A major firmware update for the original Switch adds support for features like Virtual Game Card and GameShare, and Patrick and Mark unpack what it means for the looming launch of the Switch 2. Plus, Nintendo sets its sights on accessory maker Genki, the Joy-Con 2 gets a stealthy new rumble, and more.
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With word that some Nintendo titles are getting souped-up “Switch 2 Editions,” Patrick and Mark imagine what other Switch games deserve the deluxe treatment. What gets upgraded? What gets added? And which forgotten gems from the Switch are ripe for a glow-up?
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Patrick and Mark survived the great Switch 2 pre-order scramble—and lived to podcast about it! This week, the guys share their experiences trying to secure the new hardware, plus thoughts on the newly available Tears of the Kingdom and Street Fighter 6 amiibo, GameCube controller pre-orders, and more. It's pre-orders all the way down!
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Patrick and Mark affix patches to the elbows of their sports coats and dive deep into the curious semantics of Nintendo’s game titles. What does it really mean when a game is called “Land” instead of “World”? And what happens when you throw “Super” in front of something? From "New" to "Deluxe," they explore the subtle signals Nintendo sends through its naming conventions.
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Patrick and Mark catch up on an eventful week in Nintendo news, with pre-order information and pricing confirmed for North America and—hey!—a whole Mario Kart World Direct as well. Plus, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones joins Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, amiibo pricing updates, and more.
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Patrick and Mark pit randomly selected Nintendo games against each other in a no-rules, rapid-fire showdown to determine which game reigns supreme. Will logic prevail? Don't count on it!
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When will Switch 2 pre-orders open in North America? Nobody knows—not even Patrick and Mark! But that doesn’t stop them from trying to make sense of reports about Nintendo’s manufacturing plans and what they could mean in our ever-panicked global economy. Plus, new details on the Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, helping a listener spend their Nintendo Switch Vouchers, and more.
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The Switch 2 Direct was packed with exciting news—but it didn’t cover everything. This week, Patrick and Mark explore what was missing from the presentation and what those omissions could mean for the system’s future and Nintendo’s broader strategy.
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Mark is out of the hospital and now the only thing spewing out of his body uncontrollably is Switch 2 Direct opinions. Patrick and Mark finally get together to discuss:
Switch 2 hardware features like GameChat and Game Share.
Nintendo's approach to pricing.
Reactions to games like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong: Bananza, and Kirby Air Riders.
Third-parties showing up for Switch 2.
And more.
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Mark is waylaid with a medical emergency, so special guest co-host Conner McCabe joins Patrick to breakdown every minute of the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct. Super Mario Kart, Kirby's Air Riders, Donkey Kong Bananza, Switch 2 Editions, 40k / 60FPS / HDR, Metroid Prime 4, Elden Ring, The Duskbloods, Game Cube Classics Library, Game Sharing, Game Chat, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Street Fighter 6, Hades II, and like, 50 other games. It's a wild ride marked by price point controversies and unclear upgrade paths!
Listen to Call Me By Your Game and Super NPC Games Club where ever you get your podcasts!
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Patrick and Mark asked, and you delivered! With the Switch 2 Direct just hours away, the guys dive into listener predictions, reacting to your boldest guesses and weighing in with their own expectations for what Nintendo will reveal. Will the rumors hold true, or are surprises in store? Let’s speculate one last time before the big event!
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Well, folks, that was a weird one! Patrick and Mark break down everything revealed in today’s Switch 1 Nintendo Direct, trying to make sense of it all. From the latest look at Metroid Prime 4: Beyond to Nintendo’s new Virtual Game Cards system and the debut of Nintendo Today!, the guys dive into all the surprises, oddities, and what it could mean for the future.
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A Switch 2 Nintendo Direct is locked in for next week—but what if Patrick and Mark told you there might be a Switch 1-focused Direct happening first? Rumors are swirling that Nintendo could drop a surprise presentation for the current Switch just days before the big Switch 2 reveal. Does this make sense? What could it mean? The guys break it all down!
Plus, the guys also talk about:
Patrick playing Donkey Kong '94 on the Super Game Boy.
Mark checks out the indie game Urban Myth Dissolution Center.
(Some of) Kirby and the Forgotten Land is added to Nintendo Music.
The ESA reveals the Accessible Games Initiative.
A hidden 60 FPS mode in Xenoblade Chronicles: X.
Lego and Pokemon tease a collaboration.
A new Splatfest in Splatoon 3 for SpringFest 2025.
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In 2023, Patrick declared he was going to buy everything Nintendo released in 2024. Now, Patrick and Mark take stock of the things Nintendo released, what they bought, what they bought twice, and what they bought three times...
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Patrick and Mark get worked up about analog triggers as new regulatory filings indicate a GameCube controller could be in the works for the Switch 2. Could this signal GameCube games coming to Nintendo Switch Online? Do GameCube games even make sense as part of NSO? Plus, a look at the creative team behind last year's NSO Playtest, the opening date for Nintendo San Francisco, and more.
The guys also talk about:
The butt rock of Xenoblade Chronicles X.
The Super Game Boy-exclusive features of Donkey Kong '94.
Star Wars Hunters shutting down.
Niantic officially selling its games, including Pokemon Go and Pikmin Bloom, to Scopely.
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This week, Patrick and Mark conclude their ABC's of Nintendo Console Launches.
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Patrick and Mark throw off their Mario bed sheets, brush their teeth with Mario toothpaste, and dress in their finest blue overalls to celebrate the spoils of MAR10 (Mario) Day, including a new LEGO Mario Kart set, an update for Alarmo, and more.
The guys also talk about:
Getting started with Okami.
Mario Picross and Donkey Kong '94 for the Game Boy arrive on Nintendo Switch Online.
Strategies for Nintendo to keep subscribers happy with NSO.
Improving discoverability on the eShop.
Switch 2 features potentially revealed in regulatory filings.
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4 remakes offically announced for Switch.
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Patrick and Mark prepare for the Switch 2 by looking back at the systems that came before with Part 1 of the ABCs of Nintendo Console Launches.
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Patrick and Mark use "News." It's super effective! The guys round-up all of the announcements from last week's Pokemon Presents, including the reveal of Pokemon Champions and a release window for Pokemon Legends Z-A.
The guys also talk about:
Patrick's initial impressions of Ninja Five-O.
Mark's experience with Thank Goodness You’re Here.
A new overview trailer for Xenoblade Chronicles X.
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4 remakes (probably) announced for Switch.
Super Soccer being removed from Nintendo Switch Online.
Awards for Kirby and Smash creator Masahiro Sakurai.
Looking back at the Switch's launch on its 8th anniversary.
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Patrick and Mark dive into your questions and comments about last week’s episode on Nintendo’s original IPs. From franchises they overlooked to fresh perspectives on Nintendo’s creative history, it’s a full episode of fan-fueled discussion—plus a few surprises along the way.
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