[How do you feel about the NES and SNES Classic Editions?]

I appreciate the Classic Editions as preservation efforts rather than just nostalgia products. They introduced iconic games to new generations with perfect emulation, save states, and pixel-perfect displays. In an industry where older games often become inaccessible, these devices ensure gaming classics remain playable.

[How Has the Nintendo Direct Format Impacted Game Announcements?]

The Nintendo Direct format created announcement democracy by giving equal presentation time to both AAA titles and indie games. This approach has elevated smaller projects that would have been overshadowed at traditional press events, fundamentally changing how audiences discover new games regardless of budget.

[The Influence of the Nintendo GameCube on Early HD Gaming]

The GameCube's emphasis on 60fps gameplay over resolution established performance benchmarks that influenced early HD design. While Xbox and PS2 often prioritized graphical complexity at the cost of framerate, GameCube titles like F-Zero GX and Metroid Prime maintained fluid performance that became industry standard in the HD era.

[How Often Do You Play Nintendo Games Online?]

I play Nintendo games online almost daily, primarily through Splatoon 3 and Smash Bros. Ultimate. Despite Nintendo's reputation for weak online features, these games have competitive depth that keeps me coming back. The unique design philosophies make these experiences impossible to find elsewhere despite occasional technical frustrations.

[Should Nintendo Handhelds Support More Cross-Platform Play with Other Consoles?]

Absolutely! Nintendo's isolationist approach is increasingly out of step with modern gaming. Games like Fortnite and Minecraft have proven cross-platform play works technically and commercially. Nintendo's family-friendly focus could actually benefit from expanded communities while maintaining their unique software advantage.

[How Did the Super Nintendo Influence Modern Game Design?]

The SNES pioneered the art of the sequel that refines rather than reinvents. Games like Super Mario World and A Link to the Past established the template that most modern sequels follow: retain core mechanics while adding depth, polish, and complexity. This iterative design philosophy defines modern franchise development.

[What’s a feature you wish the Nintendo Switch had?]

I wish the Switch had integrated voice chat without requiring a phone app. The current solution for games like Splatoon feels unnecessarily complicated. Even basic voice communication directly through the system would dramatically improve the multiplayer experience in team-based games.

[Is Handheld Gaming Superior to Console Gaming in Certain Contexts?]

Handheld gaming absolutely dominates for commuting and travel. I've logged hundreds of hours on planes, trains, and during lunch breaks that would have been impossible with a console. The ability to suspend games instantly and resume anywhere makes handhelds superior for intermittent gaming sessions in busy adult life.

[Do You Like Customizing Your Nintendo Handheld with Accessories and Skins?]

Absolutely! I've customized every Nintendo handheld I've owned since my atomic purple Game Boy Color. For my Switch, I've cycled through multiple skins and custom Joy-Con shells. There's something uniquely satisfying about having a console that feels personally mine rather than identical to millions of others.

[How Important Are Nintendo’s Handheld Exclusives to Their Success?]

Nintendo's handheld exclusives have been absolutely crucial to their success. Pokémon alone has sold over 440 million units primarily on handhelds, while franchises like Fire Emblem found their audience through handhelds before expanding. These exclusives create a unique ecosystem that competitors simply can't replicate.

[What are you listening to right now?]

 

[Songs you just can't stop listening to]

 

[What songs do you never get sick of?]

 

[Share a Song From the Album You're Listening to Right Now]

 

[Songs You Remember From Your Childhood]

 

[1 word song titles]

 

[Last movie watched?]

Flight (2012) - 8.5/10 

[Epic Moments in Anime]

 

[Last Game Played]

Played some Baldur's Gate 3 today and was trying out a chaos knight build. It was very interesting.

[Fast Fusion]

I've been waiting for an F-Zero like game and the fusion of vehicles looks promising. I wonder how that improves your vehicles.

[What social media trend in music do you find most interesting?]

Social media constantly spawns new music trends like viral TikTok dances, streaming platform micro-genres or AI-generated remix challenges. Which trend in the music world fascinates you most right now? Is it the resurgence of lo-fi beats for study sessions, the collaborative creation of fan-made mashups, or the use of short-form video platforms to launch indie artists overnight? How do these trends reshape artist discovery, fan engagement and the economics of streaming? And what do they suggest about the future of music creation and consumption?

[What role does storytelling in songs play compared to novels or poetry?]

Storytelling in songs distills narrative into melody, lyrics and mood offering immediacy that novels or poems can’t match, yet relying on musical elements to convey subtext. How do you compare the emotional impact of a singer-songwriter’s ballad to a character-driven short story or a rhythmic epic poem? What strengths do songs have like leveraging hooks and repetition for thematic emphasis and what limitations, such as brevity or reliance on musical context?

[Which artist do you feel is a pioneer in blending genres?]

Blending genres can yield groundbreaking music, from Gorillaz’s fusion of hip-hop, rock and electronica to Björk’s avant-pop explorations. Which artist do you regard as a pioneer in genre-hybridization, and what sonic elements define their approach? How have they integrated disparate influences like jazz improvisation, classical instrumentation, indigenous rhythms into cohesive works?

[Which artist do you think has the most distinctive vocal style?]

Vocalists can leave indelible marks through timbre, phrasing and emotive delivery. From Freddie Mercury’s operatic range to Billie Eilish’s breathy intimacy, whose voice do you deem most distinctive? What qualities like unusual register shifts, signature vibrato or idiosyncratic diction make their sound instantly recognizable? And how have they leveraged that uniqueness: through genre-crossing collaborations, groundbreaking production techniques or unconventional performance styles?

[Which artist’s body of work do you find most innovative and inspiring?]

Across disciplines and eras, certain artists break molds and inspire others to rethink their mediums. Whether it’s a painter like Basquiat defying conventions, a sculptor like Ai Weiwei blending activism and form, or a digital creator harnessing VR, which artist’s body of work strikes you as most innovative? What recurring motifs, techniques or thematic risks set them apart? And how have they influenced subsequent generations via direct apprenticeships or conceptual legacies?