Friend Code Ep. 43 Coverage

Do what your heart tells you. And may the way of the hero lead to the Triforce.

There were to many other interesting things to just talk about Zelda. Most of all Tetris 99, which in my opinion is just too genius not to be covered! Also, don't get me wrong I'm a big Zelda fan but the Link's Awaking remake looked so similar to the original that I didn't find it that interesting. It looks great and it was a cool surprise but it looked almost 1 to 1 in terms of level/map design, to me. Even though it's been a while since I last played it, my memory of Link's Awaking is still too intact to imagine myself getting very excited while playing it. I was hoping for more out of a remake after this much time.

LukeW

On the other hand, its good to get a panel of people that are more Nintendo focused. So if this Friend Code has Kyle and Brad on it, then we get a good deep dive into the Direct. I know the other podcast covers this material, and Damiani is even on that panel sometimes. But I still think it’s worth it, for him to have longer to talk about these things. Especially if we get the right panel for it.

Mewgia

Even if people wanted a whole show about the remake, did they really show enough material to be able to have an enjoyable conversation about it for over an hour.... You know what, if anyone could do it, it's you guys so nvm. Please redact ;D

Jeffrey Tessar

Honestly I’m worried there might be too much crossover with the podcasts if they both cover it all

Bdun912

Super Mario Maker 2 and Astral Chain are much bigger deals than a remake so yeah talk about the whole Direct.

Third option. Cover all Nintendo Direct news with a longer focus on Link's Awakening

Cover what you and the guests are most interested in.

Shoulderguy

Simple question for Kyle and the crew: When the credits roll in the Links Awakening Remake, we will have the same cozy feels we felt when we saw the credits of the original?

Jeffrey Tessar

Nothing stupid about that, I am excited for us both man.

Jeffrey Tessar

I honestly don't understand how you got to "let's make an entire episode about a one minute trailer" when for the first time in months we finally have lots of Nintendo news to fill the podcast.

What's the point of a Nintendo podcast if you don't talk about the news. Not everyone listens to both.

Ibrahim Sozer

Astral chain is too hype to be ignored.

Austin Murter

As big as the annoucement was, i dont feel LA is worth a whole discussion, especially as it feels to be close to a 1:1 remake as oppose to a full on remake. And as much as a "what if" discussion would be great, its something that would only disappoint some. Plus with all the other games and demos we gor from this annoucement, id rather hear about all of those. Astral Chain anyone? And the games that were speculated but not in the direct.

Ricardo Toro

I know this sounds stupid but, I'm looking forward to playing Links Awakening for the first time can we mark, note or pause for ending spoilers? I know the game is 26 years old, I never got to play it, super excited.

Eugene

Will there be another post gathering patron questions if you guys decide to do the full direct instead?

faqsimil

Not sure if you ever covered this on Friend Code but can you talk about E3 2007?

Eugene

Yesterday, my comment saying the originally planned topic should be a Zelda Talk instead, but I warmed up to the idea because I love Link's Awakening so much. I'm glad you guys are such active listeners, but I can tell Damiani was really excited to do a deep dive into the remake. I hope you guys can still do so while also covering the direct. Jammed packed episodes are the best.

I wasn't going to say anything, because I figured some people would enjoy it, but I was bummed when you were proposing dedicating the whole episode to the Link's Awakening announcement. While on paper it sounds like a good idea to talk about the divide between the people who love the announcement and those who are disappointed in it as you'd be representing both sides, when there's so much other juicy news from the Direct to talk about, what you're actually doing is torturing the people who don't care about it by discussing how they don't care about it instead of the things they actually do care about. So while I applaud you for thinking outside the box of simply discussing all the news as many others will, I think in this instance it isn't the best decision. That said, if we soon hit a period of not as much news to cover, then at that point I would not mind you dedicating an entire episode to this. It just sucks when there's so many other cool things in that Direct to be like "no but Zelda!" In the first place, it was supposed to be a Fire Emblem focused Direct, so it already sucks enough that the Three Houses info got overshadowed by Super Mario Maker 2 and Link's Awakening remake announcements. That's without even accounting for all the other hype stuff announced during the Direct like Rune Factory 5 and Astral Chain. Let's not perpetuate the idea of Mario and Zelda being Nintendo's only important properties. Too many good games already get overlooked by most because of this. Don't let more Tropical Freeze situations happen in the future! All that said, if you just want to make a mega episode of Friend Code where you do both and screw it if the episode ends up 3-5 hours, you won't see me complaining about getting the best of both worlds. Lastly, no matter how the vote goes, thanks for noticing those comments in the other post and asking us.

