Nintendo Voice Chat hosts discuss Charles Martinet's retirement as the voice of Mario and speculate about Mario Wonder. They also talk about Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3's low framerate on Switch and the lack of Nintendo news at Gamescom.
Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario since Super Mario 64, is retiring, leading to speculation about the character's future direction.
Nintendo's minimal presence at Gamescom raises questions about their current game lineup and announcements.
The success of the Nintendo Switch and the ongoing popularity of dedicated handheld gaming devices make Nintendo well-positioned in the market.
Deep dives
Nintendo Voice Chat podcast discusses the departure of Charles Martinet as the voice of Mario
Charles Martinet, who has been voicing Mario since Super Mario 64, is stepping down as the voice of Mario starting with Super Mario Brothers Wonder. Nintendo bid farewell to Martinet with a sweet statement and plans to release a video with him and Shigeru Miyamoto. The podcast hosts are sad about Martinet's departure and speculate on the reasons behind it, including the possibility of retirement or new directions for the character.
Nintendo's presence at Gamescom and the announcement of Little Nightmares 3
Nintendo's presence at Gamescom was minimal, with one of the notable announcements being the reveal of Little Nightmares 3. The hosts discuss the excitement around the game and its transition from Tarsier Studios to Supermassive Games. They express hope for the game's development and look forward to playing it on both Nintendo Switch and other platforms.
Kat and Brendan's experiences playing Baldur's Gate 3
Both Kat and Brendan have been playing Baldur's Gate 3, but in different ways. Kat has been playing the game on her Steam Deck and finds it playable and enjoyable, especially during her recent trip to New York. Brendan, on the other hand, has been playing the game in a co-op session with friends. He shares fun and humorous experiences, including his character making some unconventional choices. Both are thoroughly engaged with the game and are excited to continue playing.
PlayStation Portal: A Baby Step Back into Handheld Gaming?
The PlayStation Portal is a cloud streaming device that offers handheld gaming experiences. While some may see it as a potential move by Sony into handheld gaming, it may not be of much interest to those who prefer dedicated handheld devices. Cloud streaming devices like the Portal may not be a direct threat to Nintendo, as the success of the Nintendo Switch and the recent popularity of the Steam Deck show the continued demand for dedicated handheld gaming. Nintendo's hybrid console, the Switch, has already proven to be a successful formula, and as long as they maintain their focus on backward compatibility and portability, they should be well-positioned in the market.
Should Nintendo Be Concerned about Another Handheld Device?
While it's important for Nintendo to be aware of competitors entering the handheld gaming space, the success of the Nintendo Switch and the ongoing popularity of dedicated handheld gaming devices suggest that Nintendo should not be overly concerned. Nintendo has found a winning formula with the Switch, combining both home console and portable gaming capabilities, and they have established themselves as the leader in the space. As long as Nintendo continues to innovate, maintain backwards compatibility, and provide compelling gaming experiences, they should be able to retain their position in the handheld market even with the emergence of new handheld devices like the PlayStation Portal or the Steam Deck.
Everyone's at Gamescom except us and, apparently, Nintendo, so Rebekah, Kat, Brendan, and Travis are holding down the fort talking about Charles Martinet's retirement as the voice of Mario and how Mario Wonder will handle the change, Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3's low Switch framerate, and Travis' time with Palia. 00:00:00 - Intro & Charles Martinet Says Goodbye to Mario
00:15:18 - Pringles Icons
00:23:01 - Metal Gear Solid 2 & 3 Switch Performance Isn't Great
00:34:33 - What Has Nintendo Shown at gamescom So Far?
