Long time no update
I do apologize for the MASSIVE passing in time since my last update, but I've been incredibly busy between vacations, the start of the summer season, recording podcast episodes, and other neat experiences...
Let's see...I'm 25 now, had an AWESOME birthday, had an amazing and relaxing vacation, almost won an award at the Attractions Operations Awards for 2013 (lost out on Best Themer to someone at Revenge of the Mummy), got to stay in New Port Richey for a few days, and so, so much more. ^^; It would be too tough to write about it all, so I guess I'll relate an experience I had today...I got to go to the Nintendo Experience at Best Buy!
So, Nintendo's doing this neat thing during E3 2013 where instead of keeping their new Wii U games hidden away for only those in the press and the industry to play, they're allowing the public to play a sampling of four new titles. They made a deal with Best Buy stores across the nation (a small sampling, mind you) and set up a Wii U console to demonstrate the titles, allowing ordinary folks the chance to play! To do so, however, you have to find out what Best Buy, if any, has it going on, and get there at the appropriate time. Getting there early could result in scoring some cool swag (foam Luigi hats, people were quite lucky!), but even if you have to wait in line, it's not all that bad...so long as you don't do what I did and stand the ENTIRE time!
My wait was probably a little longer than any reasonable person should have to stand in line for even a theme park ride...I think I played around 3 hours and 45 minutes later, but I'm not sure. I'd been waiting so long that I honestly lost track of time. I got to the Best Buy around 4ish, registered, and watched the line lengthen a heck of a lot. The other cool thing about it was, as a 3DS owner, I was getting a lot of StreetPass tags. And by a lot, I mean a heck of a lot! More than I can get than even at work. By the time I was done, I tagged for every game I own that's compatible except for Scribblenauts Unlimited. 24 StreetPass Mii Plaza tags (including 2 Special Miis from E3), 17 NSMB2 Coin Rush tags, 5 Sonic Generations tags, 3 Animal Crossing: New Leaf tags, and 1 Crosswords Plus tag. It was also nice to talk to other gamerfolk excited to play the new titles, whether Nintendo fans since birth or even some younger folks.
As for the games themselves, they were registering folks for the chance to play one of 4 E3 show-floor titles...2 players could play Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze (1 level), 2 players could go head-to-head in Mario Kart 8 (2 races), 4 players could romp about in Super Mario 3D World (1 level), and 1 player could relive the classic Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker in the HD remake (choice of 'island romp' or 'boss battle'). Overall, things were pretty well organized, but I did have a bit of a mishap when it came up to my turn. Apparently the woman had misplaced the list, so even though I was next to join 3 others in Super Mario 3D World, a little kid was brought up in my place and got to play. Being that I waited there for nearly 4 hours, the staff on hand (2 Nintendo retail representatives) decided that I could get the chance to pair up with someone for Mario Kart 8, then after another short wait, I'd also get to try Super Mario 3D World with 3 others. They certainly did not have to do that, but I was honored that they did, and it only cements my continued trust and enjoyment of Nintendo.
The games themselves played intuitively enough, and the person I was paired with for Mario Kart 8 was nice enough to switch so that I could get one turn with the Wii Remote during one race and the Wii U Gamepad during the next race. The Wii Remote, which I never really played with in Mario Kart Wii, felt a little awkward with the motion controls, but not too bad overall. The Gamepad, on the other hand, far more intuitive. While I got 4th place in the Wii Remote race, I took 1st when I played with the Gamepad.
Super Mario 3D World has all of the fun and feel of Super Mario 3D Land, but with the frenetic action of New Super Mario Bros. The controls were a trifle awkward with the Wii Remote (no switching to Gamepad, since it was one level), but we all had a good time, shared how to do moves with one another (the long jump returns, and Cat Suit characters are just fun as heck to watch and use), and we all had a great time...even if I ended up in a bubble and didn't finish the level~
Although my legs were in AGONY by the time I finally finished (I foolishly never sat down during that entire wait...big mistake!), it was well worth it to get a chance to sample a few more Wii U titles, some that won't be out for months! I would still like to see a Wii U pricedrop, as the price tag has mostly kept me away from the system...but at least I know when I finally get one, it's gonna be so worth it.
