Kirby Conversations Kirby Conversations

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/KirbyConversations
Want 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 Conversations
Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social
IG: @kirbyconversations
Threads: @kirbyconversations
Bridget
Threads: @no1kirbyfan
Sean Douglass
Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social
Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker
IG: @captaindangerous

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.

In this episode of Kirby Conversations, we're getting nostalgic with Kirby's Dream Land 2—or at least Sean and Bridget are, as Ky's playing this one for the first time. We consider how well this nearly 30-year-old title holds up today, from its introduction of Kirby's animal friends Rick, Kine, and Coo to its satisfying (and challenging) puzzle design. KDL2 was also a game designed for the Super Game Boy, a 1994 peripheral that used the Super Nintendo to bring Game Boy games to your TV with enhanced visuals, sound, and other features. So for Act 2 we look at the history of that device and discuss our other favorite experiences with peripherals that attach to games and consoles, including Ky's promotional work for Nintendo on Nintendo Labo.
For Act 3, found only on Patreon, we're staying with the retro theme of this episode to ask, "What is retro?" We also consider how you can enjoy retro games without spending a fortune, and Sean shares a recent favorite video game experience fighting a cow.
Want 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
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 Conversations
Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social
IG: @kirbyconversations
Threads: @kirbyconversations
Bridget
Threads: @no1kirbyfan
Sean Douglass
Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social
Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker
IG: @captaindangerous

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.

In 2022, Jake "Button Masher" Silverman and Charlie Rosen won the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella. Their song was a new arrangement, performed by Button Masher and Rosen's 8-Bit Big Bang, of "Meta Knight's Revenge" from Kirby Super Star. In our episode today, Button Masher joins us to reflect on how this update of a classic Kirby song—the only Grammy-winning video game cover ever—came together, his experiences at the Grammys, and the technical brilliance of composer Jun Ishikawa's work. Then for Act 2, we discuss Button Masher's work on Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, a new game inspired by the classic Zelda CD-i titles, and his plans for exciting new live shows that blend music with ROM hacks.
For our Patreon-only 3rd Act posting later this week, join us for an additional segment where Jake discusses his childhood and early musical experiences and Ky shares her father's unique background playing with Guns N' Roses before they were Guns N' Roses (like, for real—it's a wild story): www.patreon.com/KirbyConversations.
Follow Button Masher's work on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@_buttonmasher or on Instagram. Hear the Grammy-winning arrangement of "Meta Knight's Revenge" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIP3HdFl-JM
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.
Lastly, 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
Follow us online:
Kirby Conversations
Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social
IG: @kirbyconversations
Threads: @kirbyconversations
Bridget
Threads: @no1kirbyfan
Sean Douglass
Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social
Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker
IG: @captaindangerous

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.

The Kirby series often strives to be accessible for children and newcomers to video games. But are they too easy for everyone else? In this episode, Sean and Bridget discuss this classic question of Kirby difficulty and consider the intentional layers and inclusivity that Masahiro Sakurai and Shinya Kumazaki bring to the games they design. Then for Act 2, it's time for a funny and insightful reflection on difficulty in a different light with our new game Retirement Party, where Bridget has to guess which game each round had the higher retirement rate (percentage of players quit on it) based on data from howlongtobeat.com)
For Act 3, the conversation on difficulty continues as Sean and Bridget share stories on some of their favorite video game accomplishments from childhood and adulthood. Act 3 is available only on Patreon, along with other rewards including bonus episodes, merchandise, live events and more. There's also a free tier, and you can sign up at www.patreon.com/KirbyConversations.
Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com. We'd love to hear your questions or comments and might share them in a future Q&A segment on the show.
Follow us online:
Kirby Conversations
Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social
IG: @kirbyconversations
Threads: @kirbyconversations
Bridget
Threads: @no1kirbyfan
Sean Douglass
Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social
Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker
IG: @captaindangerous

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.

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 Conversations
Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social
IG: @kirbyconversations
Threads: @kirbyconversations
Bridget
Threads: @no1kirbyfan
Sean Douglass
Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social
Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker
IG: @captaindangerous

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.

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 Conversations
Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social
IG: @kirbyconversations
Threads: @kirbyconversations

Our other handles:
Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker
IG: @captaindangerous
X: @captdangerous64
FB: Dangerous Pixels
Bridget
IG: @no1kirbyfan
Threads: @no1kirbyfan
X: @Kabula_Queen
Sean Douglass
Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social
Threads: @_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.