Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and More

Over the past few years, a loyal group of players have built a thriving competitive scene around Kirby Air Ride's City Trial mode. Featuring regular tournaments for significant cash prizes and a Discord with over 11,000 members, it's a prime example of how dedicated fans can revive a classic game for a modern audience. So for a two-episode interview series, we're speaking with master Air Ride competitor drcKarGaming and community leader Protag to get an inside look at Kirby Air Ride netplay. We learned so much from this interview, from the game's unique programming ties to Super Smash Bros. Melee to its often-overlooked strategic depth, and were impressed to hear all the modern updates (including a potential new map!) the team has brought to the base version of the game. As Bridget said at one point, it felt like we were learning a part of Kirby history. Part 2, further elaborating on the history of competitive Air Ride, will post next week.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. July's monthly bonus episode will be all about busting Kirby myths and misconceptions, and you won't want to miss it!Questions or comments about the show? Email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com.For more from our guests:drcKarGamingX: @drcKarGamingYouTube: @drcKarGamingAnd here is his guide to the Kirby Air Ride competitive meta.ProtagX: @Th3_ProtagonistYouTube: @ProtagulousFollow us online:Kirby ConversationsIG: @kirbyconversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousOur 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.

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.Follow us online:Kirby ConversationsIG: @kirbyconversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousOur 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.

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/KirbyConversationsWant 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.Follow us online:Kirby ConversationsIG: @kirbyconversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousOur 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.

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/KirbyConversationsWant 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!Follow us online:Kirby ConversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialIG: @kirbyconversationsThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousOur 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.

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/KirbyConversationsWant 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.Follow us online:Kirby ConversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialIG: @kirbyconversationsThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousOur 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.

Kirby's Dream Land 2 is revisited in this podcast, discussing the introduction of animal friends and challenging puzzle design. They explore the Super Game Boy and other console peripherals, sharing favorite experiences. The episode also delves into what retro gaming means and how to enjoy it without breaking the bank.

Jake 'Button Masher' Silverman, Grammy-winning music producer, discusses winning a Grammy for updating a Kirby song. They dive into the technical brilliance of the composer's work, Button Masher's projects inspired by Zelda and live shows blending music with ROM hacks. They also share plans for exciting new music projects and collaborations in the gaming industry.

Are Kirby Games Too Easy? Sean and Bridget discuss the accessibility and inclusivity of Kirby games designed by Masahiro Sakurai and Shinya Kumazaki. They also play a game to guess the retirement rates of different games. The conversation continues with childhood and adulthood video game accomplishments, available on Patreon. Follow Kirby Conversations for more content and insights!

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. Follow us online:Kirby ConversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialIG: @kirbyconversationsThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousOur 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.

For this episode, we take a look at Kirby's newest abilities: Ranger, Drill, Jelly, Mecha, and Sand. These abilities bring exciting new dimensions to Kirby's most recent games, and we consider how they may also help us predict what new abilities Kirby could have next. We also reflect on the bright future for Kirby games—especially given the over fifty unused ability ideas HAL has said they had for Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe. Then for Act 2, Ky tells us how she's been vibin' with Animal Crossing Lego, Sean describes his experiences with Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Ky shares what Final Fantasy VII characters she thinks we'd all be.For our Patreon-only 3rd Act posting later this week, we have a medley of deleted scenes, a visit from one of Ky's cats, and further discussion of the ideas from this episode at www.patreon.com/KirbyConversations.Follow us online:Kirby ConversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialIG: @kirbyconversationsThreads: @kirbyconversationsOur other handles:Ky "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousX: @captdangerous64FB: Dangerous PixelsBridgetIG: @no1kirbyfanThreads: @no1kirbyfanX: @Kabula_QueenSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialThreads: @_smdouglass_IG: @_smdouglass_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.