[Homebrew] Lucky Penguin

[fcgamer]

I would definitely pre-order for a Famicom version   Game looks really great but not interested in a NES cart myself.

This is how I feel too. 

I'd even donate donar cart for a custom 60 pin version if that is what it would take, but this situation (most homebrew being 72 pins only) is why I really haven't checked most homebrew games out.

[Ghegs]

Can't really understand the mindset of people saying they're interested in the game, but ONLY if the cart has 12 less pins. Sounds to me you don't care about the game itself at all, you just want a Famicom cart to stick on a shelf. Adapters/NT Mini/AVS are a thing, and there's a good amount of NES exclusives, translated games and a handful of good homebrew so that being able to play ALL of the system's library, from both NES and FC side, should be in every gamer's interest.

FC cart would be my preferred choice, NES cart is fine.

[fcgamer]

Can't really understand the mindset of people saying they're interested in the game, but ONLY if the cart has 12 less pins. Sounds to me you don't care about the game itself at all, you just want a Famicom cart to stick on a shelf. Adapters/NT Mini/AVS are a thing, and there's a good amount of NES exclusives, translated games and a handful of good homebrew so that being able to play ALL of the system's library, from both NES and FC side, should be in every gamer's interest.

FC cart would be my preferred choice, NES cart is fine.

I don't want to start a debate here, or to derail this thread, so this will be my one post about it and my thoughts, and then I will go back to cleaning the apartment.

If you've ever spent any amount of time on Nintendo Age forums, you will see people paying $50 for a flavor of the day 72 pins repro (pirate) cart, modern made.  This time it's Binary Land - I don't understand the mindset why someone would pay $50 for a fake cartridge, made in the modern times, fanon basically, when they could buy a CIB 60 pins real product for a third of the price.  Yet it happens, week upon week upon week.  I think it's to be expected, gamers on the other side of the coin might feel the same way, in reverse?

For me personally:

There are so many wonderful games in the world, on both known and obscure platforms.  There needs to be a line drawn at some point about what you want to purchase, and what you want to pass on.  Some people focus on the games themselves, some focus on a series (like Mario games, or Castlevanias or something), some focus on a genre, some on a specific platform, some on specific companies.  There really is no wrong answer to how one decides what they want and don't want.

For me, in terms of that 8-bit machine from Nintendo, I only buy Famicom games, with very few exceptions.  I need to draw the line somewhere, and that is where I draw it for that particular machine.  Everything about the NES side of things, from modern culture of collectors and what not, to visual appearance, I don't like.  And as this is a Famicom forum, I am sure a lot of the folks here would want a 60 pin version, just like if I were to release a homebrew exclusive on Famicom and then started posting about it on Nintendo Age, most there would want a 72 pin version.

I've suggested for ages that homebrewers just repurpose old late 80s / early 90s bootleg Famicom carts for their homebrew games, hi-quality, cheap, and plentiful, in similar vain to how NES repros / homebrews were originally distributed, but this idea never was met with much success.

On another ironic note, the programmer for this most likely grew up playing Pegasus (Famicom) rather than NES.

[L___E___T]

Sounds to me you don't care about the game itself at all, you just want a Famicom cart to stick on a shelf.  FC cart would be my preferred choice, NES cart is fine.

 

I haven't read FCgamer's reply yet - but you're kind've onto something.  The game looks fun, but I only want to collect Famicom games these days.

Reading your approach, one could say why bother with a cart then?  if you just want to play the game - you could play it on Steam or PS4, the same.

The difference for me is that I collect and play Famicom, and I like the various specifics that the Famicom has.  It's not about a specific number of pins.

I have one or two NES repros (like Recca) and a couple of Mario Party carts, among some others, but I don't play them so I decided not to get any more.

[UglyJoe]

Reminds me of Quell, but with a cute penguin.  Good presentation of a relatively simple puzzle game concept.

[Ghegs]

Maybe these posts could be split into their own thread?

If you've ever spent any amount of time on Nintendo Age forums, you will see people paying $50 for a flavor of the day 72 pins repro (pirate) cart, modern made.  This time it's Binary Land - I don't understand the mindset why someone would pay $50 for a fake cartridge, made in the modern times, fanon basically, when they could buy a CIB 60 pins real product for a third of the price.  Yet it happens, week upon week upon week.  I think it's to be expected, gamers on the other side of the coin might feel the same way, in reverse?

