Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and More

Kirby Conversations
  • 4.9 (43)
  • VIDEO GAMES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and More

Kirby Conversations is a weekly podcast on Nintendo's famous video game character Kirby, presented by writer and podcaster Sean Douglass, Kirby collector and artist Bridget, Nintendo Affiliate and photographer Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker, and WiKirby Editor-in-Chief Gigi. Together they explore more than 30 years of Kirby games, history, and culture, along with adjacent subjects like Super Smash Bros., Kirby's developer HAL Laboratory, and other related Nintendo games. Whether you're a casual Nintendo fan or an avid player of Kirby games, we hope Kirby Conversations can be a fun, funny, and even educational show on the impact this popular Japanese character is having on the video game industry and world at large. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. FEB 19

    Kirby's Drum Land: Finding a Rhythm with Taiko no Tatsujin and Donkey Konga

    Drumroll please...it's time for an episode on drumming to Kirby music in non-Kirby games. Music class is in session as Bridget introduces Sean and Ky to the history of the Taiko no Tatsujin series, some of which contain Kirby songs and cameos. They also reflect on the iconic DK bongos and the Kirby songs that were playable in the GameCube's Donkey Konga series. The 2000's saw a surprising boom of rhythm games with instrument peripherals, from Taiko no Tatsujin to Guitar Hero. Would you want to see this trend return? And what instruments would you want to see reimagined in video game form? Let us know at mail@kirbyconversations.com. Join us online: Kirby Conversations Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social IG: @kirbyconversations Threads: @kirbyconversations YouTube (for our longform episodes): www.youtube.com/@KirbyConversations Bridget Bluesky: @kabulaqueen.bsky.social Sean Douglass Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker IG: @captaindangerous Gigi Carrd link Our opening music is by Megan Kelz (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/). Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min

  2. FEB 5

    Say Yes to the DS: Kirby Canvas Curse with Nic McConnell

    In this episode, Sean and Bridget are joined by special guest Nic McConnell, Age Ratings Manager at Riot Games, to discuss his favorite Kirby game: Kirby Canvas Curse. Together they reflect on Canvas Curse's amazing visuals and level design, the enduring appeal of the DS's touchscreen controls, and the unique background of the game's director Motomi Katayama (who worked on a surprising range of series from Ridge Racer to Tekken). Then for the latter part of the show, Nic describes his work in the age ratings space, with fascinating insights on what it's like to help Riot navigate the distinct cultural perspectives of audiences and ratings boards around the world. You can find Nic on Bluesky at @mcconnell.bsky.social or watch him read video game manuals on Instruction Derby at https://www.twitch.tv/nicmcconnell and @instructionderby.bsky.social. Are there other DS platformers you thought made great use of the touchscreen? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode. We will also now be uploading a version of the podcast to YouTube. Subscribe to us, and you can expect more visual versions of our longform episodes to be posted there a few days after they release in the podcast feed. Join us online: Kirby Conversations Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social IG: @kirbyconversations Threads: @kirbyconversations Bridget Bluesky: @kabulaqueen.bsky.social Sean Douglass Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker IG: @captaindangerous Gigi Carrd link Our opening music is by Megan Kelz (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/). Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 11m

  3. JAN 21

    Catching Up with Captain Dangerous + Switch 2 Reveal

    Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker has been away from the podcast for a bit, so in this episode we're catching up with her on her latest miniature projects, current photography work, and what it's like to be a Nintendo Ambassador during the quiet period before a new console launch. Speaking of which, the Switch 2 was just revealed, so we've got some thoughts and reflections to share on that as well—particularly when it comes to those potentially mouse-like new Joy-Cons. This is a shorter episode, and for the time being our schedule going to start alternating episodes of Kirby Conversations between these shorter, more accessible episodes and longer "featured" episodes. Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode. We will also now be uploading a version of the podcast to YouTube! Subscribe to us, and you can expect more visual versions of our longform episodes to be posted there a few days after they release in the podcast feed. Join us online: Kirby Conversations Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social IG: @kirbyconversations Threads: @kirbyconversations Bridget Bluesky: @kabulaqueen.bsky.social Sean Douglass Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker IG: @captaindangerous Gigi Carrd link Our opening music is by Megan Kelz (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/). Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min

  4. JAN 8

    A Kirby Music Roundtable with Megan Kelz and Duncan "PixelTea" Smith

    For this episode, Sean sits down with composers Megan Kelz (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/) for a conversation all about the music of Kirby. They go in-depth on the artists behind Kirby's famous songs, highlighting many of their favorite tracks along the way, and explore the actual music theory and instrumentation behind what makes that signature Kirby sound. Megan composed "Winds of Change," the music we use as our theme music, and Duncan provided the new arrangement you hear at the start and end of every show. We are very grateful to have them as a part of the podcast, and you can hear the full extended version of this theme at the end of this episode. You can also check out their other music and several upcoming games they composed for in their links above. Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode. Kirby Conversations is now regularly active on YouTube as well, and we invite you to subscribe to the video version of the show. Find 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 Gigi Carrd link Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 2m