If Nintendo is to do this again, they have GOT to get more than one Wii U console somehow, make separate lines for each title they have for folks to try, because nothing was worse than watching one dude take a good 6 minutes to defeat the Helmroc King...yes, Wii were judging U! XD
Let's see...I'm 25 now, had an AWESOME birthday, had an amazing and relaxing vacation, almost won an award at the Attractions Operations Awards for 2013 (lost out on Best Themer to someone at Revenge of the Mummy), got to stay in New Port Richey for a few days, and so, so much more. ^^; It would be too tough to write about it all, so I guess I'll relate an experience I had today...I got to go to the Nintendo Experience at Best Buy!
So, Nintendo's doing this neat thing during E3 2013 where instead of keeping their new Wii U games hidden away for only those in the press and the industry to play, they're allowing the public to play a sampling of four new titles. They made a deal with Best Buy stores across the nation (a small sampling, mind you) and set up a Wii U console to demonstrate the titles, allowing ordinary folks the chance to play! To do so, however, you have to find out what Best Buy, if any, has it going on, and get there at the appropriate time. Getting there early could result in scoring some cool swag (foam Luigi hats, people were quite lucky!), but even if you have to wait in line, it's not all that bad...so long as you don't do what I did and stand the ENTIRE time!
My wait was probably a little longer than any reasonable person should have to stand in line for even a theme park ride...I think I played around 3 hours and 45 minutes later, but I'm not sure. I'd been waiting so long that I honestly lost track of time. I got to the Best Buy around 4ish, registered, and watched the line lengthen a heck of a lot. The other cool thing about it was, as a 3DS owner, I was getting a lot of StreetPass tags. And by a lot, I mean a heck of a lot! More than I can get than even at work. By the time I was done, I tagged for every game I own that's compatible except for Scribblenauts Unlimited. 24 StreetPass Mii Plaza tags (including 2 Special Miis from E3), 17 NSMB2 Coin Rush tags, 5 Sonic Generations tags, 3 Animal Crossing: New Leaf tags, and 1 Crosswords Plus tag. It was also nice to talk to other gamerfolk excited to play the new titles, whether Nintendo fans since birth or even some younger folks.
As for the games themselves, they were registering folks for the chance to play one of 4 E3 show-floor titles...2 players could play Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze (1 level), 2 players could go head-to-head in Mario Kart 8 (2 races), 4 players could romp about in Super Mario 3D World (1 level), and 1 player could relive the classic Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker in the HD remake (choice of 'island romp' or 'boss battle'). Overall, things were pretty well organized, but I did have a bit of a mishap when it came up to my turn. Apparently the woman had misplaced the list, so even though I was next to join 3 others in Super Mario 3D World, a little kid was brought up in my place and got to play. Being that I waited there for nearly 4 hours, the staff on hand (2 Nintendo retail representatives) decided that I could get the chance to pair up with someone for Mario Kart 8, then after another short wait, I'd also get to try Super Mario 3D World with 3 others. They certainly did not have to do that, but I was honored that they did, and it only cements my continued trust and enjoyment of Nintendo.
The games themselves played intuitively enough, and the person I was paired with for Mario Kart 8 was nice enough to switch so that I could get one turn with the Wii Remote during one race and the Wii U Gamepad during the next race. The Wii Remote, which I never really played with in Mario Kart Wii, felt a little awkward with the motion controls, but not too bad overall. The Gamepad, on the other hand, far more intuitive. While I got 4th place in the Wii Remote race, I took 1st when I played with the Gamepad.
Super Mario 3D World has all of the fun and feel of Super Mario 3D Land, but with the frenetic action of New Super Mario Bros. The controls were a trifle awkward with the Wii Remote (no switching to Gamepad, since it was one level), but we all had a good time, shared how to do moves with one another (the long jump returns, and Cat Suit characters are just fun as heck to watch and use), and we all had a great time...even if I ended up in a bubble and didn't finish the level~
Although my legs were in AGONY by the time I finally finished (I foolishly never sat down during that entire wait...big mistake!), it was well worth it to get a chance to sample a few more Wii U titles, some that won't be out for months! I would still like to see a Wii U pricedrop, as the price tag has mostly kept me away from the system...but at least I know when I finally get one, it's gonna be so worth it.
If Nintendo is to do this again, they have GOT to get more than one Wii U console somehow, make separate lines for each title they have for folks to try, because nothing was worse than watching one dude take a good 6 minutes to defeat the Helmroc King...yes, Wii were judging U! XD