MBUN

As someone without a massive fondness for Link's Awakening(never played it as a kid, tangentially know about it now), while I'm interested in hearing you guys passionately talk about it, I'd rather it not be the whole episode.

micspam

I am actually very interested in seeing both things covered. Like someone else mentioned maybe it would be fun to do a one off zelda talk. You could even invite guests and let them check out the studio. Alternatively just hold off on the zelda talk until a later date. You know theres going to be atleast one slow month between now and E3.

klastical

You do still have the podcast- Zelda Talk. Do Friend Code discussing everything and Zelda Talk just dive into Link’s Awakening. :)

Colton Berry

I would prefer the Direct to be covered as a whole. It would be great to hear your thoughts on many of the reveals. I'm sure most of the discussion will be Link's Awakening so it's a win win for me. Could there be some excitement shown for Mario 3D World art as a new feature in Mario Maker 2. I think this is an incredible addition, but one that seems to have stayed under the radar.

Still want some solid Link's Awakening coverage just not like a full episode's worth.

Alec Church

I voted for the deep dive into Link's Awakening because I think a lot of the Direct will be already discussed on the podcast. However, seeing the results, it's clear what the Patrons want. I agree with the suggestion that you split it: have the first half be overall impressions of the Direct but spend the second half focusing solely on Link's Awakening.

Asbo Zappruder

For many players, Mario Maker 2 was the clear highlight. Like when a new Smash is announced. Just making that a one of many headlines, while a remaster becomes the highlight, for which other sings have to sped aside, feels just wrong to me.

Snowcone Guy

Damiani, it's your call at the end of the day. I personally thought Kyle was covering the direct anyway since you only mentioned one topic. My own take on this is, focus on the one topic, but if you have different guests on Friend Code compared the group podcast, then you could get their brief take on the Direct announcements please.

Anthony Stevens

For me the clear highlight was Mario Maker 2. Brand new game, tons of new features, big, active community. Zelda looked good but in the end, we know exactly what we get: The same GameBoy game, but with 3D HD graphics. I don't really see it deserving more attention than a Twilight Princess HD or Ocarina of Time 3D. Awesome that it exists, will sure look good, but what really is there to discuss.

Snowcone Guy

There were some genuine great announcements in that Direct outside of Link's Awakening so to leave them out would be a crying shame. Cover it all, please.

I always liked it more when the conversations flowed naturally. So if the vast majority of the podcast is Links Awakening, so be it. With that said, id prefer to at least hear a bit about everything else. Especially the new IPs.

Maybe focus on Link's Awakening but do go through the rest as "headlines". Sort of like the direct did

Proto Gambit

Let Kyle decide

Henry Ramirez

I don't think you need to go over every little thing, but you are a Nintendo focused podcast. Double coverage isn't the worst thing in the world, especially if the panelists are different.

I'm perfectly fine with both podcasts covering the entire direct. Especially with Kyle being on both he will be able to spin the EZA podcast to cover it in a different way.

There are usually different people on each podcast, and I feel like we're missing some takes if one doesn't cover the entire one

Cover everything but spend the most time on Link's Awakening.

Selarmor

Cover the whole direct but maybe put a greater emphasis on Zelda when you get to the end of the episode.

Babak Karimian

Do the Direct this week, and then Link's Awakening the next episode.

The longer the better :D

Master Pantz

I’d like to see discussions on just the big topics that interest the panelists. Link’s Awakening, Mario Maker, Tetris 99, Yoshi Demo.

Ian Gragnolati

If time permits just pull a Frame Trap and have a 3 hour episode

Corey Swafford

I am right there with you on Rune Factory 5. I thought that franchise was over with the eventual death of the Nintendo 3DS.

SoulCaster

You should definitely cover all of the Direct as there are a lot of smaller announcements that happened during it that wouldn't warrant much discussion in the main Easy Allies Podcast. I'd definitely like to hear both Kyle's and Damiani's takes on Link's Awakening, but that discussion shouldn't really be longer than 10 minutes or so.

there were a lot of interesting games besides LA so I don't see why a 1 hour long discussion just on 1 trailer is necessary

I don't think the Link's Awakening announcement is that big of a deal to be honest, but even still I'd much rather have the podcast be what you want it to be. It'll be a better product if you like what you're doing.

