OBLIGATORY FILLER MATERIAL – Giving thanks edition: Kickin’ around Caracas, Pt. 5
Continuing… (It's Part 6 in the saga, I fucked up. Sorry.) So, after a few re-fueling and impromptu cigar-purchasing stops in South and Central America, we wheel up to the deserted jetway at LAX. “Thought we were going to Elmendorf?” I asked. “This isn’t it?” the pilot replied, feigning worry. “No.”, I replied, “Looks like California. Fruits and nuts. All around. What’s going on? One minute we’re off to Texas, then Cali, then Texas again, now we end up here at the California airport of the iconic tower.” “Yeah, it’s confusing enough haulin’ civilians around. But when we get a call from Virginia, we tend to comply without any questions,” the pilot explains. “Aw, shit!”, I sort of exclaim, “Rack and Ruin called?” “Yeah”, the pilot replies, “Figures you’d know these guys. They said they were closer to LAX rather than Texas and had us divert here. In fact, you look over there, see that dark blue Chevy? That’s them; and evidently, your ride.” I tipped the airman from earlier a couple of cigars as he helped me with my gear off the plane and into the trunk of Rack and Ruin’s plain-Jane blue late modeled Chevy. Had to move the Sidewinder Missiles off to one side, though. “Most honorable Agents Lack and Luin!” I quipped in my faux-racist greeting. “What the hell, guys? I’ve got to get to Japan and get some newly rigidified digits.” “Let’s see your hand”, Agent Rack asks. “Nasty.” “Yeah”, I sigh “And with the medicos in South America and their penchant for plaster, I don’t so much have a left hand as more of an ankylosaur tail.” “Or Thagomizer”, Agent Ruin tittered. “Anyone gives you grief, and one upside the head should set them right. Or dead.” “You’re a riot, Ruin.” I replied, “But not entirely incorrect.” We all agreed that I really didn’t need any extra accouterments to make myself look more dangerous. I mean with my severe haircut, stern beard clip, and perpetual ‘Go fuck yourself’ scowl. “Yeah”, I replied, stroking the aforementioned beard, “I just can’t get that. I’m such a people person.” After Agents Rack and Ruin finished drying their eyes from laughing what I thought was en extremis, we finally got down to business. “So, what’s the skinny, guys”, I asked. “New marching orders?” “No. Not as such”, Agent Ruin said, still sniggering over my ‘people person’ comment. I see we’re moving. Agent Rack is just driving casually, like Chewbacca when they were waiting to see if the Empire went for that expensive Bothan code. “Then, what?” I asked, getting a slight bit piqued. “Well”, Agent Ruin noted, “When you went to South America, you took some of your artillery collection with, correct?” “You know I did. You even made some snide comments about my personal choice of sidearms and their ‘excessive’ calibers, if memory serves”, I reiterated. “And if you are proceeding normally, as you always do, they’re all nestled in the trunk of this very car. All cleaned, quiet, unloaded, and smelling sweetly of Hoppe’s Number 9 and WD 40, correct?” Rack inquired. “Yes?” I cautiously venture. “Well, ya’ big dummy, do you think they’re going to let you saunter into Tokyo armed like the Third Fleet?” Agent Ruin chuckled. “Um…well…I do have a Diplomatic Passport.” I ventured. “That’s not going to work this time.”, Agent Ruin said, shaking his head. “They’re tighter than Dick’s Hatband about sidearms. Want to bring in your Rigby SXS .500 Nitro Express double rifle? Not a problem. Sidearms, especially in your alien hunting calibers, nope.” Well, that’s just….*dandy!”, I reply, semi-put out. “Now what the hell am I going to do?” “Ever think that’s why Ruin and I are here, now?”, Rack asks. “And here I thought it was just so you could bask in the warm glow of my fucking wonderful personality. Or that you actually cared about me as a real goddamn human”, I joshed. “Ummm…yeah”, Rack replies, “There’s no way we can answer that without going on some Deadpool list. “ I agreed. “OK, here’s the deal: you get your sidearms, ammunition, speed loaders, brass knuckles, Asp, laser range finders, Sap, Zeiss scopes, Kukri, Wisconsin Cheese Whittler, Buck folding skinner, Marine K-Bar, those two ultra-illegal Cheburkov Cobra titanium switchblades...” “Three. Olga the KGB lady sent me one for Geologist’s Day.” “Ahem. Those threeultra-illegal Cheburkov switchblades, that Wyoming Speedholer, your MASER Time-Distance Computer, garrote, pocket rail gun and whatever else lethal you carry and deposit it in the iron box in the trunk. We’ll ensure that it’s delivered to Esme post-haste. And by post-haste I mean one of our guys will deliver it personally.” “Well…I suppose”, I conceded, “But best send someone who’s been to the house recently. I don’t know how much bigger Khan has grown since I left on this little fantasy trip. Wouldn’t want a star on the wall in Langley for someone eaten by a mastiff. Want to see a picture….Oh, bother. That’s right. My phone’s at the bottom of fucking Lake Maracaibo.” “Good point”, Ruin interjects, “Guess we’ll do a little road trip and deliver it ourselves. Best call Esme and let her know what’s going on.” “I have no objections to your proposals. Please give Esme this when you see her. I had some luck in the Calaveras Casino and if I don’t send her some mad money. Ouch. She’ll never forgive me for not taking her along to Japan.” I asked. “But I thought Esme hated Japan? Too crowded and too ‘fussy’, I believe was her estimation.” Ruin asked. “Yes, but once she saw the Ginza, all bets were off. Shopping the likes of which even Allah himself hasn’t seen.” I replied, slowly shaking my head. “I see”, Ruin said, “Well, since you’re off to Sapporo, perhaps you can do a recon for Esme on the shopping there.” “Not bad. Not bad at all.”, I smiled, “Now I know why I let you guys hang around with me.” So, as advertised, I am now standing on the tarmac at LAX, basically feeling naked. “Can’t I keep just one switchblade?” I moaned to Agent Rack. “Go ahead, if you’re really keen on donating it to Japanese customs”, he replied. “Fuckbuckets.” I groused. “There, there now. That’s the usual Dr. Rocknocker of which we’re all so fond.” Agent Ruin chuckled. “Remember, you do have that wallet-sized credit card gizmo from the Company. So you’re not entirely ‘naked’. Think of it as an emergency breechcloth.” He smiled. “I’d like a larger model if you don’t mind. It’s chilly out here.” I joshed. After Agents Rack and Ruin stripped me metaphorically naked as they de-weaponized me, they handed me a Business Class ticket to Tokyo, and a pass to the Japan Airlines Hospitality Suite and Lounge. “So sorry you guys can’t hang around and have a few farewell snorts”, I chided, “But you’ve got a bit of a drive, so best be off before the weather turns to shit.” “Who says we’re driving?” Agent Rack asked as he hooked a thumb over his shoulder at the ready and waiting C-130 cargo plane currently taxiing slowly in our direction. “Well, in that case”, I smiled even more broadly, “Let’s invite the flight crew to join us. That’ll make the flight home all that much more interesting.” After near tear-jerking farewell sentimentalities, i.e., “Piss on you”, “Get stuffed” and “Take a fuckin’ hike”; Agents Rack and Ruin, my weapons and the Agency’s plain-Jane Blue Chevy were all nestled snugger than buggers in ruggers in the belly of the thundering C-130. Now truly on my own, I trudge the hundred thousand or so centisteps to my departure terminal, make a quick recon that my flight’s still slated to go in a generally westward direction, and hightail it to the nearest courtesy desk to ask for a motorized cart to take me and my remaining luggage to the JAL Hospitality Suite. Hey. I’m old, infirm, and currently among the walking wounded. Anyone that disagrees risks an Ankylosaur tail club swat or Thagomizer to the skull. Finally ensconced in the JAL Hospitality Suite, Polo Lounge of course; I was drinking Tokyo Teas (3 oz. vodka, 2 oz. gin, 2 oz. rum, 1 oz. triple sec, 1 oz. Midori, good splash of lime juice, a slight splash of 7-Up (diet, of course), over ice with a lime wheel) with Pabst Blue Ribbon Extra 1844 chasers and Hangar One’s “Fog Point” vodka on the side, hiding from the brutish realities of this foul year of two thousand and twenty-something, Common Era… I’ve already called Esme and we’ve had a good, long chat. She still managed to give me her shopping list for whenever I find myself bored on the Ginza. She’ll be shocked when she learns that I’m not going to be in Tokyo long, but have 1st class tickets on the Bullet Train to Sapporo. Still, I’ll probably find myself in Pole Town or the Stellar Place there, trading piles of US greenbacks for locally produced Japanese curios and clothing. I can hardly wait. I order another round of drinks, as the wonderful attendants in the Hospitality Suite were bored out of their skulls because of the COVID-induced drop-in customers flying anywhere that requires a hospitality room stay, and I was virtually the only one around. They tried their level best to outdo each other when it comes to Japanese efficiency and friendliness. After a couple of hours, they ask if I would like something from the grill, as the day chef had “the COVID” and the night chef just arrived. A quick perusal of the menu and I chose a 28-ounce dry-aged Porterhouse and another round of drinks. I usually don’t like to eat too much before I fly, but JAL tells me the flight is going to be virtually empty, something like <121 pax, all told, so restroom availability shouldn’t be too much of a concern. Plus, who am I to say no to a free, blue 28-ounce dry-aged Porterhouse? There was a bit of difficulty conveying to the chef through the intermediaries of the hospitality just how I wanted my steak. “Blue,” I said. “Brue?” was the reply. “Rare. Very, very rare.” I continued. Look of total bewilderment. I drag out my Personal Language Pro, speak “Steak, very, very rate” into the infernal gizmo, and hand the contraption to the attendant. “珍しい、非常に珍しいステーキ?”