are not just ports and don't even look like the original games. They look like Pokemon X and Y. The games didn't just get a graphical upgrade, but they also contain new features including Mega Evolution, which was introduced in X and Y. The original music seems to still be in the game, which is great.

While I have only spent a few hours in the game and haven't even obtained my first gym badge, I wanted to share my initial impressions. I found myself very impressed with one of the new features of the game called the DexNav. While walking around in the game, you can select it or the map on the bottom screen. It shows the route you are on, but the image is from the original version of the games. It shows shadows of Pokemon that you have seen, but not yet caught. The shadows are revealed after you catch a Pokemon. It can also give you a bit of a radar, that lets you know a Pokemon is nearby. When you are close enough, you will see the top part of a Pokemon hiding in the grass on the top of the screen. It can also give you hints about the nearby Pokemon such as its type. By gently pushing the control stick (not the D-pad) in the direction you want to walk, you can "sneak" up on on a Pokemon. If you walk or run too fast, the app will tell you to walk slowly. Once you find all of the Pokemon that are in a certain area, the app will tell you. The app apparently can also be upgraded. I really enjoy this new feature as it makes finding all the Pokemon in an area much easier, therefore less blind grinding.

I remember on the main menu of Pokemon X and Y there was a "Mystery Gift" option. I used that to receive a Torchic that contained an item for it's Mega Evolution by using the download code that came with the game. I noticed this was also on the main menu of Alpha Sapphire and I decided to check it out. It connected to the Internet to check for a gift and I got a shiny Beldum that contained an item for it's Mega Evolution.

I'm looking forward to playing this game more and I know my son is already enjoying it. If I found out more about the game as I play, I will post in the comments of this post.

Super Smash Bros. Wii U Released

Super Smash Bros. was recently released for the Wii U and it looks absolutely awesome on a big screen TV in high-definition! One of the main differences you will notice from the 3DS version is that the graphics do not look the same. This is only one of the differences between the two games. While both games feature the same characters, each version of the game has different stages, although there seems to be some that are shared between the two. Both games also have similar and different game modes that are available.

Unfortunately, the game lacks the story mode similar to Brawl's "Subspace Emissary," and cut-scenes have apparently been removed according to some... Read All Super Smash Bros. was recently released for the Wii U and it looks absolutely awesome on a big screen TV in high-definition! One of the main differences you will notice from the 3DS version is that the graphics do not look the same. This is only one of the differences between the two games. While both games feature the same characters, each version of the game has different stages, although there seems to be some that are shared between the two. Both games also have similar and different game modes that are available.

Unfortunately, the game lacks the story mode similar to Brawl's "Subspace Emissary," and cut-scenes have apparently been removed according to some sources. I have not played the game enough to verify this and it seems to contradict what I briefly saw when my son was playing the game.

Both the Wii U and 3DS versions of the game can interact. You can use the 3DS as a controller or copy your customized characters between the two. This feature is easily accessible by an icon on the main menu of each game. Speaking of controllers, you can also use GameCube controllers with a new adapter for the Wii U.

Along with the Wii U release, Nintendo has also released the first set of amiibo figures, with more sets coming later. These figures can be selected on the character selection screen by placing them on the Wii U GamePad on the bottom left-hand side. They fight on their own, acting as a CPU player. The amiibo character can be customized by selecting the in-game character's color set, equipment, and moves. The amiibo figure stores this information along with the character's level. By playing in the game, they gain experience and can reach level 50.

By registering both games on Club Nintendo, you will receive the soundtrack for the game (two CDs) for free when it is released in March 2015. You will also receive a code for the Mewtwo DLC when it is released next Spring.

Visit the official Super Smash Bros website for more information: http://www.smashbros.com/us/
Visit the official amiibo website for more information: http://www.nintendo.com/amiibo

Mario Kart 8 DLC Released

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Mario Kart 8 is a really fun game for the Wii U and was released this summer. It includes new tracks, new characters, and much more in high-definition. The game also contains DLC which can be purchased at the Nintendo eShop. The first DLC that was released for the game includes Mercedes-Benz karts and is available for free.

The second DLC, The Legend of Zelda pack, has just recently been released. It includes three new characters; Link, Tanooki Mario, and Cat Peach. It also includes eight new tracks with two new cups. Four new vehicles are available with this pack and while searching for images of the game online, I saw an Epona vehicle.

The third DLC, the Animal... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 11/21/2014 at 02:39am

Interesting as I don't remember Nintendo getting into the DLC business before. That said, I wished I could have extended the life of Mario Kart Wii a bit more and 8 new tracks per DLC sounds amazing.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 11/21/2014 at 03:33am

DLC seems to be a new thing with Nintendo. Hyrule Warriors has DLC, which I purchased as well. I think it's cool that they've extended the life and play-ability of both games. It makes me wonder what could be in store for future games, especially Smash Bros., which comes out tomorrow (which I have pre-ordered along with two amiibo figures and the two new Pokemon Games for the 3DS). Oh, now I'm getting to talking about the new Smash Bros. for the Wii U. I saw that some of the original games that introduced characters will be playable from within that game. So, games within a game. I believe I also saw something that said they've already started working on (or planning for) the next console.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 11/23/2014 at 12:09am

I just finished both of the new cups as Link on 50cc. It's really fun and I'm really glad Link joined the race. Still, it seems weird that he's in Mario Kart since he's not in Mario games. The first new cup is Yoshi Cup and the second is Triforce. In the first one, Wario's mine returned from the Wii version of the game. This time, anti-gravity parts were added and bumping into mine carts gives you an anti-gravity boost. There was also an Excite Bike track. The final track of the Triforce Cup is a Hyrulian themed track and is pretty cool. The gold coins were replaced with green rupees and the chomp plants were replaced by the ones we see in Zelda games. I also like the new The Legend of Zelda themed carts.

Using an amiibo with the game unlocks a Mii custom for whichever character the amiibo is. So, I unlocked the Link costume by using my Link amiibo.

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Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/28/2014 at 12:22am

I'm in Kentucky missing my PC, PS3, Wii U, Doctor Who, my own bed, and natural teeth. I'm working on PC maintenance and malware removal for my uncle. Happy Thanksgiving!

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 11/28/2014 at 12:34am

Cheerful Thanksgiving from Kona!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 11/28/2014 at 08:06pm

Cheerful Thanksgiving from Portland, the land of PBR Hipsters!

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/30/2014 at 06:58pm

I want you to know that not once during my visit and stay with family in Kentucky did I get on Facebook, but I cannot tell you how many times I visited Cheerful Ghost! =)

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 11/30/2014 at 08:10pm

Hahahaha, I believe it.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/30/2014 at 08:13pm

Well, of course, you've seen the comments I've left since I've been there. I used my Kindle Fire HDX to access the site. Although, I may have used my grandmother's PC to see the Terraria video that was recently posted on here.

Travis Admin wrote on 11/24/2014 at 07:09pm

I tried it on PS3 as well, and I'm quite impressed. But I'm so used to playing FPS games with a keyboard and mouse, I'm definitely holding out for a PC port that may come eventually.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 11/24/2014 at 09:05pm