Yui

everything

Daniel M

I voted for just links awakening but we could have it both ways! Do rapid fire news for the direct and then leave the rest of the podcast for a MEATY ol links awakening discussion

Mags Moratto

I think it's good to talk about the Direct as a whole while it's fresh, because that was one of my favourite Directs with so many good announcements. That said, when we're back to slow Nintendo news like we have been for the most part of the year, the Links Awakening subject would be great to get back to

Skankman

Especially because the other post had maybe 2 or 3 comments about wanting the whole Direct covered.

Kris Fredrick

I am most hype for Link's Awakening, but I don't see any reason why the entire episode need to focus on it. C'mon, find somebody who will hype with me about RUNE FACTORY 5!

Pixillated

I don't have any big reason to think the EZA Podcast looking over the Direct won't deliver anything too different from what a Direct-focused Friend Code would handle. I put a lot more stock into rare opportunities like this to turn genuine passion into a full speculation-cast like with Link's Awakening.

Kirbu

As much as I like Link's Awakening (it is my favorite handheld Zelda game) was there really enough to discuss that can cover an entire length of a podcast? My vote went to cover everything.

SoulCaster

You could do lightning round on other news if you want to focus on Link's Awakening news. I would not leave them out totally especially when we got more news this time.

Trung Nguyen

I'd say keep Link's Awakening the core of the show if you wanna have an in-depth conversation about it, but maybe add 1 or 2 other subjects to have some variety.

Whiskeyjack

With all due respect, I'm confused why this is even in question.

WesFX

I want that other 20% tho

IrateRapScallion

Some thoughts in the direct overall with a big focus on LA would be good

Peter Nguyen

If you and Bosman are gonna do different things with the direct then cover all of it. Like, have the regular podcast do rank the significance and friend code do a deeper dive into what the announcements and info mean for the rest of nintendos year

Jeremy Ferris

I don't think it should be either or. There was a lot of stuff in that direct that amounted to Port news or updates to current games. Those aren't that interesting for discussion in the friend code podcast. But I would still like to hear thoughts about the big new stuff like Mario Maker 2, Astral Chain, Fire Emblem and Link's Awakening.

Saad Shaikh

Really want that Mario Maker deep dive from Kyle

Doug

Gimme everything. The motherload. Total saturation.

I'd love to see the best of both words here, with friend code covering the direct and then maybe a special episode of Zelda Talk for in depth Link's Awakening coverage.

Kevin DiBiase

I don’t think there was enough shown of Link’s Awakening to spend an hour dedicated to just talking about that

Logan Tawse

I seem to be the only one hype on MELEE gauntlets and claws in Fire Emblem.

Chris Park

Honestly would prefer something in between. There was a lot of non news, but an ep covering the three or four big announcements, Mario Maker 2, Links Awakening, Astral Chain etc. would be best.

hellsfoxes

People are gonna pick the whole Direct without thinking about it. The majority of the conversation will be Link's Awakening because it's the biggest announcement and has the most to talk about. Mario Maker 2 is huge, but there's not a lot to talk about aside from speculation. So if Friend Code covers the whole Direct, it'll still be 80% about Link's Awakening.

Kris Fredrick

I don’t think you need to do all the announcements but it would be cool to hear Kyle’s thoughts on some of the bigger topics like Super Mario Maker 2, Link’s Awakening and Astral Chain since he wasn’t there for the Easy Allies reaction recording.

Stephen Sosa

I'd prefer a juicy episode with all of the news 😍 But yeah, Link's Awakening can and should be the focus.

domidomek

I'm fine with just focusing on Zelda if that's what you're feeling like diving into. My primary interest is to hear your thoughts on Fire Emblem, so whether that happens on the podcast or on friend code isn't such a concern.

Why would you just cover one announcement?

karth

hope kyle's on, missed him at the direct reaction :(

sam

I honestly don't think there's that much to be said about the direct that hasn't already been said a million times already. Do a deep dive on Zelda, that sounds way more interesting than to hear "Oh boy Mario Maker 2! Get hype!" for the 20th time.

Arnesh Nagavalli