[ Mezurashī, hijō ni mezurashī sutēki?] “Raw! Nama!” I say, louder than need be. They toddle off to find the chef. “How is it sir, that you would like your steak cooked?” he asks. “Very rare. Just a minute or two per side. Inside still cold.” I instructed. All I got for the trouble was a puzzled smile. “Give me the language gizmo…” I type in a few words… “お尻を洗い、角をノックオフして、ここから出してください” [O shiri o arai,-kaku o nokkuofu shite, koko kara dashite kudasai.] “Wash its ass, knock its horns off, and walk it out here.” “OH!” as the lightbulb pops. “Rare. Got it! Excellent!” the chef laughs and zips back to the kitchen. Like I always say, I’m nothing if not the international ambassador of amity and goodwill. “Crack tubes!” Dinner was fantastic. I do wish I could have somehow mailed the Porterhouse bone back home for Khan. After that hambone incident, he might even taste it. Finally on the plane, in an almost empty Business Class, the flight captain informs us that we’re headed to Haneda Airport Tokyo and anyone not headed in that direction better ‘haul ass off’ the flight or forever hold their peace. Late-night international flights tend to be a bit more wooly than your average Chicago to Omaha gig. Especially when the flight’s damn near empty and we have the next 12 hours or so to be best friends. We taxi, turn and head into the wind. I’m doctoring up a couple of dossiers and keeping my personal cabin attendant, Luna since there were two of us in Business and two business flight attendants, busy with her trying to play ‘Stump the Geologist’. “I’ll bet you never had this before.” She beamed and handed me a tumbler of very dangerous-looking brown liquor. I cautiously sniff, take a modest gulp, swirl and glug the rest down. “Ohishi Single Sherry Cask”, I say with a muffled belch. “Light. Fruity. An Englishman’s drink.” “Oh. You knew. Let me try again.” She smiles beatifically. “I have no objections to your proposal.” I smile as nicely as this crotchety old Komodo Dragon could. She returns with another flagon of spirits; it smells of obsidian, leather, and earth. I just had some of this back in LAX. I take a snort, smile, and shotgun the rest. “Hibiki Japanese Harmony…lovely stuff.” I smile. “A little light for my jaded palate, but I’d never turn it down if it were free.” “Oh, you win again. Wait. One more.” She smiles and skitters off to the galley. She returns with another soupçon of some more dangerous brown liquor. “Here, try this. It will make you very popular at social gatherings”. She smiles. Sniff. “Splendid.” Snort. Swirl. Smile. Shotgun. “Kanosuke New Born, if I’m not mistaken.” I smile back. “Very nice. I really do like this one.” “You too good at this. One more!” she stands and stomps off defiantly. She returns in a trice and hands me the glass. “Hmm…brown. Light notes of earth, leather, dating your daughter, and Kentucky… “Beam Suntory, right?” “You know them all!” she says, feigning irritation. “And I thank you. Those were all excellent. Now, anything in the dangerous clear liquor category? I asked. Luna smiled as I palmed off a 20k yen tip. “Oh, no sir. Wait until we land.” She demurred, referring to the gratuity; which is know is not de rigueur in the Orient, but she didn’t seem to mind. “Just in case we never make it to Tokyo”, I laughed, unknowingly presciently. We both chuckled about that last line as she tried out various sakes and shōchūs and an actual Japanese ‘White Liquor’ (ホワイトリカー), which were all excellent as was the company. I tell her that I need to get some work done and could she bring me a tall Rocknocker. After explain the origins and construction of the eponymous drink, she brings me one that must tip the scales at 1 or so liters. She settles down to an empty seat and I get after the work that I need to finish before we land. I’m about ½ way through my drink when it felt as if the plane hit a brick wall. She quivered and quaked and clutched at herself while I made some comments about the pilot’s mental health. We dropped like a paralyzed falcon, then just as suddenly, felt like it was an express elevator to Angel’s 11. The plane bucked and shimmied, wickedly. Then we slam-danced right and fell a few more stories. It was like we were in a Mixmaster and the owner was trying out every speed. The emergency lights in the 777-300ER popped on, and the fasten seat belt sign barked loudly so even sleeping travelers could enjoy the show. Rinse. Spin. Shudder. Repeat. Finally, the ride smooths out and we hear the captain on the blower. “This is your captain speaking…ah, we seem to have hit some uncharted turbulence back there.” “Thanks, Captain Obvious”, I muttered. “Everything’s A-OK. “ he reports. “That’s good”, I note. “But…” “There’s always the but…” I groan. “…we have a couple of warning lights for which we can’t quite account. So to just be safe and certain, we’re going to divert to Hawaii, get a clean bill of health and resume this flight once we make sure everything here is hunky-dory.” There were scattered groans and applause. Add them together and divide by two and the average response on the flight was “Meh. Whatever.” Except for the other guy in Business, with whom I hadn’t shared two words. He began to absolutely lose his shit. “Oh, man! We’re so screwed! Mechanical malfunction? What does that mean?” he positively fizzed with fear. The flight attendants tried to calm him down, to no avail. They basically gave up and said they’d report his misgivings to the Captain. I motioned over to my personal flight attendant, Luna, and asked if I could be of service. “Oh, Doctor Rock”, she smiled at me, “If you could speak with him. You are so calm, and he is…” “Losing his bloody mind”, I chuckled as I finished her sentence for her. “Of course, I’ll take a stab at it.” So, I grab my drink and ease over to my Business Class partner and introduce myself. “Hey, pal. How’s it going? I’m Dr. Rock, gentleman, scholar, and connoisseur of cigars and things alcoholic. You doing OK?” He looks at me with an ashen face and his eyes the size of bloodshot dinner plates. “Yeah. I’m Todd Schotts. I’m flying to Japan for business.” He mumbles “No surprise there,” I reply calmly and take a slug of my drink. “But now we’re all going to die. The plane is busted and we’ll crash…” he started off again. “So, Todd is it? Good. You drink?” I asked. “Yeah?”, he stammered back. I asked Luna to make us a fresh batch of my eponymous cocktails. “OK, Todd, listen up”, I began after the drinks were served, “I have flown literally millions of miles over the last 4 decades. On Aeroflot when it was still the USSR. On TACA (Take A Chance Airways), on Chalk’s in the Caribbean, on Bob’s Verrifast Plane Company in Rhodesia, on regional carriers that don’t even exist anymore. All over the world. Had some bad experiences flying, and me ol’ mugger, this ain’t one of them. This is nothing more than the glitch for this mission.” I chuckled lightly and complimented Luna on a fantastic drink. “Yeah…yeah…yeah…but we have to land and check out some lights…” Todd squealed. “Well now, Todd. It would be rather difficult to do any external assessment while in flight, don’t you agree?” I asked. “But we’re diverting. We have to land and that adds more risk. We’re going to crash and die!” he was coming more and more unglued. “I will bet you every cent you have on your person and home bank accounts that that will not happen”, I chuckled. That took him by surprise. At least it shut him up for a while. “Look, Todd. This is Boeing’s latest model. They have the most incredible safety record. And if a little clear air turbulence were to be knocking planes out of the sky, don’t you think we’d hear about it as the press went berserk?” I asked. “But they don’t know what the lights mean! What if one of the engines’s out? How far can we fly on one engine?” Todd stuttered. Having my fill of a supposedly grown man with inane childlike fears, I calmly replied, “All the way to the crash site.” He went white. “...hope we hit something hard. I don’t want to limp away from this.” He went limp. Then I went to my seat and motioned for Luna to prepare a reload. Of course, 45 minutes later, we land without incident at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Honolulu Hawaii. We were told to just wait around until they figure out what the problem if any, was. They had officials waiting at the end of the jetway to check our COVID status and passports before they let us loose in the terminal. I asked Luna if she knew this airport. She noted that she did. “Is there a JAL hospitality room here at this airport? I asked. “Yes, Doctor. It’s the Sakura Lounge. It is located on the third level above The Local, Terminal 2.” She replied. “Please notify whoever needs to know that that’s where I’ll be for the duration”, I smiled and handed her my business card. “See you soon, I hope.” “Oh, Dr. Rock”, she replied, “I am sure it is nothing much. We’ll be back in the air within mere hours.” “Well then”, I smiled, “Guess I’d better get ready to hoof it to the lounge.” “Oh, Doctor Rock”, she smiled, “No rush. I will call for you a courtesy cart. You are injured, you are Business, you are priority.” “I love that Asian efficiency.” I smiled back and toddled down the jetway. At the terminus of the jetway, I show my COVID-clear papers, dates and times of my Anti-Virus vaccine administrations, the letter from Virginia clearing me of all detention, and my red Russian diplomatic passport. While in the cart, whizzing our way to the JAL lounge, the driver said “Man! You must be some kind of VIP. You were through that welcoming committee in less than two minutes!” “Me? Nah!”, I chuckled, “Just an old phart of a geologist that they didn’t want to mess with. Not on such a bright, sunny day as this.” “I see you’re not wearing a mask.” The driver quipped. “Very observant. There are reasons for that.” I replied. He careens around a corner and if this were a normal pre-Covid day, I’m certain we’d have killed hundreds. However, the airport, as I’ve come to grow accustomed to, was virtually deserted. “Yeah? Like what?” he asks. “Well, Scooter, 1. I have an active and hardworking immune system that I let off the chain every once in a while for exercise. Got to let it know what it’s up against, right? 2. I’ve had all my shots and some that were experimental. They seem to have worked. And 3. I find it difficult to drink and smoke cigars while wearing a mask. However, if you’d prefer, I will mask up. No problem, though it still is optional.” “Nah, man”, he said, “I was just wondering if you were one of those religious idiots or conspiracy nuts.” Nope”, I smiled back, “Just another geologist out in the world plying his trade for cash. Y’know, whorin’ around for money.” He laughs aloud as we skid to a stop right in front of Lounge. I slip the guy a $20 and ask if he’d listen for the JAL flight I was just on. If we’re going on ahead today, I’d need him to scoot by and putt-putt me back to the plane. He laughs and pockets the $20 as quick as a mink ruts. “No worries. I’ll just hang around this area. I hear anything about the flight, I’ll come and let you know.” He grins. “Good man”, I say, as I hand him my card. “I’m Dr. Rocknocker. Call me Rock”. “And I’m Kapula Mano, call me Kap” he replies. “Good man”, I say again, “Hope to see you in a while.” He grins, floors his electric cart, and peels out at speeds approaching 4.5 MPH. I wander into the lounge, show my credentials, and am escorted to a post up on Mahogany Ridge. The bar is very quiet. Besides the bartender, I can’t see anyone else in the darkened and Smooth Jazz-infused drinking emporium. I order a local drink, a Mai Tai, just for the experience and something a bit different. It’s served in a goldfish bowl on a stem, bedecked with a slice of lime, a sprig of mint, a stick of sugar cane, a polychromatic orchid, and the obligate paper umbrella. “Ah. Mai Tai. I will enjoy it.” I said to no one in particular. One was enough, and I decided to go back to the old standard. Once I explained to the bartender what that was, he made them heroic and enthusiastically. I’m reading up on a random dossier, making notes in a new file, and puffing away on a Fuentes Onyx double Maduro Churchill cigar. I hear a slight cough coming from my right, and this here lovely lady, she sat to my immediate starboard and looked at me semi-quizzically. Not in the mood for shenanigans of any stripe, I give her the obligate Baja Canada nod and tilt of the drink. I return to my dossiers and continue to read and take notes. “Excuse me!” I hear. Fearing the worst, either the woman is Karen-oid anti-smoking or a religious fruit-and-nutburger, I slowly turn to face her and