Kirby Conversations Kirby Conversations

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.

For this episode of Kirby Conversations, we're looking at the influence popular mecha series had on Kirby: Planet Robobot. To start, it's Mecha History 101, as Bridget and Ky teach Sean about the rich history of Japanese mecha films and TV shows like Mobile Suit Gundam, Gurren Lagann, and more. Then we consider how Shinya Kumazaki seems to have drawn on his personal interest in mecha shows when creating the design and gameplay for Kirby's mechs (including one particularly familiar-looking drill). We also share our experiences with Planet Robobot before turning to Act 2, where Ky and Bridget discuss their love of Gundam model kits, and we all reflect on the joys of playing Kirby as adults in or approaching our thirties.
Starting with this episode, we're now also offering extended three-act versions of every show to our Patreon supporters! To get the full, mecha-sized version of this episode later this week, and also receive digital events, prints of Captain Dangerous's photographs, video game download codes, and more, visit our Patreon page 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.

In this episode of Kirby Conversations, Sean and Bridget take to the skies for a look back at Revenge of Meta Knight, one of several games within 1996's Kirby Super Star. From its expertly-paced action to its engaging story, we consider all the things that make this adventure such a terrific example of short-form game design. We also explore some lesser-known aspects of its development, its influences from Japanese history and other media, and how a new arrangement of its theme song even won a Grammy in 2022. Then for Act 2, we look beyond the Halberd to discuss our other favorite video game airships, from Super Mario Bros. 3 to Final Fantasy VII. (Note that our conversation about Revenge of Meta Knight does include spoilers, and from about 25:15 to 27:20 we talk about some Halberd moments from Kirby: Squeak Squad and Kirby: Planet Robobot that could be considered spoilers for those games as well.)
You can support this show on Patreon to receive bonus content, digital events, prints of Captain Dangerous's photographs, video game download codes, and more! Check out all the reward tiers, and even join for free, 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.