Black Pro Controller Again

 

I don't own (and haven't played) any of the Xenoblade games, so I decided to sell my Xenoblade Switch Pro Controller and just go back to the original black model that I previously owned (but which surprisingly got fried by a strong static shock from my thumb when I was recording my Cyber Shadow playthrough).  Even though I heard the Xenoblade version had a better D-pad, from my experience, it was only a slight difference at best.

I was surprised at how easily and quickly my Xenoblade controller sold with all of the packaging.  I think I got most of my money back on that purchase.  Also, I was able to find an unused black Pro Controller in "open box" condition, so the price on that was pretty good.  I tend to have the default color schemes for my controllers anyway.

Unfortunately, the analog stick on my right Joy-Con has started drifting uncontrollably even though Nintendo previously repaired it once (at their cost), so I guess I have to send it back in for another repair unless I never want to play another FPS on the system (I hate dual analog controls and even using the tilt controls on the Pro Controller doesn't feel quite right).

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Official Guide

I haven't typically posted about guide books that I've picked up, but this one was unusual and worthy of comment.  Normally, major Nintendo games receive official guides at the same time that the games themselves release.  For instance, the Breath of the Wild strategy guide was available alongside the game when the Switch launched in 2017.

I have a tradition of picking up the official guides for more complicated games dating back all the way to Yoshi's Island on the SNES, which I probably got around early 1996.  After that I was picking up 3D Mario and Zelda guides (and ultimately other game guides) alongside the games starting with Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Yet, for some odd reason, the official guide for Tears of the Kingdom did not release alongside the game.  In fact, numerous people (myself included) weren't even sure if a guide book would be released.  However, close to the game's launch, Piggyback (the company that published the Breath of the Wild guide), announced that Tears of the Kingdom would get an official guide - around June 16, over a month after the game's May 12 release.  As far as I'm aware, this was unheard of, at least for a Zelda game.

Nonetheless, I preordered the guide from GameStop, but then the release date was suddenly pushed back to July 7.  In another unexpected move, the guide was then released about two weeks before the new July 7 date, and I actually received my copy just yesterday.  I have always preferred the paperback versions, so that's what I went with.

The guide is absolutely massive, and although I haven't compared them directly, I think the Tears of the Kingdom guide might be around twice as thick as the Breath of the Wild guide.  The organization is pretty good and everything seems to be explained quite well, but I'm finding that it's a little easier to use the dynamic website maps to find certain locations rather than flipping through several pages.  Other than that though, the guide book is preferable to online guides.

It seems like the video game industry is trying to kill off physical media for a variety of ridiculous reasons, but hopefully Nintendo keeps supporting it and keeps releasing strategy guides, at least for Zelda games.  After Nintendo Power stopped releasing Player's Guides around late 2006, Prima pretty much took over, but apparently they no longer make any printed guides.  We'll see if Piggyback goes the way of Prima and Nintendo Power, and if any new company springs up to fill in the void.

E3 2001

The first time I went to E3 was in 2001.  I was only 17 at the time and the expo required that you be at least 18 years old to attend, so I had to borrow my older brother's ID.  I actually called in sick to school that day and my father took me to the show.

After reading about E3 for several years in Nintendo Power and other gaming magazines, I finally got the chance to see the show for myself, and it was like experiencing a theme park for the first time.  It was actually overwhelming.  But I had previously been to the Los Angeles Convention Center for a car show that my father wanted to attend, so at least the building was familiar.

E3 was interesting because both the GameCube and the original Xbox were releasing later that year, and they were playable at the show.  The Super Smash Bros. Melee section was absolutely packed, and even the Luigi's Mansion section was rather crowded.  However, I did get the chance to play Wave Race Blue Storm, which as I recall, had only a single screen off to the side from main games.  I think Mario Kart Super Circuit was also playable.

I ended up getting all sorts of free stuff including shirts, hats and whatnot, and there was even some company in one of the hallways holding a large ring with a shower curtain hanging from it.  If you were willing to take off your shirt and put on one of theirs while they covered you with the shower curtain, you could get a free shirt.  We did that, of course.

There are a lot of specifics that I am no doubt forgetting, but long story short, it was a ton of fun.

I took pictures of the event with a crappy disposable camera, so they're not the greatest quality, but they're better than nothing.  Someone on my Youtube channel asked me to post the pictures, so here they are.

Wii U Cleaning Kit Box and Manual Scans

I had an interesting request on my Youtube channel to post scans of the manual for the Wii U Cleaning Kit.  At first I didn't understand the request since the person just asked for .pdf files for the manual and I of course had no such things.  However, what he really meant was for me to scan it or take pictures of it.  This is understandable since the English version of this item is so rare.  It fetches more than $200 on eBay last time I checked, which is outrageous.

In any event, I'm no stranger when it comes to the desire for box or manual scans, so I'm providing both.  Enjoy.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Collector's Edition

I had thought about getting the Collector's Edition for Tears of Kingdom back when it was announced, but I was a bit lazy and so I never got around to preordering a copy during the extremely limited window of opportunity.  I ended up just buying a standard version of the game from Best Buy and getting their neat little poster.

However, about a week ago my friend Keet spotted a sealed Collector's Edition on eBay that didn't have too much of a mark-up from the retail price, so I decided to buy it (he had to buy his on eBay as well).  Since another friend was looking to pick up a used copy of the game at a discount anyway, I'll be selling my extra copy to him.

The overall box design is rather lackluster, especially compared to the awesome Special Edition release for Breath of the Wild.  However, the included bonuses are better than I expected.  While the pins are nothing special, the art book and steel poster are really neat.  The steel case is also decent (though I won't use it).

I actually thought that the Collector's Edition would have a much smaller box, but it's nearly the same size as the Breath of the Wild Special Edition.  It also weighs quite a bit due to art book and steel goodies inside.  Overall, I'm glad I decided to pick it up.  Thanks Keet!

Doom Eternal Nintendo Switch Physical Version

Here's my second purchase from Limited Run Games.  I picked up the cartridge release of Doom for the Switch once motion controls were patched into the game, and I had quite a bit of fun playing online multiplayer.

However, when Doom Eternal was given a lackluster new l vs. 2 multiplayer mode and was released as a downloadable only title on the Switch, I decided to skip the sequel.  Some time later though, Limited Run Games announced that it would release a cartridge version of the game, so I changed my mind and decided to get the standard version.  It took just under a year for the game to arrive since I preordered it, so Limited Run doesn't exactly have a fast turnaround with games.

Keet also picked up a copy of Doom Eternal, so maybe I can get online multiplayer footage posted, though I wouldn't expect many videos.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge Switch Physical Copy (Limited Run Games)

It just arrived.  This is my first time buying from Limited Run Games.  Although it takes the company quite a while to release cartridge versions of games after their initial digital release, it's still way better to own a physical copy of a game whenever possible.  This game also came with all sorts of inserts including an art book, stickers, a discount code for a subsequent game purchase, and even - get this - a coupon for a free personal pizza from Pizza Hut.

If you don't know the significance of that last item, TMNT II: The Arcade Game on the NES came with a coupon for a free pizza back in 1990 when the game was released.  Some people even tried to use those coupons decades later, with a few having success.  Including another legitimate coupon is some serious nostalgia.  I don't think I'm going to use it though.

I also ordered a physical copy of Doom Eternal for the Switch since Bethesda was being stupid and not releasing a physical version themselves despite the 2016 Doom title having one on Switch.  That game hasn't arrived yet, but I'm looking forward to it.