reply, somewhat glacially, I have to admit. “What?” “That cigar…” “Here we go…” I mutter, eyes rolling northward. “Smells exquisite. Could you tell me the brand? My husband would enjoy some like that.” She notes. Instantly my demeanor switches 1800. “Yes, ma’am. It’s an Arturo Fuentes Onyx. Churchill size, or 60 ring x 7” length, double Maduro. Here, take one for your husband. I have an ample supply.” I smile. “Oh, no. I couldn’t. Could I?” she asks. “Please. I insist.” I smile the best I could given the circumstances. “Thank you. You’re too kind…umm…Mr….?” “Doctor. Doctor Rocknocker. World traveler, oilman, and international ambassador of amity, good drinks, and fine cigars. Call me Rock” I said. “Oh! A Doctor?” she brightens. “Yes, of Petroleum Geology and Engineering. Not medicine.” I chuckle. She chuckles back. “And I am Hella Aaberg”, as she offers her hand for a quick shake. “Interesting name, Hella. Scandinavian or Old German heritage?” I ask. “On my father’s side. He’s Finnish.” She replies. “But I’ll wager your mother is not Scandinavian, correct?” I ask. “She was from Truk, an island…” “In the South Pacific, Micronesia. Was she from Weno city?” I asked. “Why yes. How could you possibly know that?” she asked. “Oh, I’ve been there. Great diving amongst the WWII wrecks. I think it’s actually called ‘Chuuk Lagoon’ or something like that now.” I said. “That’s right! Amazing. Where else have you been?” she asked. “Anywhere there’s oil, strife, booze, cigars, heavy explosives and typically long distances from whatever most normal people call civilization,” I replied with a chuckle. Suddenly, I hear a voice booming out behind me. “Why don’t you save that rapier-like wit for those musky-fuckers back home, Rocko?” My expression changes. My eyes pop fully wide open. “Hella?” I asked. “Yes?” “May I ask you a favor?” “You can ask…” “Thank you. Now, looking over my shoulder, is there a hulking goon of a person, thin up top, paunchy halfway down with the most ridiculously tiny sized shoes you’ve ever seen for a so-called grown man?” I ask. “Yes. Yes, there is.” She replies. “I thought so. Many thanks.” I spin and launch off my barstool and grab Toivo by the hand. He hadn’t seen my left-hand Thagomizer yet. “Toivo! You old sumbitch. What the flying fennec fox fuck are you, of all people, doing in Hawaii?” I laughed. “Just keeping an eye on you, Rock!” he laughed equally as loud. “No, fucking-A, seriously. What the actual fuck? What are you doing in this actual nice place?” I asked. “Just headed to Tokyo to conduct a bit of service company business. I walked into the lounge and smelled a foul cigar. I figured it can’t be the venerable Dr. Rocknocker. He’s back at some school up north terrorizing geology and engineering grads and undergrads.” Toivo laughed. “But there I was. Surprise!”, I laughed and pumped his hand. “What the fuck, Rock. Now what did you do?” he asks, referring to my Ankylosaur tail club left hand. “Ah, fuck. Long story. Oh, pardon me. Toivo, this is Hella. We were just talking about the South Seas Islands.” I said. “Planning on running off together?” Toivo laughs, to the amusement of neither party. “Oh, and this idiot is Toivo, a man with a congenital foot-in-mouth disorder. He’s mostly harmless.” I noted to Hella. Greetings were shared all around. Hella made some small excuses and said she needed to depart. I gave her another cigar for her husband, shook her hand, and wished her well. “Here’s my business card. If your husband has any questions, have him drop me a line.” I noted. Hella smiled beautifully. She said she would. Then she thanked me shook our hands, and like that, there she was, gone. “Well Toivo, you old bastard. Don't just stand there in the doorway like some lonesome goddamn mouse shit sheepherder, get your ass over here and have a drink.” I motioned over to my perch on Mahogany Ridge. “Don’t mind if I do”, he says as he deftly winds his way to a seat to my left, snagging a cigar out of my pocket on the way over. “You might want these”, I say in an exasperated tone, and hand him my gold Dunhill Hobnail lighter and V-cutter gizmo. He cuts and fires up his heater. “What you drinkin’, Rock”, he asks. “Anything with alcohol, as usual. You know that Toiv.” I reply. “No. I mean right now.” He clarifies. “Well, I had a Mai Tai. Very nice if you like fruity, flowery drinks. It’s the locals’ favorite.” I reply. “Sounds good. I’ll have several. And you?” Toivo asks. “My usual. The bartender is already apprised of the situation.” I reply. Toivo smiles the smile of one knowing his sobriety is going to be taken out for a swim. Hell, taken out and tossed into the deep end. Toivo and I sit there, swapping lies, smoking cigars and sipping at our toddies. Hell, Toivo was slurping them like a sump-pump during an extra-wet summer. We chattered about family, work, whether or not Tokyo was going to host the Olympics or if the COVID-boogie man scared everyone off. Toivo, always one afflicted with TB (“Tiny Bladder”) got up to go to the loo for the third time that hour. He left his pocket organizer on the bar and I swear on a stack of Origins of Species, I didn’t touch it. I reached over to his vacated seat to retrieve my cigar lighter when I looked down and saw in his organizer a tab that reads “Rack & Ruin”. “Oh. No. Fucking. Way.” I recoiled as I’d just reached out and petted a 6-foot hungover scorpion. “One of my best friends? Secretly allied with the Agency? No. Not possible.” I drained my drink and called for another. “No. No. No. It can’t be. No. No fucking way…” as doubt began to dissolve when I thought back to all those times I had just ‘run into’ Toivo. “But he’s oil patch as well. That could be chalked up to coincidence.” I ruminated quizzically in my brain. I quickly reflected back on J.M. Darhower: “Yes, you see, there’s no such thing as coincidence. There are no accidents in life. Everything that happens is the result of a calculated move that leads us to where we are.” She may be the author of the execrable New Adult Sempre series, which Esme likes and I loathe, but she might just be right on this occasion. Toivo return, lighter in the bladder and good sense. He never even noticed he’d left his organizer out in broad bar light for all to see. “So, Toivo, when’s your flight?” I ask. “Oh, man. Was I lucky. The JAL flight to Tokyo from Los Angeles had mechanical trouble and had to divert here. I got a ticket on the plane for that flight, when it continues. “You mean ‘if it continues’,” I replied. “Yeah. Yeah. That’s what I meant. Hey! Was that your flight?” he asks innocently. He’s really innocent of fieldcraft. I decide to have some fun at my old friend’s expense. “Yep. Hit some CAT (Clear Air Turbulence) and the JAL pilots reported some lighting problem. No apparent ruin to any of the systems. They relay racked their brains to figure it out, but they couldn’t that’s why I here.” I said, waiting for the words to swim upstream in Toivo’s coconut and make some sort of connection. “Yeah. Double lucky. No problem with the plane and I get to go to Japan early.” Toivo crookedly grins. “So, no trouble with the plane? Then why haven’t I heard that the flight’s going to resume?” I asked as I pushed a fresh, seriously strong drink to Toivo. “Oh, must have heard it in the john.” Toivo countered and tried to cover his tracks by taking a huge gulp of his drink and damn near dying coughing. I pound on Toivo’s back. “Heimlich time?” I ask. Toivo signals ‘no’. “Jesus Christ, Rock. What was that?” he asks. “Just my usual”, I innocently replied. “Holy fuck. No wonder you have the reputation of…” Toivo realizes too late that he’s said too much. “Yeah. They can rack you out. Really ruin a person if they’re not careful.” I reply icily. “Why, Rock. Whatever do you mean?” Toivo slurred as he realized he’s been caught out. “The jig is up, you turncoat. You know Agents Rack and Ruin from the agency. Right? You keeping tabs on me for them? You Quisling! You Benedict Arnold!” I almost was on the verge of losing my cool. “It was nothing. They approached me years ago as I kept being mentioned in your reports. They asked me for some information. One thing leads to another…” Toivo was ready for an Ankylosaur tail club swat to the bean. “Oh, put your fucking hands down, you asshole.” I smiled and chuckled. “You’re not mad?” Toivo slurred badly. I had the bartender make him another special drink. “No, Toivo. Not mad. Just disappointed.” I said, smiling like a Komodo Dragon just finishing up a fortnight-old wildebeest. Toivo sat there and puzzled and puzzled until his puzzler was sore. “You’re not going to kill me or anything rude like that?” Toivo asked, half-assedly trying to inject humor into the proceedings. “Nah. The paperwork’s too ridiculous for me to do another liberation. But, Jesus Fucking Christwagons, Toivo; you could have mentioned it to me. Fuck, I thought we were friends to the end?” I said, dejectedly. I was really getting through to Toivo. I could tell he was loaded; feeling like shit and massively deplorable. Great fieldcraft, indeed. I told him things “are what they are” and that I won’t blow his cover nor his honorarium. He began to feel better. I often wonder if he was serious about the sanctioning thing. Then I delivered the strategic missile strike. “Just remember, Toivo. I wrote your dossier for the Company…” He swivels to look at me. “And one for the KGB. Olga says ‘howdy’.” I grin evilly. Toivo short-circuited at that. Russia is his company’s bread and butter. Now he has the KGB as well as his best buddy looking over his shoulder at every move. I bought him a few more drinks and continued to needle him about his ’leading a double life’. He was well and truly fuckered when the electric tap-tap driver from before came looking for me to whisk me back to the plane. Seems it was simply some knocked-out wires on the plane, or slammed bulbs that were generating a false positive, indicating something other than the system that alerts one to something haywire went haywire. Toivo was pretty much down for the count. I got him sober enough to hand them his ticket and ensure that he was really supposed to be on this flight. Thing was; h e was in Economy, and I was, as always, in Business. I spoke to Luna, and the plane was going to be even less crowded than previously because some folks could or wouldn’t wait, or didn’t want to go on with the rest of the trip on a ‘damaged’ aircraft, or were just stupid and superstitious. “Luna, could I pay for the difference between Business and Economy for my less than 100% conscious friend here? He’s had a rough day.” I asked. “Dr. Rock. Just put him into Business. No one will be the wiser. Luna says so.” As she gave us a grand smile. “Luna, I owe you. Thanks so much.” I said. “Now get on board. Your friend looks like he needs all the downtime he can get.” “Yes, ma’am!” I said and saluted here be best I could which dragging a schnozzled Toivo down the jetway. I dumped Toivo in a window seat well away from my seat. I know Toivo. He snores like a semi-load of live hogs rocketing downhill locking up the brakes at 88 MPH. Surprise! There was no one else in Business. Luna looked at me, at Toivo, and gave me a thumbs up. Whatever I can write to further her career at JAL, she’ll have it before I deplane. We finally get everyone settled, and with Captain