Welcome to another jam-packed edition of Nerds Without Pants! This week, we sweat the small stuff and talk about our favorite little details in video games, as well as a lot of AEW Fight Forever and Final Fantasy XVI. Yep, MORE Final Fantasy XVI.
00:00 – 16:47 The Grimace shake
16:56 – 1:50:08 STAGE SELECT: Our favorite little details in video games
1:50:19 – 3:22:29 CONSUMPTION JUNCTION: AEW Fight Forever, Final Fantasy XVI
3:23:05 – 3:45:08 VIDEO GAME CAGE MATCH: Elite Dangerous vs No Man’s Sky
3:45:18 – 3:50:36 Outro
NEXT WEEK: NOTHING! We’re taking a week off.
IN TWO WEEKS:
STAGE SELECT: Tell us something in video games you’re really excited about…and then tell us how they could screw it up. Cynical hats on!
VIDEO GAME CAGE MATCH:
Blades of Steel vs Eggs of Steel: Charlie’s Eggcellent Adventure
SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS BY 7:30 CENTRAL ON 7/14 TO BE ON THE SHOW!
Twitter: @NWPcast
Email: NWPcast@gmail.com
Our theme song “Relax” and interstitial tracks “To the Maxx” and “Moody Grooves” are written and performed by Megan McDuffee.

Here's that Doom WAD video we talk about:
I'll have to grab my headphones and listen in the apartment lobby soon!
Been too long since I listened, mostly cause of crazy moving.
Stage Select:
My most exciting thing would be seeing Microsoft get slapped down hard on their bid for ABK, because I hope it pumps the brakes on some of these acquisitions, especially from Microsoft. Sadly, I don't see the FTC prevailing, since the DOJ couldn't even nail Microsoft when they had them dead to rights in United States v. Microsoft Corp.
Cage Match:
Charlie finds himself facing off against the Boston Bruins. What happens next is deemed to be unsuitable for broadcast by the FCC, even on streaming. That night, the Bruins are seen at a restaurant enjoying a dinner of omelets provided by Konami and that Egg Council guy from the Simpsons. Blades of Steel FTW.
This stage select topic reminds me of the Nintendo Direct we had in June. It had a lot of exciting things in it, and people even make videos of themselves watching it and getting all excited. But it also makes me miss the days when I could go to E3 and PAX and play these games myself, and read other press people's experience with those games. The press, myself included, would be able to talk about what they liked and didn't like about whatever we played. A lot of people say E3 and PAX are dead since we can all watch videos of them now, and they're probably right. But I don't like that because with videos, the companies have control over what you see and hear, and they make it all sound good. So when you watch these videos, make sure to have a critical eye about them, too.
OK so you probably want a more specific example so here's one. And I am wearing my cynical hat, so watch out. I'm really excited for the Super Mario RPG remake, as I have a lot of special memories with the original. But if they add Mario's voice, that'll ruin it! I loved how Mario DIDN'T talk in that game. I have a lot of respect for Charles Martinet voicing Mario and other characters as long as he has (I even met him once), but I really don't like his Mario voice. Sound like someone kicked Mario where the sun don't shine. So keep Mario quiet!
STAGE SELECT: I misheard this question and was under the impression it was a monkey paw thing so I don't really have a good one at the last second here. I did hear that Nintendo was happy about the Mario movie and was looking into making other films of their properties. I think a Star Fox movie might be pretty cool, even if it might end up a bit dry. Hell, they probably still have those Star Fox puppets in storage, just break those out. Knowing Nintendo, though, they'll probably just continue to partner with Illumination doing all the safe things. Look out for "EXCCUUUUUSEE ME, PRINCESS!" and a whole overly long bit about Song of Storms (fart joke).
VIDEO GAME CAGE MATCH: Oh, Blades of Steel easy, no jokes or anything. I spent hours in this game picking fights beating the hell out of the opposite team until they were left defenseless without a standing opponent on their side. It's practically just a fighting game wrapped in a sports game's shell. And then you get to play the first level of Gradius or whatever. Blades of Steel wins!