I don't spend any time on the NintendoAge forums. Well, that's not entirely accurate, I have maybe three posts there from several years ago, all in the trading section. I do check the site's front page every month or so to see if any new homebrews are getting released.

Anyway, I don't understand that mindset either. I get the appeal of reproing an expensive, rare cart, but Binary Land? If I had a NES as opposed to FC, I'd just get an adapter and play Famicom games that way. Repro/pirate carts, be they modern or made in the 80s, have no appeal to me. Original or nothing.

The rest of your post relates to the collecting vs. gaming discussion we've had a few times. Cool idea about repurposing pirate cartridges for homebrew use, tho. It'd lessen the costs certainly, but I wonder how many people would really be buying an FC cart of a western-developed homebrew game? Might still not be enough to make it worth it. Now if you could somehow tap into the Japanese FC homebrew market...

Reading your approach, one could say why bother with a cart then?  if you just want to play the game - you could play it on Steam or PS4, the same. The difference for me is that I collect and play Famicom, and I like the various specifics that the Famicom has.

Well, yes, if it's an option, which doesn't appear to be the case here. If this came out only on Steam, I'd probably buy it due to my love for the genre. The game is the most important for me, what system it's on is secondary. That said, I'm not immune to the allure of having a new game on my favorite console.

And that's the thing, I count NES and Famicom as one. They are the same system after all (some technical differences, yes) so I don't want to limit myself to just sticking with either. I go where the games I want to play are, I don't wait and hope they come my way. When I originally got into this, I did my research on whether it'd be better to have a NES or a Famicom when aiming to being able to play every game from every region (pretty much all my consoles are region modded), and FC won hands down for several reasons. So it's just very hard for me to grasp why somebody would only buy the game they've professed to being interested in if it comes out on a very specific format, when they themselves can still play it with very little difficulty regardless.

[MWK]

Don't want to be rude, but this game could be the Go! Dizzy! Go! clone or something... well, at least the inspiration/idea for the game here is clear for me, however I salute for cool music and kickass graphics.
If you aim for "columbus circle" price range then you got me off.

[macbee]

Lucky Penguin carts are being produced.
I still have hope for a 60-pin release someday! =D

[L___E___T]

 



How would you feel if I took the chips to make a 60-pin version?  Is it possible?

[FAMICOM_87]

Lucky Penguin carts are being produced.
I still have hope for a 60-pin release someday! =D

Fantastic!   

[fcgamer]

How would you feel if I took the chips to make a 60-pin version?  Is it possible?

I've always felt (with little support from the homebrewers, sadly, why not just make some arrangements, where someone that wanted a 60 pins version could send a donor for one?

[macbee]

How would you feel if I took the chips to make a 60-pin version?  Is it possible?

Depending on sales of 72-pin version we'll consider releasing a 60-pin variant.

[Bry89]

Looks quite cute actually... and it's nice to see that NES homebrews are still a thing. I still remember D-Pad Hero from years back And seeing as you decided to make a physical release of it, how is it going to be distributed? I mean, be careful that the pirates don't get their hands on it

[fcgamer]

How would you feel if I took the chips to make a 60-pin version?  Is it possible?

Depending on sales of 72-pin version we'll consider releasing a 60-pin variant.

Do you mean that as in, (A) if sales are good you'll consider releasing a 60 pin version?

or

(B) If sales are poor, you'll consider releasing a 60 pin market in hopes of tapping into another market and boosting overall sales?

Either way, there seems to be a lot of folks here who would be interested in a Famicom release, but not necessarily the NES release of the game.  It doesn't seem like a great way to market this, personally. 

[L___E___T]

 



I'm also keen to understand (especially if you decided not to release a 60-pin version) if you'd mind if I bought the 72-pin version and made a 60-pin from that for example hypothetically.

Let's please avoid make statements on the creator's wishes on how best to market their game, generally there's more demand for 72-pin physical NES releases than there are 60-pin.

But that's a separate topic and 60-pin version or not there is a lot to celebrate about this work - all of the graphics and design are incredible, so congratulations on all of that again!