Kangaroo at the helm, we bounced gracelessly off the tarmac, into the warm, tropical Hawaiian air, finally headed for the Land of the Rising Sun. Toivo was snoring like a chainsaw hitting rusty nails as I worked on the various letters, communiques, and dossiers which needed updating before we reached touchdown. I gave Luna a thick letter with instructions not to open it until we were on the ground and Toivo and I were well off and away into the terminal. We left Hawaii at 1300 hours, so we should arrive at Tokyo Nareda around 4:00 pm, the previous day. I was so bereft of time and time zones, I couldn’t figure out what time it really was, as judged by my biometric rhythms, so I asked Luna for a stiff drink as I was kicking off my boots and going to attempt to get some kip. She brought me another liter or so eponymous drink. I was sawing logs by the time I slurped the last swig of that nifty drink. Suddenly, or later, I have no idea really, some loudmouth drunk asshole from way-the-fuck-back in economy-land toward the ass end of the plane staggered into Business demanding free drinks. Luna was nothing but civil, and asked him to both shut up and return to his seat. His air cabin hostess, or whatever the fuck they’re calling them these days, will attend to his needs. “Naw they won’t! They want me to pay for more drinks! I’m broke but I demand more booze! You fucking owe me.” railed the asshole. “I sat at the bar in Hawaii for four hours. Them fuckers charged me an arm and a leg!” “No, they don’t owe you shit”, I said in a voice that unmistakably loud and clear. “Fuck you, old man! You stay the fuck out of this!” he bellowed. “Shut up or I’ll do ya’!” “’Old man’? ‘Do me’? Excuse me. Luna, may I have a word alone with this individual?” I asked sweetly. Luna shook her head in the affirmative, and I stood up to confront this flagrant asshole. “Now look, Scooter. You have gone way, way over the fucking line. You are loud. You are abusive. You are obnoxious. And you stink. Plus you insulted a person who is just barely containing his righteous wrath right now. So, I’m giving you one and one only chance to shut up, sit back down before your body spontaneously develops all sort of bruises, contusions, broken bones, and unconsciousness.” I said calmly, evenly, and threateningly. “What da’ fuck you think you’re going to do…old man?” he screeched, trying to inflate himself into full mammalian threat posture, all 5’ 9” of it. He didn’t notice Toivo walking up quietly behind him, as Toivo was returning from the head, quiet as a moose. “Well, Scooter, I am an Air Marshall. Duly appointed, fully trained, and properly pissed off. Right now, I can arrest you, physically detain you, turn this flight around and take you to the Hawaiian police, at your cost for the inconvenience of the entire flight. Or I could arrest you, physically detain you, and turn you over to the Japanese authorities when we land. It’s really your choice. Choose wisely.” To be continued…⇝
!Que Pasa Neng! !Shin Chan: Flipa en colores! &: Sora no Mukou de Saki Masuyou ni '70s Robot Anime: Geppy-X '89 Dennou Kyuusei Uranai '96 Zenkoku Koukou Soccer Senshuken '98 Koushien '99 Koushien *NSYNC: Get to the Show -8 ...Iru! .hack//Fragment .hack//G.U. vol. 1//Rebirth .hack//G.U. vol. 2//Reminisce .hack//G.U. vol. 3//Redemption .hack//Infection Part 1 .hack//Link .hack//Mutation Part 2 .hack//Outbreak Part 3 .hack//Quarantine Part 4 .hack//Vol. 1 x Vol. 2 .hack: Sekai no Mukou ni+ Versus - Hybrid Pack 0 Story 0-Kara no Shogi: Shogi Youchien - Ayumi Gumi 0-ji no Kane to Cinderella: Halloween Wedding 007 Legends 007 Racing 007: Agent Under Fire 007: Everything or Nothing 007: NightFire 007: Quantum of Solace 007: Racing / Medal of Honor / 007: Tomorrow Never Dies - Collector's Edition 007: The World Is Not Enough 007: The World is Not Enough 007: Tomorrow Never Dies 1 vs. 100 1, 2, Switch 1-Jikan de Wakaru Kabushiki Toushi 1/2 summer+ 10 Minute Solution 10 Pin Bowling 10 Pin: Champions Alley 10,000 Bullets 10-Yard Fight 100 All-Time Favorites 100 Classic Books 100 Classic Games 100 Kiri Golf DS 100 Manyen Quiz Hunter 100% Pascal Sensei: Kanpeki Paint Bombers 1000 Cooking Recipes from Elle a Table 1001 Crosswords 1001 Touch Games 101-in-1 Explosive Megamix 101-in-1 Party Megamix 101-in-1 Sports Megamix 101-in-1 Sports Party Megamix 10101: "Will" the Starship 1080 Snowboarding 1080: Avalanche 11 Eyes: CrossOver 12-Ji no Kane to Cinderella: Cinderella Series Triple Zenkan Pack 12-Ji no Kane to Cinderella: Halloween Wedding 12-Sai. Honto no Kimochi 12-Sai. Koisuru Diary 12-Sai. Torokeru Puzzle Futari no Harmony 12-Toki no Kane to Cinderella Series Triple Zenkan Pack 120-en no Haru: 120 Yen Stories 12Riven: The Psi-Climinal of Integral 13-Sai no Hello Work DS 1500DS Spirits Vol. 10: Igo 1500DS Spirits Vol. 1: Mahjong 1500DS Spirits Vol. 2: Shogi 1500DS Spirits Vol. 3: Block Kuzushi 1500DS Spirits Vol. 4: Reversi 1500DS Spirits Vol. 5: Hanafuda 1500DS Spirits Vol. 6: Trump 1500DS Spirits Vol. 7: Chess 1500DS Spirits Vol. 8: Darts 1500DS Spirits Vol. 9: Futari-uchi Mahjong 1500DS Spirits: Mahjong V 1500DS Spirits: Shogi V 1552 Tenka Tairan 16 Tales: Vol. 1 16 Tales: Vol. 2 16 Tales: Vol. 3 16 Tales: Vol. 4 18 Card Games 18 Classic Card Games 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker 187 Ride or Die 1941: Counter Attack 1942 1943 Kai 1943: The Battle of Midway 1945 I&II The Arcade Games 1999 Hore, Mitakotoka! Seikimatsu 19: Neunzehn 19:03 Ueno Hatsu Yakou Ressha 2 Games For 1 Great Price!: Big Beach Sports / Big Beach Sports 2 2 Games In 1 Double Pack - Hot Wheels: World Race / Velocity X 2 Games In 1 Double Pack - SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom / Nicktoons: Freeze Frame Frenzy 2 Games In 1 Double Pack - SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge / Revenge of the Flying Dutchman 2 Games In 1 Double Pack: Finding Nemo / Monsters, Inc. 2 Games In 1 Double Pack: Power Rangers: Time Force / Power Rangers: Ninja Storm 2 Games In 1 Double Value!: Monster Trucks / Quad Desert Fury 2 Games In 1: Disney Princess + Disney's The Lion King 2 Games In 1: Disney's Baren Bruder + Disney's Konig der Lowen 2 Games In 1: Disney's Brother Bear / Disney Princess 2 Games In 1: Finding Nemo / The Incredibles 2 Games In 1: LEGO Knights' Kingdom + LEGO Bionicle 2 Games In 1: Shrek 2 / Shark Tale 2 Games In 1: Sonic Pinball Party + Sonic Battle 2 Games In 1: Sonic Pinball Party / Columns Crown 2 Games In 1: SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge / Rugrats Go Wild 2 Games In 1: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie / SpongeBob SquarePants and Friends in Freeze Frame Frenzy 2 Games for 1 Great Price!: Wheel of Fortune / Jeopardy! 2 Games in 1 Double Pack: Scooby-Doo / Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed 2 Games in 1 Double Pack: Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase / Scooby-Doo! Mystery Mayhem 2 Games in 1 Double Pack: SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom / The Fairly OddParents! Breakin' Da Rules 2 Games in 1 Double Pack: The Incredibles / Finding Nemo: The Continuing Adventures 2 Games in 1! Archer Maclean's Mercury / Mercury Meltdown 2 Games in 1: GT Advance 3: Pro Concept Racing + MotoGP 2 Games in 1: Sonic Advance + Sonic Battle 2 Games in 1: The Incredibles / Finding Nemo 2 Games in 1: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie / Battle for Bikini Bottom 2 Games in 1: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie / Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams 2 Hits Pack: Sonic Forces / Puyo Puyo Tetris - Sega Collection 2 In 1 Game Pack: Shrek 2 / Shark Tale 2 In 1 Game Pack: Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 2 In 1 Game Pack: Spider-Man Mysterio's Menace / X2 Wolverine's Revenge 2 In 1 Game Pack: Tony Hawk's Underground / Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer 2 In 1: Asterix & Obelix Jetzt Geht's Rund! + Asterix & Obelix XXL 2 Jeux En 1: Titeuf: Ze Gag Machine / Titeuf: Mega Compet 2 Pak Special: Dungeon Master / Creature Strike 2 Xtreme 2 for 1 Power Pack: Indianapolis 500 Legends/WWII Aces 2 for 1 Power Pack: Kawasaki Jet Ski/Summer Sports 2 2 for 1 Power Pack: Winter Blast/Summer Sports 2 2 in 1 Combo Pack: Sonic Heroes / Super Monkey Ball Deluxe 2 in 1 Combo Pack: Sonic Mega Collection Plus / Super Monkey Ball Deluxe 2-In-1 Fun Pack: Madagascar: Operation Penguin / Shrek 2 2-in-1 Party Pack: Shrek's Carnival Craze / Madagascar Kartz 200-Mannin no KanKen: Tokoton Kanji Nou 2002 FIFA World Cup 2003-Toshi Kaimaku: Ganbare Kyuukaiou 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil 2020 Super Baseball 20th Century Video Almanac 21 Card Games 21 Emon: Mezase! Hotel Ou 21: TwoOne 24-ji no Kane to Cinderella: Halloween Wedding 24: The Game 25 to Life 250 Mannin no Kanken Premium - Zenkyuu Zen-Kanji Kanzen Seiha 250 Mannin no Kanken: Wii de Tokoton Kanji Nou 2999 Game Kids 2Dark 2K Essentials Collection: Bioshock / Borderlands / XCOM: Enemy Unknown 2K Essentials Collection: Bioshock / Borderlands/ XCOM: Enemy Unknown 2K Power Pack 2Tax Gold 3 Choume no Tama: Tama and Friends - 3 Choume Obake Panic!! 3 Count Bout 3 Games in 1: Tak / SuperSponge / Rugrats: I Gotta Go Party 3 Ninjas Kick Back 3 Ninjas Kick Back / Hook 3 in 1: Solitaire, Mahjong & Tangram 3-D Tetris 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe 3-D Ultra Pinball: Thrillride 3-D WorldRunner 3-Fun Yosou Umaban Club 3-Nen B-Gumi Kinpachi Sensei: Densetsu no Kyoudan ni Tate! 300: March to Glory 360: Three Sixty 3D Atlas 3D Baseball 3D Crazy Coaster 3D Dot Game Heroes 3D Game Collection: 55-in-1 3D Lemmings 3D MahJongg 3D Mine Storm 3D MiniGolf 3D Narrow Escape 3D Pocket Pool 3D Shooting Tsukuru 3DO Buffet 3LDK: Shiawase ni Narouyo 3X3 Eyes: Kyuusei Koushu S 3Xtreme 3on3 Freestyle 3x3 Eyes: Juuma Houkan 3x3 Eyes: Kyuusei Koushu 3x3 Eyes: Sanjiyan Henjyo 3x3 Eyes: Seima Kourinden 3x3 Eyes: Tenrinou Genmu 4 Elements 4 Elements II 4 Games on One Game Pak: GT Advance / GT Advance 2 / GT Advance 3 / MotoGP 4 Nin Shogi 4 Nin uchi Mahjong 4 Wheel Thunder 4 in 1 Action Pack 4 in 1 Row 4 in 1 Super CD 4-4-2 Soccer 4-in-1 Fun Pak 4-in-1 Funpak: Volume II 40 Winks 428: Fuusa Sareta Shibuya de 4X4 EVO 2 4X4 Evolution 4x4 EVO 2 4x4 Evolution 5 In One Fun Pak 5 Star Racing 5-Kyuu kara 1-Kyuu Kanzen Taiou: Saishin Kako Mondai - 2-Ji Shiken Taisaku - Eiken Kanzenban 5-nin no Koi Prince: Himitsu no Keiyaku Kekkon 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand 50 Cent: Bulletproof 50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition 50 Classic Games 50 Classic Games 3D 50 More Classic Games 6 Inch My Darling 6 in 1 6-Pak 64 Hanafuda: Tenshi no Yakusoku 64 Oozumou 64 Oozumou 2 64 Trump Collection: Alice no Waku Waku Trump World 64 de Hakken! Tamagotchi Minna de Tamagotchi World 688 Attack Sub 7 Blades 7 Days to Die 7 Sins 7 Wonders II 7 Wonders of the Ancient World 7 Wonders: Treasures of Seven 7'scarlet 700-Banjin no Atama o Yokusuru: Chou Keisan DS - 13000-Mon + Image Keisan 720 Degrees 77: Beyond the Milky Way 7th Dragon 7th Dragon 2020 7th Dragon 2020-II 7th Dragon III Code: VFD 8 Eyes 8-Bit Armies 88 Heroes 88 Heroes: 98 Heroes Edition 8BallAllstars 90 Minutes: European Prime Goal 90 Minutes: Sega Championship Football 989 Sports Demo Disc 99 Nendohan: Eitango Center 1500 99 no Namida