  5. 12/24/2024

    Strawberry Battlefields Forever: Why We're Still Playing Kirby's Dream Buffet

    As you gather with friends and family for the holidays, you may consider returning to 2022's Kirby's Dream Buffet—a budget-friendly party game that packs a lot of fun into $15. While not a traditional Kirby game (he's just rolling in ball form here), Dream Buffet still has tons of unlockables and more than twenty food-inspired stages of racing, battles, and mini-games. For this episode, Bridget, Sean, and Gigi dig into the feast of secrets and trivia both within and surrounding the game, including details from its related Japanese light novel and the unique way it was marketed in Brazil as the first Kirby game translated into Brazilian Portuguese. And if you do decide to go head to head this holiday season, they've also got some strategies to help you triumph over your family in sweet victory. Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode. We will also now be uploading more visual versions of each episode to YouTube! Subscribe to us there, and you can expect new uploads a few days after each new episode releases. ***Also--want to win $300 in a special holiday giveaway we're doing with our friends at Flashback 64? Check out our audio scavenger hunt, where you can win gift cards by answering trivia questions about our two podcasts. Check out all the details here.*** Join 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 Gigi Carrd link Our opening music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/). Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 4m

  6. 12/11/2024

    HAL Laboratory's "Bodacious" Kabuki: Quantum Fighter

    For this episode we're heading back to 1990--and forward to 2056--for Kabuki: Quantum Fighter, a pre-Kirby sci-fi platformer that marked the first time HAL Laboratory published a game they did not develop themselves. Sean and Bridget are here to discuss this bizarre adventure, in which a kabuki actor (actually a colonel who got uploaded into Earth's main defense computer) flips and hair-whips his way to defeating an evil virus. It might not be one of HAL's greatest hits, but if you're into classic NES platformers, Kabuki: Quantum Fighter is still a good time today (although you might want to make use of that level select cheat to help dull the difficulty). Along the way they also look back on its appearance in Nintendo Power issue 21 (https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-021-february-1991/page/26/mode/2up) and its "bodacious" 90's commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVgIJqadh5w). Our outro music is a little different today--the Round 1 music from Kabuki: Quantum Fighter. Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode. We will also now be uploading more visual versions of each episode to YouTube! Subscribe to us there, and you can expect new uploads a few days after each new episode releases. ***Also--want to win $300 in a special holiday giveaway we're doing with our friends at Flashback 64? Check out our audio scavenger hunt, where you can win gift cards by answering trivia questions about our two podcasts. Check out all the details here.*** Join 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 Gigi Carrd link Our opening music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/). Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min

  7. 11/27/2024

    There's A Lot We Already Know About Kirby News For 2025

    It's almost 2025, and while the biggest announcements for the Switch's successor are still shrouded in mystery, there's already a lot we know about what's coming for Kirby next year. In this episode, Sean and Gigi break down what for sure is coming, what is likely coming based on our best estimates, and even a few more wild predictions toward the end. Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode. We will also now be uploading more visual versions of each episode to YouTube! Subscribe to us there, and you can expect new uploads a few days after each new episode releases. Join 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 Gigi Carrd link Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/). Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min

  8. 11/13/2024

    Kirby Sass Attack: Why the Feisty Kirby's Avalanche Never Released in Japan

    Did you know Kirby's Avalanche is the only Kirby game never to release in Japan? That's because it's the Western version of Super Puyo Puyo, redesigned with Kirby characters instead of the usual Puyo Puyo crowd. (This also explains why Kirby is a little sassier in this one, as his personality is modeled after Puyo Puyo protagonist Arle Nadja.) For this episode of Kirby Conversations, Sean, Bridget, and Gigi are going through the history of this classic Kirby puzzle game, with an avalanche of trivia, history, other puzzle games we recommend, and even notes on the XBAND, an early modem licensed by Nintendo that made Kirby's Avalanche the first Kirby game with online multiplayer! Whether you're a Puyo Puyo pro or just looking to try one of Kirby's more overlooked titles, Kirby's Avalanche is a tough but fun entry in the series that is still worth checking out almost thirty years later. Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode. Want to enter our Bluesky giveaway to win a $50 gift card of your choice? Follow us there and repost this post to enter. Join 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 Gigi Carrd link Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/). Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min
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4.9
out of 5
43 Ratings

About

Kirby Conversations is a weekly podcast on Nintendo's famous video game character Kirby, presented by writer and podcaster Sean Douglass, Kirby collector and artist Bridget, Nintendo Affiliate and photographer Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker, and WiKirby Editor-in-Chief Gigi. Together they explore more than 30 years of Kirby games, history, and culture, along with adjacent subjects like Super Smash Bros., Kirby's developer HAL Laboratory, and other related Nintendo games. Whether you're a casual Nintendo fan or an avid player of Kirby games, we hope Kirby Conversations can be a fun, funny, and even educational show on the impact this popular Japanese character is having on the video game industry and world at large. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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