It’s not at all uncommon for games with an online component to have elements you need to play online to access. That’s been a part of Pokemon since the series first added online play. Hell, even before that, Pokemon was conceived from the beginning to be a social game, built around the Game Boy’s Link Cable if you want to see and do everything. It’s never been exclusively singleplayer.

All I’m saying is that if you count online play as though it was part of a game’s cost, you should be doing the same thing for games on other platforms too. You can’t selectively pretend it only counts here.

Why do you only single out Nintendo for something that Sony and Microsoft charge even more for?

It seems a little disingenuous to single them out this way, especially when the competitors you’re strangely silent on are more expensive.

Then you should be consistent and count the cost of PSN and XBL the same way.

I feel like we’ve long reached the point where the benefit of top-of-the-line hardware just isn’t worth it. IMO, Switch 2 ought to be enough to target, and any game that can’t fit on that can probably stand to be scaled back.

What kind of games are you looking to play, and what form factor do you want?

I bought a Miyoo Mini Plus on sale two years ago and ended up liking it so much I wish I’d bought a more expensive model with analog sticks. There are quite a lot of devices like it on the market, if you want something small for retro emulation look into all the different options.

Meanwhile, my Steam Deck largely gathers dust because it’s just too bulky to feel like a replacement for the handheld-sized handhelds I grew up on. Switch (2) is good for running Switch games, and it’s at least a bit smaller and lighter than the Deck, but mine rarely leaves the dock.

Then why comment at all?

I couldn’t believe they announced the Pokémon Legends DLC before the game is even out. “I know you haven’t given us your money yet, but… please can we have some more? 🥺”

Doesn’t every AAA do that these days?

Apparently they’re selling two versions. One is the full scale VB, and that’s clearly a collector’s item. The other is the VB-themed Labo VR.

And if Nintendo thought Wario Land was so great then why did they stop making those games like 2 decades ago?

Because the last games didn’t sell so well, and because the staff that worked on them have other projects.

Just because a game didn’t get infinite sequels forever doesn’t mean no one can appreciate the originals. By that logic, Chrono Trigger must be one of the worst JRPGs of all time to you.

It’s a VB-themed redesign of the Labo VR kit. Should presumably be compatible with everything Labo VR supported (like, three titles I think?). Maybe the fact that they’re bringing it back means they might reuse it in the future?

Love the art style. In-game actually looks better than the cutscenes.

I’ve got a lot of nostalgia for DS homebrew. Tons of fun things you can do with a flashcart.

3DS too, but although modding was a lot more widespread due to how easy it was, I feel like homebrew games were kinda lacking. Custom themes were great at least.

Look at gacha games. There’s an entire industry revolving around selling anime girls, and when you realize that’s what the business model is, it’s not surprising how toxic their fanbases have become. I’ve suspected that some of these devs are even deliberately trying to filter their audience to the most desperate gooners.

Watching new trailers is fun.

People have been calling albums ‘dead’ since radio, since MTV, since iTunes, and yet the vast majority of artists still release albums.

I did finish the original. But I remained annoyed with this mechanic the whole time.

Not having the mechanic to begin with would be better than a thing that merely makes it less bad, because even then there’s still an opportunity cost.

I do not like the idea of a mechanic that punishes me if I do choose to explore somewhere else in a genre that is supposed to be about exploration.