u/field A Boy and His Blob A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia A Bug's Life A Bug's Life / Tigger's Honey Hunt / Tarzan - Collector's Edition A Bug's Life Activity Centre A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV A Labyrinth Game / Supermind A Mars Moose Adventure - Cosmic Quest 1: City Sights A Mars Moose Adventure - Cosmic Quest 2: Fairy Tale Island A Mars Moose Adventure - Cosmic Quest 3: Race Through France A Mars Moose Adventure - Stay & Play 1: In the Clubhouse A Mars Moose Adventure - Stay & Play 2: In Mars' Bedroom A Mars Moose Adventure - Stay & Play 3: In Lonnie's Classroom A Mars Moose Adventure - Walkabout 1: The Natural History Museum A Mars Moose Adventure - Walkabout 2: The Shakespeare Festival A Mars Moose Adventure - Walkabout 3: World Sports Day A Nanjarin A Rose in the Twilight A Witch's Tale A Year at Pooh Corner A-Rank Thunder Tanjouhen A-Ressha de Ikou A-Ressha de Ikou 2001 A-Ressha de Ikou 2001 Perfect Set A-Ressha de Ikou 3D NEO A-Ressha de Ikou DS A-Ressha de Ikou DS: Navigation Pack A-Ressha de Ikou MD A-Ressha de Ikou Z: Mezase! Tairiku Oudan A-Train 3D: City Simulator A-Train 6 A-Train HX A-Train: City Simulator A-Train: Trains - Power - Money A. IV Evolution: A-Ressha de Ikou 4 A.C.E.: Another Century's Episode A.C.E.: Another Century's Episode 2 A.C.E.: Another Century's Episode 3: The Final A.C.E.: Another Century's Episode R A.III: A-Ressha de Ikou III A.P.B. A.S.P. Air Strike Patrol A.W. Phoenix Festa A/X-101 A2 Racer II A2 Racer III: Europa Tour A5: A-Ressha de Ikou 5 AAAHH!!! Real Monsters ABBA: You Can Dance ABC Monday Night Football ABPA Backgammon ABZU AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack ACB Total 2010/2011 ACME Animation Factory ADK Tamashii AFL 99 AFL Live 2004 AH-3 Thunderstrike AI Igo AI Igo 2003 AI Igo: Saturn Version AI Mahjong AI Mahjong 2003 AI Mahjong Selection AI Shogi AI Shogi 2 AI Shogi 2 Deluxe AI Shogi 2000 AI Shogi 2003 AI Shogi 3 AI Shogi Selection AIII S.V.: A-Ressha de Ikou 3 Super Version AKB1/149: Renai Sousenkyo AKB1/48: Idol to Guam de Koishitara... AKB1/48: Idol to Koishitara... AKB48+Me ALC no 10-Punkan Eigo Master: Chuukyuu ALC no 10-Punkan Eigo Master: Joukyuu ALC no 10-Punkan Eigo Master: Shokyuu ALF AMF Bowling 2004 AMF Bowling Pinbusters! AMF Bowling World Lanes AMF Xtreme Bowling AR Games ARK: Survival Evolved ASCII Entertainment Demo Disc ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat ATP Tour Championship Tennis ATV Mania ATV Offroad Fury ATV Offroad Fury 2 ATV Offroad Fury 3 ATV Offroad Fury 4 ATV Offroad Fury Pro ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails ATV Quad Frenzy ATV Quad Kings ATV Quad Power Racing 2 ATV Racers ATV Racing ATV Renegades ATV Thunder Ridge Riders / Monster Trucks Mayhem ATV Wild Ride ATV: Quad Power Racing ATV: Thunder Ridge Riders AV Poker World Gambler Aa Harimanada Aa Megami-sama Aa Yakyuu Jinsei Icchokusen Abadox: The Deadly Inner War AbalaBurn Abarenbou Princess Absolute Supercars Absolute: Blazing Infinity Abunai Koi no Sousashitsu: Eternal Happiness Abunai: Koi no Sousa Shitsu Academy of Champions: Soccer Accel World vs. Sword Art Online: Millennium Twilight Accel World: Ginyoku no Kakusei Accel World: Kasoku no Chouten Accele Brid Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies Ace Combat 2 Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation Ace Combat 6: Kaihou e no Senka / Beautiful Katamari Damacy Ace Combat 6: Kaihou e no Senka / Lost Planet: Colonies Ace Combat Advance Ace Combat Assault Horizon Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy+ Ace Combat: Joint Assault Ace Lightning Ace o Nerae! Ace of Aces Aces of War Aces of the Air Acid Acid Drop Aconcagua Acrobat Mission Acrylic Palette: Irodori Cafe - Cheers ActRaiser ActRaiser 2 Action 52 Action Bass Action Fighter Action Girlz Racing Action Man A.T.O.M.: Alpha Teens on Machines Action Man: Destruction X Action Man: Operation Extreme Action Man: Robot Atak Action Man: Search for Base X Action Pachio Action Pack: Prince of Persia Revelations, Driver 76, Rainbow Six Vegas Active Health with Carol Vorderman Active Life Explorer Active Life Value Pack Active Life: Extreme Challenge Active Life: Magical Carnival Active Life: Outdoor Challenge Activision Anthology Activision Classic Games Activision Demo Action Pack Activision Hits Remixed Actua Golf 3 Actua Ice Hockey Actua Ice Hockey 2 Actua Pool Actua Soccer 2 Actua Soccer 3 Actua Soccer: Club Edition Actua Tennis Ad Lib Ouji ...to Fuyukai na Nakama-tachi!? Adam & Eve Adam's Venture Chronicles Adam's Venture: Origins Addams Family Values Addie no Okurimono: To Moze from Addie Adian no Tsue Adiboo & Paziral's Secret Adiboo and the Energy Thieves Adibou Et L'Ombre Verte Adidas Power Soccer Adidas Power Soccer 2 Adidas Power Soccer 98 Adidas Power Soccer International '97 Adidas miCoach Adrenalin Misfits Adult Swim Collection Advan Racing Advance Guardian Heroes Advance Wars Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising Advance Wars: Days of Ruin Advance Wars: Dual Strike Advanced Daisenryaku 2001 Advanced Daisenryaku: Deutsch Dengeki Sakusen Advanced Daisenryaku: Europe no Arashi - Doitsu Dengeki Sakusen Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: DragonStrike Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Dragons of Flame Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Hillsfar Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Iron & Blood: Warriors of Ravenloft Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Pool of Radiance Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin Advanced V.G. Advanced V.G. 2 Advanced World War: Sennen Teikoku no Koubou Advent Rising Adventure Adventure II Adventure Island Adventure Island 3 Adventure Island II Adventure Island II: Aliens in Paradise Adventure Mega Pack Adventure Player Adventure Quiz Capcom World: Hatena no Daibouken Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW! Adventure Time: Finn and Jake Investigations Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?! Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom Adventure of Little Ralph Adventure of Tokyo Disney Sea Adventures in Letterland With Jack and Jill Adventures of Dino Riki Adventures of Lolo Adventures of Lolo 2 Adventures of Lolo 3 Adventures of Tom Sawyer Adventures of Tron Adventures of Yogi Bear Adventures to Go! Aedis Eclipse: Generation of Chaos Aegis of Earth: Protonovus Assault Aeon Flux AereA Aerial Assault Aero Blasters Aero Dancing F: Todoroki Tsubasa no Hatsu Hikou Aero Dancing i Aero Dancing i: Jikai Sakuma de Machite Masen Aero Dancing: Torodoki Taichou no Himitsu Disc Aero Elite: Combat Academy Aero Fighters Aero Fighters 2 Aero Fighters 3 Aero Fighters Assault Aero The Acro-Bat Aero the Acro-Bat Aero the Acro-Bat 2 Aero the Acro-bat AeroGauge AeroWings AeroWings 2: Air Strike Aerobics Revolution Aerobiz Aerobiz Supersonic Aerostar AeternoBlade Afraid Gear Afraid Gear Another Afrika Afro Inu: The Puzzle Afro Samurai After Armageddon Gaiden: Majuu Toushouden Eclipse After Burner After Burner II After Burner III After Burner: Black Falcon After Burst After Hours Athletes After... Wasureenu Kizuna Again: Interactive Crime Novel Agarest Senki Mariage Agassi Tennis Generation Agatha Christie's The ABC Murders Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None Agatha Christie: Evil Under the Sun Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings Age of Empires: Mythologies Age of Empires: The Age of Kings Agent Armstrong: Himitsu Shirei Daisakusen Agent Collection Agent Hugo Agent Hugo: Hula Holiday Agent Hugo: Lemoon Twist Agent Hugo: Roborumble Agents of Mayhem Aggressive Inline Aggressors of Dark Kombat Agile Warrior F-111X Ai Cho Aniki Ai Sensei no Oshiete: Watashi no Hoshi Ai Senshi Nicol Ai Yori Aoshi Aibou DS Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage Aigiina no Yogen: Balubalouk no Densetsu Yori Aigina no Yogen: Balubalouk no Densetsu Yori Aikagi Aikatsu Stars! My Special Appeal Aikatsu! 2-nin no My Princess Aikatsu! 365-Hi no Idol Days Aikatsu! Cinderella Lesson Aikatsu! My No.1 Stage! Ailu de Puzzle Air Air Battle! Air Buster Air Cavalry Air Combat Air Conflicts Double Pack Air Conflicts: Aces of World War II Air Conflicts: Pacific Carriers Air Conflicts: Secret Wars Air Conflicts: Secret Wars - Ultimate Edition Air Conflicts: Vietnam Air Conflicts: Vietnam Ultimate Edition Air Diver Air Fortress Air Hockey Air Management '96 Air Race Championship Air Raid Air Raid 3 Air Raiders Air Ranger 2 Plus: Rescue Helicopter Air Ranger 2: Rescue Helicopter Air Ranger: Rescue Helicopter Air Rescue Air Strike Air Traffic Chaos Air Zonk Air-Sea Battle AirBlade AirBoarder 64 AirForce Delta AirForce Delta Storm AirForce Delta Strike AirGrave Airaki Airborne Troops: Countdown to D-Day Aircars Airlock Aironauts Airs Adventure Airship Q Airwolf Airwolf (Japan) Aishiau Kotoshika Dekinai Aisle Lord Aitakute...Your Smiles in My Heart Aiyoku no Eustia: Angel's Blessing Aka-Chan Doubutsu Sono Akagawa Jirou Mystery: Tsuki no Hikari Akagawa Jirou Mystery: Yasoukyoku - Hon ni Manekareta Satsujin Akagawa Jirou no Yuurei Ressha Akagawa Jirou: Majotachi no Nemuri: Fukkatsusai Akagawa Jirou: Yasoukyoku Akagawa Jirou: Yasoukyoku 2 Akagi: Touhaiden Akagi: Yami ni Furitatta Tensai Akai Ito Akai Ito DS Akai Ito Destiny DS Akai Katana Akai Suna Ochiru Tsuki Akane Iro ni Somaru Saka Portable Akane Iro ni Somaru Saka: Parallel Akatsuki no Amaneka to Aoi Kyojin Akatsuki no Goei Trinity Akaya Akashiya Ayakashino Akazu no Ma Akazukin ChaCha Akiba's Beat Akiba's Trip Akiba's Trip 2+A Akiba's Trip Plus Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed Akihabara Dennou Kumi Peta Pies! Akira Akira Psycho Ball Akiyama Jin No Suugaku Mystery Akko de Pon! Ikasama Hourouki Akko ni Omakase! Brain Shock Akogare Girls Collection: Lovely Youchien Akogare Girls Collection: Mister Donut DS Akogare Girls Collection: Ohanaya-San Monogatari Akogare Girls Collection: Pika Pika Nurse Monogatari Akogare Girls Collection: Suteki ni Nurse Days Akudaikan Akudaikan 2: Mousouden Akudaikan 3 Akudaikan Manyuuki Akudaikan Manyuuki: Seigi no Yaiba Akuji the Heartless Akuma Zensho Dainishuu Akuma-kun: Makai no Wana Akumajou Dracula Akumajou Dracula X: Gekka no Yasoukyoku Akumajou Special: Boku Dracula-kun Akuu Senki Raijin Al Unser Jr.'s Road to the Top Al Unser Jr.'s Turbo Racing Alabama Meets Will Vi Aladdin Magic Racer Alan Hansen's Sports Challenge Alan Wake Alarm for Cobra 11: Crash Time Alarm fuer Cobra 11 Vol II Albert Odyssey Albert Odyssey 2: Jashin no Taidou Albert Odyssey: Legend of Eldean Album Club: Mune Kyun * Saint Poria Jogakuin Alcahest Aldynes Aleck Bordon Adventure: Tower & Shaft Advance Alekhine's Gun Alex Ferguson's Player Manager 2001 Alex Ferguson's Player Manager 2002 Alex Kidd in Miracle World Alex Kidd in Shinobi World Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle Alex Kidd: High-Tech World Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars Alex Rider: Stormbreaker Alexandra Ledermann: Summer Camp Adventures Alexi Lalas International Soccer Alfa Romeo Racing Italiano Alfred Chicken Alfred's Adventure Alia's Carnival! Sacrament Alias Alice in Cyberland Alice in Wonderland Alice no Paint Adventure Alice on Borderlines Alice's Mom's Rescue Alice: Madness Returns Alien Alien 3 Alien Breed Trilogy Alien Brigade Alien Chaos 3D Alien Crush Alien Front Online Alien Hominid Alien Invaders Plus! Alien Monster Bowling League Alien Olympics Alien Raiders Alien Resurrection Alien Soldier Alien Storm Alien Syndrome Alien Trilogy Alien vs. Predator Alien vs. Predator: The Last of His Clan Alien: Isolation Alienators: Evolution Continues Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction Aliens in the Attic Aliens vs. Predator Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem Aliens: Colonial Marines Aliens: Infestation Aliens: Thanatos Encounter Alisia Dragoon Alive All 1 All Grown Up! Express Yourself All Japan Pro Wrestling Featuring Virtua All Japan Woman Pro Wrestling All Kamen Rider: Rider Generation All Kamen Rider: Rider Generation 2 All Kamen Rider: Rider Revolution All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros. All Round Hunter All Star 5-A-Side Football All Star Action All Star Cheer Squad All Star Cheer Squad 2 All Star Karate All Star Pro-Wrestling All Star Racing All Star Racing 2 All Star Soccer All Star Tennis '99 All Star Tennis 2000 All Star Tennis 99 All Star Watersports All-Pro Basketball All-Pro Football 2K8 All-Star 1997 Featuring Frank Thomas All-Star Baseball All-Star Baseball 2000 All-Star Baseball 2001 All-Star Baseball 2002 All-Star Baseball 2003 All-Star Baseball 2004 All-Star Baseball 2005 All-Star Baseball 99 All-Star Fighters All-Star Mahjong: Kareinaru Shoubushi Kara no Chousen All-Star Major League Baseball All-Star Professional Wrestling II All-Star Professional Wrestling III All-Star Slammin' D-Ball All-Star Tennis 2 Alleyway Allied Ace Pilots Allied General Alnam no Kiba: Juuzoku Juuni Shinto Densetsu Alnam no Tsubasa: Shoujin no Sora no Kanata e Alone in the Dark Alone in the Dark 2 Alone in the Dark: Inferno Alone in the Dark: One-Eyed Jack's Revenge Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare Alpha Beam With Ernie Alpha Mission Alpha Mission II Alpha Protocol Alpha and Omega Alpine Racer 3 Alpine Ski Racing 2007 Alpine Skiing 2005 Alpine Skiing! Alshark Alter Echo Altered Beast Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms Altered Space: A 3-D Alien Adventure Alundra Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins Alvin and the Chipmunks Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Alzadick: Summer Carnival `92 Amaekata wa Kanojo Nari ni. Amagami Amagi Shien Amagon Amagoushi no Yakata Amagoushi no Yakata Portable: Ichiyagi Wa, Saisho no Junan Amatsumi Sora ni! Kumo no Hatate ni Amazing Adventures: The Forgotten Ruins Amazing Island Amazing Penguin Amazing Tater America Daitouryou Senkyo: United State Presidental Race America Daitouryou Senkyo: United State Presidential Race America Oudan Ultra Quiz America Oudan Ultra Quiz: Shijou Saidai no Tatakai America Oudan Ultra-Quiz America Oudan Ultra-Quiz Part 2 America Oudan Ultra-Quiz Part 3 America Oudan Ultra-Quiz Part 4 America's Army: Rise of a Soldier America's Army: True Soldiers America's Greatest Game Shows: Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy! America's Next Top Model America's Next Top Model (2008) America's Test Kitchen: Let's Get Cooking American Bass Challenge American Battle Dome American Chopper American Chopper 2: Full Throttle American Dream American Girl: Julie Finds a Way American Girl: Kit Mystery Challenge! American Gladiators American Idol American Mensa Academy American Ninja Warrior American Pool American Pool II Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy Amida Amidar Amnesia Amnesia Twin Pack Amnesia World Amnesia: Crowd Amnesia: Later Amnesia: Later x Crowd V. Edition Amnesia: Memories Amok Among the Sleep Amped 2 Amped 3 Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding Amplitude An American Tail An American Tail: Fievel Goes West An American Tail: Fievel's Gold Rush AnEarth Fantasy Stories: First Volume Anan Kanshuu: Onna Dikara Kinkyuu Up! DS Anarchy Reigns Anastasia Anata Dake no Private Lesson - DS de Hajimeru - Tipness no Yoga Anata o Yurusanai Ancient Magic: Bazoe! Mahou Sekai Ancient Roman: Power of Dark Side And 1 Streetball And-Kensaku Andre Agassi Tennis Andre Panza Kick Boxing Andretti Racing Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals: Sing and Dance Andro Dunos Android Assault: The Revenge of Bari-Arm Anesan Angel Blade: Neo Tokyo Guardians Angel Cat Sugar Angel Collection Angel Graffiti S: Anata e no Profile Angel Graffiti: Anata e no Profile Angel Love Online Angel Paradise Vol. 1 Angel Paradise Vol. 2: Eshinu Kimika Angel Present Angel Profile Angel Senki Angel Wish Angel Wish: Kimi no Egao ni Chu! Angel's Feather Angel's Feather: Kuro no Zanei Angelic Concert Angelique Angelique Duet Angelique Etoile Angelique History Angelique Retour Angelique Special Angelique Special 2 Angelique Trois Angelique Trois: Aizouhen Angelique Voice Fantasy Angelique: Maren no Rokukishi Angelique: Tenkuu no Requiem Angler's Club: Ultimate Bass Fishing 3D Angolmois 99 Angry Birds Star Wars Angry Birds Trilogy AniMates AnimAction Anima: Gate of Memories Animal Boxing Animal Breeder Animal Breeder 2 Animal Breeder 3 Animal Breeder 4 Animal Crossing Animal Crossing: City Folk Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer Animal Crossing: New Leaf Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome Amiibo Animal Crossing: Wild World Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival Animal Football Animal Genius Animal Hospital Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition Animal Mania Animal Paradise Animal Paradise Wild Animal Planet: Emergency Vets Animal Planet: Vet Collection Animal Planet: Vet Life Animal Snap: Rescue Them 2 By 2 Animal Soccer World Animal Yokochou: Doki Doki Kyuushutsu Daisakusen! no Maki Animal Yokochou: Doki*Doki Shinkyuu Shiken! no Kan Animaniacs Animaniacs Ten Pin Alley Animaniacs: Lights, Camera, Action! Animaniacs: The Great Edgar Hunt Animastar Animastar GB Anime Eikaiwa: 15 Shounen Hyouryuuhen Anime Eikaiwa: Tondemo Nezumi Daikatsuyaku Anime Eikaiwa: Totoi Anime Slot Revolution: Pachi-Slot Kidou Senshi Gundam II - Ai Senshi Hen Animetic Story Game 1: Card Captor Sakura Animorphs Animorphs: Shattered Reality Ankh: Curse of the Scarab King Ankh: Tutankhamen no Nazo Ankoku Shinwa: Yamato Takeru Densetsu Annet Futatabi Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai Anoko Doko Noko Anoko wa Ore Kara Hanarenai Anone DS Another Bible Another Century's Episode Portable Another Code: R - A Journey into Lost Memories Another Memories Another Mind Another Time Another Leaf: Kagami no Naka no Tantei Another World Anpanman Niko Niko Party Anpanman to Asobo: ABC Kyoushitsu Anpanman to Asobo: Aiueo Kyoushitsu Anpanman to Asobo: New Aiueo Kyoushitsu Anpanman to Asobu: Aiueo Kyoushitsu DX Anpanman to Touch de Waku Waku Training Anpanman to Touch de Wakuwaku Training Anpfiff: Der RTL Fussball-Manager Ansatsu Kyoushitsu: Assassin Ikusei Keikaku!! Ansatsu Kyoushitsu: Korosensei Daihouimou!! Ant Nation Antarctic Adventure Anticipation Antiphona no Seikahime: Tenshi no Score Op.A Antz Antz Extreme Racing Antz Racing Antz World Sportz Anubis II Ao Zora to Nakama Tachi: Yume no Bouken Ao Zora to Nakama Tachi: Yume no Bouken Plus Ao no 6-gou: Antarctica Ao no Exorcist: Genkoku no Labyrinth Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm HD Edition Ao-Don DS: Hanabi no Goku & Hanabi no Takumi Aoi Hagane no Kihei: Space Griffon Aoi Namida Aoi Sora no Neosphere: Nanoca Flanka Hatsumei Koubouki 2 Aoi Umi no Tristia Portable: Nanoca Flanka Hatsumei Koubouki Aoi Umi no Tristia: 10th Anniversary Memorial Pack Aoi Umi no Tristia: Nanoca Flanka Hatsumei Koubouki Aoi no Mamade... Aoishiro Aoki Densetsu Shoot! Aoki Kakumeki no Valkyria Aoki Ookami to Shiroki Mejika: Genchou Hishi Apache: Air Assault Apathy: Narugami Gakuen Toshi Densetsu Tantei Kyoku Ape Escape Ape Escape 2 Ape Escape 3 Ape Escape Academy Ape Escape Academy 2 Ape Escape: Million Monkeys Ape Escape: On the Loose Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed Ape Quest Apex Apocalypse Apocalypse: Desire Next Apocripha/0 Apollo 11 VR Experience Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Appare! Gateball Appare! Shogi Jiisan Apple Town Monogatari Appleseed Appleseed EX Aqua Aqua Aqua GT Aqua Kids Aqua Kitty: Milk Mine Defender DX Aqua Panic! Aqua Paradise: Boku no Suizokukan Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am Aqua World: Umibi Monogatari AquaLife AquaNox: The Angel's Tears AquaPazza: AquaPlus Dream Match AquaZone AquaZone Option Disk Series 1: Angel Fish AquaZone Option Disk Series 2: Black Molly AquaZone Option Disk Series 3: Blue Emperor AquaZone Option Disk Series 4: Clown Loach AquaZone Option Disk Series 5: False Rummy-Nose AquaZone: Desktop Life AquaZone: Life Simulator Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis Aquanaut no Kyuujitsu 2 Aquanaut no Kyuujitsu: Memories of Summer 1996 Aquanaut's Holiday Aquanaut's Holiday: Kakusareta Kiroku Aquarian Age: Tokyo Wars Aquarium by DS Ar nosurge Plus: Ode to an Unborn Star Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia Arabian Nights Arabians Doubt Arabians Lost Arabians Lost & Doubt Twin Pack Aragami Araiguma Rascal: Raccoon Rascal Arashi no Yoruni Arasuji de Kitaeru Sokumimi no Susume DS Arasuji de Oboeru Sokudoku no Susume DS Arc Arena Arc Rise Fantasia Arc the Lad Arc the Lad Collection Arc the Lad II Arc the Lad III Arc the Lad: End of Darkness Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits Arcade 3D Arcade Archives: Darius Arcade Classic No. 1: Asteroids / Missile Command Arcade Classic No. 2: Centipede / Millipede Arcade Classic No. 3: Galaga / Galaxian Arcade Classic No. 4: Defender / Joust Arcade Classic Shuu Arcade Classics Arcade Classics: Super Breakout / Battlezone Arcade Classics: Volume One Arcade Hits: Moon Cresta Arcade Hits: Raiden Arcade Hits: Soukyuugurentai Arcade Party Pak Arcade Shooter: Ilvelo Arcade Shooting Gallery Arcade Smash Hits Arcade USA Arcade Zone Arcana Arcana Famiglia 2 Arcana Famiglia: Festa Regalo Arcana Famiglia: La storia della Aracana Famiglia Arcana Famiglia: La storia della Aracana Famiglia - Ancora Arcana Famiglia: Vascello Phantasma no Majutsushi Arcana Heart Arcana Heart 3 Arcana Heart 3: LOVEMAX!!!!! Arcana Strikes Arcania: Gothic 4 Arcania: The Complete Tale Arch Rivals Arch Rivals: A Basket Brawl! Archer MacLean's Super Dropzone Archer Maclean's 3D Pool Archer Maclean's Mercury Archon Arcobaleno! Arcobaleno! Portable Arctic Arctic Tale Arctic Thunder Arcus 1-2-3 Arcus Odyssey Ardy Lightfoot Are You Alice? Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader: Make the Grade Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Back to School Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Make the Grade Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? Game Time Are! Mo Kore? Mo Momotarou Area 51 Arena Football Arena Football: Road to Glory Arena: Maze of Death Aretha Aretha II Aretha II: Ariel no Fushigi na Tabi Aretha III Aretha the Super Famicom Argos no Juujiken Argos no Senshi Argus Aria: The Natural ~Tooi Yume no Mirage~ Aria: The Origination ~Aoi Hoshi no El Cielo~ Ark of Time Arkana Senki Ludo Arkanoid Arkanoid DS Arkanoid II Arkanoid Returns Arkanoid: Doh It Again Arkista's Ring Arle no Bouken: Mahou no Jewel ArmaGallant: Decks of Destiny Armada Armada F/X Racers Armadillo Armana no Kiseki Armed Fighter Armed and Dangerous Armen Noir Armen Noir Portable Armin Van Buuren: In The Mix Armor Ambush Armor Battle Armor..Attack Armored Core Armored Core 2 Armored Core 2: Another Age Armored Core 3 Armored Core 3 Portable Armored Core 4 Armored Core V Armored Core: For Answer Armored Core: Formula Front Armored Core: Formula Front - Extreme Battle Armored Core: Last Raven Armored Core: Last Raven Portable Armored Core: Master of Arena Armored Core: Nexus Armored Core: Nine Breaker Armored Core: Project Phantasma Armored Core: Silent Line Portable Armored Core: Verdict Day Armored Encounter! / Sub Chase! Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. Arms Arms' Heart Army Corps of Hell Army Men Army Men 2 Army Men 3D Army Men Advance Army Men Gold: Collector's Edition Army Men World War: Final Front Army Men World War: Team Assault Army Men: Air Attack Army Men: Air Attack 2 Army Men: Air Combat Army Men: Air Combat - The Elite Missions Army Men: Green Rogue Army Men: Major Malfunction Army Men: Operation Green Army Men: RTS Army Men: Sarge's Heroes Army Men: Sarge's Heroes 2 Army Men: Sarge's War Army Men: Soldiers of Misfortune Army Men: Turf Wars Army Men: World War Army Men: World War - Land, Sea, Air Army Rescue Army of Two Army of Two: The 40th Day Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf Around The World in 50 Games Around the World in 80 Days Arrow Flash Arslan Senki Arslan: The Warriors of Legend Art Academy Art Academy: Home Studio Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone Art Alive Art Camion Geijutsuden Art Camion Sugorokuden Art Master Art of Fighting Art of Fighting 2 Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior Art of Fighting Anthology Artelius Arthur and the Invisibles Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard Arthur to Astaroth no Nazo-Makai-Mura: Incredible Toons Arthur! Ready to Race Arthur's Absolutely Fun Day! Artillery Duel Artist Tool Arubarea no Otome ~Uruwashi no Seishikitachi~ Arx Fatalis Asahi Shinbun Rensai Katou Hifumi Kudan Shogi Shingiryuu Asaki, Yumemishi Asameshimae Nyanko Ashen Ashes Cricket 2009 Ashita no Joe Ashita no Joe 2: The Anime Super Remix Ashita no Joe Touchi: Typing Namida Hashi Ashita no Joe: Masseki ni Moe Agare! Ashita no Joe: Masshiro ni Moe Tsukiro! Asmik-Kun Land Asmik-kun World 2 Asoberu Eigo: Word Magic DS Asobi ni Iku yo! Chikyuu Pinchi no Konyaku Sengen Ason de Chinou Up Ason de Wakaru - The Party Casino Asonde Aiueo Asonde Igo ga Sara ni Tsuyokunaru: Ginsei Igo DS Chuukyuuhen Asonde Igo ga Tsuyoku naru!! Ginsei Igo DS Asonde Kazu Suuji Asonde Shogi ga Kyoukunaru! Kane Hoshi Shogi DX Asonde Shogi ga Tsuyoku naru!! Ginsei Shogi DS Asphalt 3D Asphalt: Injection Asphalt: Urban GT Asphalt: Urban GT 2 Aspic: Mahebiou no Noroi Assassin's Creed Assassin's Creed Anthology Assassin's Creed Chronicles Assassin's Creed Double Pack Assassin's Creed II Assassin's Creed II: Complete Edition Assassin's Creed II: Discovery Assassin's Creed III Assassin's Creed III: Liberation Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Assassin's Creed IV: Jackdaw Edition Assassin's Creed Origins Assassin's Creed Rogue Assassin's Creed Syndicate Assassin's Creed Unity Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - The Da Vinci Edition Assassin's Creed: Connor Saga Assassin's Creed: Ezio Saga Assassin's Creed: Ezio Trilogy Assassin's Creed: Heritage Collection Assassin's Creed: Revelations Assassin's Creed: Revelations - Ottoman Edition Assassin's Creed: The Americas Collection Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection Assault Assault City Assault Rigs Assault Suit Leynos Assault Suit Leynos 2 Assault Suits Valken Assault Suits Valken 2 Assault: Retribution Assetto Corsa Astal Astebreed Asterix Asterix & Obelix Asterix & Obelix Contre Cesar Asterix & Obelix Take on Caesar Asterix & Obelix XXL Asterix & Obelix XXL 2: Mission: Wifix Asterix & Obelix XXL2: Mission: Las Vegum Asterix & Obelix: Kick Buttix Asterix & Obelix: Paf! Par Toutatis! Asterix Brain Trainer Asterix and the Great Rescue Asterix and the Power of the Gods Asterix and the Secret Mission Asterix at the Olympic Games Asterix: Auf Der Suche Nach Idefix Asterix: Mega Madness Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods Asterix: These Romans Are Crazy! Asteroid Fire Asteroids Asteroids Hyper 64 Astonishia Story Astra Superstars Astral Bout AstralAir no Shiroki Eien: White Eternity Astro Boy Astro Boy: Omega Factor Astro Boy: The Video Game Astro Chase Astro Fang: Super Machine Astro Invaders Astro Kyuudan: Kessen!! Victory Kyuudanhen Astro Rabby Astro Robo Sasa Astro Warrior Astro Warrior & Pit Pot Astroblast Astrology Astrology DS: The Stars In Your Hands Astronoka Astrosmash Astyanax Asuka 120% Excellent: Burning Fest. Excellent Asuka 120% Final: Burning Fest. Final Asuka 120% Limited: Burning Fest. Limited Asuka 120% Maxima: Burning Fest. Maxima Asuka 120% Special: Burning Fest Special Asuncia: Matsue no Jubaku Asura's Wrath Atama de Do! Kotenko Kotenko Atama ga Yoku Naru - The Me no Training Atama no Kaiten no Training: Rubik's Cube & Chou Yuumei Puzzle Tachi Atama o Kitaete Asobu Taisen Yajirushi Puzzle: Puppyinu Vector One Atari Anniversary Advance Atari Anniversary Edition Atari Anniversary Edition Redux Atari Anthology Atari Classics Evolved Atari Flashback Classics: Volume 1 Atari Flashback Classics: Volume 2 Atari Greatest Hits Volume 1 Atari Greatest Hits Volume 2 Atari Karts Atari Masterpieces Vol. I Atari Masterpieces Vol. II Atari Video Cube Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island Atelier Ayesha Plus: The Alchemist of Dusk Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk Atelier Escha & Logy Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings Atelier Marie + Elie Atelier Meruru Plus: The Apprentice of Arland Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland Atelier Shallie Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book Atelier Totori Plus: The Adventurer of Arland Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland Athena Athena no Kateiban: Family Game Athena ~Awakening from the ordinary life~ Athens 2004 Athletic World Atlantic Quest Atlantis Atlantis III: The New World Atlantis no Nazo Atlantis: The Lost Continent Atlantis: The Lost Tales Atom Smasher Atomic Betty Atomic Punk Atomic Robo-Kid Atomic Robo-Kid Special Atomic Runner Atrevete a Sonar Atsumare! GuruGuru Onsen Atsumare! GuruGuru Onsen BB Atsumare! Power Pro Kun no DS Koushien Attack Animal Gakuen Attack of the Killer Demos Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Attack of the Movies 3D Attack of the Mutant Penguins Attack of the Saucerman! Attack of the Timelord! Attack on Titan Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains AubirdForce AubirdForce After Audio Hero Aura Battler Dunbine Aurora Quest: Otaku no Seiza in Another World Austin Mini Racing Austin Powers Pinball Austin Powers: Oh, Behave! Austin Powers: Welcome to my Underground Lair! Australian Rugby League Auto Crusher Palladium Auto Destruct Auto Modellista Auto Racing AutoBahn Tokio Autobahn Polizei Autobahn Raser IV Autobahn Raser: Das Spiel zum Film Automobili Lamborghini Avalon Code Avatar - The Last Airbender: Into the Inferno Avatar: The Last Airbender Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Burning Earth Aven Colony Avenger Avenging Spirit Away: Shuffle Dungeon Awesome Golf Awesome Possum Awesomenauts Assemble! Ax Battler: A Legend of Golden Axe Axelay Axiom Verge Ayaka Shibito Ayaka Shibito Portable Ayakashi Gohan: Oomori! Ayakashi Ninden Kunoichiban Ayakashi Ninden Kunoichiban Plus Ayakashi no Shiro Ayakashibito Ayakashibito Portable Ayrton Senna Kart Duel Ayrton Senna Kart Duel 2 Ayrton Senna Kart Duel Special Ayrton Senna Personal Talk: Message for the Future
Nintendo's missing franchises and their chances of coming to Switch (long read)
“I want X for Switch”, “when is X coming to the Switch”, “X is perfect for the Switch!” How often have you heard or said these sentences? Quite a lot, probably, especially about Nintendo franchises. Nintendo fans really like first-party games, and they’re always asking for their favorites to come back. Problem is, even though Nintendo owns dozens of franchises, there’s only a few that are guaranteed to show up during any given console, so fans of smaller franchises are left wondering when they’ll play them again. Well, today I’ll try to mostly answer these questions. I’ll take a look at several, Nintendo-owned franchises and try to figure out what are their chances of coming to Switch. I’ll be basing myself on this such as release schedule, success of previous entries, popular demand, market niche and internal interest at Nintendo. However, keep in mind two things. One: Nintendo owns a shit-ton of IPs, and I won’t cover them all. I’ll focus on the ones that have multiple entries, and even then, I might skip a few if I feel I have no meaningful insight. And two: No matter what I or anyone else says, the chances for any of these games to come back is NOT ZERO. Nintendo is unpredictable and they’ll sometimes bring something out of the blue when you least expect it. This year alone we saw the return of Brain Age (a franchise not seen since 2012), Clubhouse Games (a sequel to a game from 2005), and Famicom Detective Club, a franchise with two games from 1988/89, which then received a remake in 1998 and then nothing until twenty two years later. Granted, it’s another remake, but it is still a modern installment in a franchise twenty two years dormant. If Famicom Detective Club can come back in 2020, so can your favorite franchise. Now, let’s begin, in alphabetical order: Art Academy Starting off with a small one. Art Academy is a series of drawing games that started on the DS in 2010 and then released pretty consistently over the following years, with three entries on 3DS and two (well, one and a half) for the WiiU between 2010 and 2016. Already this feels like a franchise with a pretty consistent release schedule, even though it hasn’t been seen for four years now. I don’t think any of the games were blockbusters, per se, but they also don’t need to be. They’re small games, probably inexpensive to produce that seem to do consistently well enough to get new sequels. There are several obstacles that present themselves to the release of a new Art Academy, but I think all of them are easily overcome. For starters, AA is the type of casual game that thrived during the DS/Wii eras, a Touch Generations game. Since the Switch released, many have noted that Nintendo may want to distance themselves from that era due to the failure of the WiiU, and there may be some truth to that, but I feel like this is starting to change. Again, this year saw the return of both Brain Age and Clubhouse Games, both casual, Touch Generations DS games. I feel like, at the start of the Switch’s life cycle, Nintendo was indeed trying to focus on core gamers, but now that they have secured that core gamer audience, they may be more comfortable releasing more casual fare. Furthermore Art Academy is developed by Headstrong Games, a British developer that doesn’t seem to do much other than AA. However, in 2017, that team was absorbed into its parent studio, Kuju Games. This move, which happened the year after the last AA game released, may have something to do with the franchsie’s MIA status. But, Kuju games is still active, having released a game just last year, and I don’t see why they couldn’t take up the mantle. Finally, some speculated a few years ago that AA was dead due to the Switch not having a stylus but, OH WAIT, Brain Age fixed that too! All in all, even though Art Academy is hardly a hot franchise, there’s very little standing in the way of its return, and little reason to doubt that it will. Chances: Good Chibi-Robo! We may have started on a positive note, but here comes a downer. Chibi-Robo is probably not coming back anytime soon. This cute little robot debuted in his self-titled Game Cube game, developed by Skip Ltd. Like most games by the developer, it was quirky and fun, and not very popular, but had its fans, and Chibi-Robo must have endeared someone at Nintendo, because he kept showing up here and there. He got two DS sequels, though the second one was Japan-only, already a red flag. In 2013, he starred in a 3DS eshop game that was very different from the main games, more of an experimental spin-off, and was not well-received. But the real final nail came in 2015, with Chibi-Robo Zip Lash! The game was announced to be a 2D platformer, and many fans identified the change in genre (from a unique adventure game to one of the most over-saturated genres in Nintendo consoles) as a total sell-out, and they were totally correct! The developers basically admitted that they did it to try and get more players (red flag). Series producer Kensuke Tanabe then said that if the game didn’t sell well, it could be the end of the franchise (RED FLAG). And then, the unfortunate but inevitable happened. Zip Lash was a critical and commercial bomb, and neither the developer nor the franchise has been seen again. Aside from the inevitable Smash Bros mentions, Chibi-Robo has only been seen on that infamous flaming tweet from 2018 (I told you someone at Nintendo really likes them). To make matters worse, there are increasing signs that Skip Ltd may be going under So, a struggling franchise makes a desperate move to gain fans, a developer expresses concerns for its future if the game bombs, said game bombs and now the developer may be going out of business? It seems the writing is on the wall. Now, even if Skip goes under, that is not necessarily the end of Chibi. Nintendo would still retain the rights, as they did for Trace Memory and Hotel Dusk after developer Cing went under. As for whether or not Nintendo would want to give the franchise a second (third? Fourth?) chance, it doesn’t look good Chances: Very bad Custom Robo From one diminutive robot to another, the Custom Robo series is and robo-battle series that began on the N64. It was Japan only, as was its N64 and GBA sequels. Afterwards, Nintendo did try to expand it, releasing a GameCube game in NA, and a DS game in NA and Europe. However, despite the fact that players of these games will attest to how good these games are, they didn’t seem to do very well, and the franchise has not been seen since 2007. There was one statement of internal interest, when a developer in 2014 said that he heard demands both inside and outside the company for a new entry, but that there were no plans for one, and he was unsure when there would be. Six years on, it seems there still aren’t. In fact, the developer itself, Noise, is also strangely MIA. Though they are officially still active, with their website being updated for 2020, they have not worked on a game since 2015. Then, in 2018, many fans watched in horror the news that Nintendo let the trademark expire. Some have pointed out that this isn’t as bad as it seems, as it refers specifically to games on optical discs, which Nintendo doesn’t make anymore, but I don’t know enough about the subject to say for certain. Regardless, it’s evident that Nintendo still owns the franchise, as Custom Robo content appears in Smash Ultimate. On the other hand, one of the series creators, Kohji Kendoh, is still thinking about it. He is working for another developer, and released a suspiciously similar game called Synaptic Drive just this year, as well as talking about Custom Robo in social media. It seems like a Mighty no9/ Yooka-Laylee/Bloodstained situation, in which the owner of an Ip is not using it, so the creator releases a spiritual successor. Bottom line, there seems to be demand for Custom Robo. A developer saw it six years ago, and the creator is seeing it now. Whether or not thinks this demand is enough to revive the franchise, is tough to say, but doesn’t look great. Not as bad as Chibi-Robo, though Chances: Bad Daigasso! Band Brothers Here’s a franchise Americans never got. Daigasso! Band Brother is a rhythm game released for the DS in 2004 and stars Barbara the Bat, who has an uncharacteristically risqué design for Nintendo. The game was Japan-only but seems to have been successful, it received a sequel in 2009 (released in Europe, but not NA), and another in 2013 for the 3DS. Despite not having received new games since then, the series is far from inactive. Barbara the Bat in particular, like Chibi-Robo, seems to have fans inside Nintendo because she pops up everywhere. She had cameos in a few other DS games, she was an AT in Brawl and a spirit in Ultimate, she was a costume in Mario Maker, she appeared in a comic strip with WarioWare’s Ashley, and the series has a Twitter account that was super active all the way up to April of this year (more on that later). In 2017, that account even tweeted a comic strip of Barbara demanding a Switch. That was probably not a tease of anything, as it’s been 3 years and nothing, but stuff has happened with the franchise even more recently. Last year, in 2019, six years after the release of the 3DS game, there were 30 songs added to the game in celebration of the series 15th anniversary. So as late as last year, Nintendo was celebrating this franchise with an in-game event. Now, the servers for the game were shut down earlier this year (hence the end of the Twitter account), and the game was removed from the eshop (as it is basically pointless without the servers), but with recent news that the 3DS has ceased production, it’s pretty clear that the game’s end is a consequence of the 3DS’ end, and not a lack of players. So if the series is alive, but can’t be on the 3DS, it has to go somewhere, no? Bottom line: the games are successful, the series is active, and the character is popular. I don’t know if Barbara the Bat’s next tour will be an international one, but I’m confident it will happen Chances: Very Good Dillon’s Rolling Western DRW is a unique western-themed tower defense game released on the 3DS eshop in 2012. It received mixed reviews, but had a dedicated fanbase, and was successful enough to spawn two sequels, one in 2013, and a post-apocalyptic themed one in 2018. With a game having released just two years ago, its reasonable to say the series is not dormant, so the prospect of a new game is always likely. The developer, Vanpool, who mostly works on smaller scale stuff like this, is both still active and still working at Nintendo. So, really the only reason to believe the series wouldn’t continue would be if the latest game bombed really hard. It’s hard to say that it did, as sales figures are unavailable, but it was a 3DS game in 2018, probably didn’t set the charts on fire. But then again, unless Nintendo had some really unrealistically high expectations, I don’t think it could have bombed hard enough to kill the franchise that fast. There’s not much more to say. There aren’t any rumblings of a return, but also no reason to be pessimistic. Chance: Above Average Earthbound Let’s make one thing perfectly clear: There will not be a Mother 4 The Creator of the series, Shigesato Itoi, has said that he would not work on a fourth installment, as he feels the story is complete. Now, normally, Nintendo could just say “screw creative integrity, let’s make a fourth game anyway!” but Shigesato Itoi directly co-owns the series’ copyright so they actually can’t. So unless Itoi changes his mind, or he dies and Nintendo decides to ignore his wishes (neither scenario is completely outside the realm of possibility), Mother 4 is not happening. So, if new Mother content is made, it’d be either a remake, or Mother 3 localization. We all know demand for this last one is overwhelming, Nintendo themselves have acknowledged it multiple times, but it still hasn’t happened, and it doesn’t seem things have changed. A remake is possible, but don’t hold your breath for it. Despite the series’ popularity, I think all we’ll see of it is the first two games in NSO. Chances: Bad Excitebike This is a hard one to pinpoint. Excitebike is one of those classic NES games that Nintendo likes to reference all the time, like Ice Climber, Balloon Fight, Wrecking Crew and Duck Hunt. Unlike those, Excitebike actually received sequels and established a franchised. There was a great entry on the N64 and three entries on the Wii, but nothing more since. I can’t imagine the Wii entries were super successful, and there really hasn’t been any word from Nintendo about any interest in reviving the series, either from developers, or the fans. The developer of the Wii games, Monster Games, is still active, and still makes racing games and extreme sports games, but hasn’t worked with Nintendo in 5 years. Now, one point I see often, and that I’d like to address, is the idea that Nintendo doesn’t want multiple games from the same genre on the same console. I can’t agree. With the exception of the WiiU, every Nintendo home console since the SNES has had multiple Nintendo-published racing games released for it. WiiU didn’t but that console is an exception to many norms. I don’t see why Mario Kart, behemoth that it is, would stop any other racing game from being made, especially when they are so very different (although the fact that MK8 has an Excitebike track doesn’t inspire confidence). No, I don’t think Mario Kart is the problem, I think is just lack of interest. And though Excitebike is not a franchise Nintendo will ever truly forget, it’s not really revving up for a comeback either. It could happen, it could not Chances: Medium Fatal Frame This horror franchise wasn’t originally a Nintendo product, being released on the PS2 by Tecmo. However, since the fourth game, each title in the series has been published and copyrighted by Nintendo, and this seemingly applies to all future entries, as the series producer said the series’ future is up to Nintendo. So, how does that future look like? Well, the last game in the series, Maiden of Black Water, was a WiiU game, which means it didn’t sell well, but not as badly as you might think. From all I could find, which is admittedly not much, sales for the game seemed to be only slightly less than previous entries, a gap more than explainable by its console. So, if the series was getting sequels before, the WiiU game’s sales wouldn’t be the reason why there wouldn’t be more. And though Nintendo of America has had to take baby steps into accepting the franchise overseas, Nintendo of Japan seemed satisfied with it, releasing four games between 2008 and 2014. So sales aren’t an evident problem, what about the developer? That developer is Tecmo Koei, who is not only active and buddies with Nintendo, their current project is none other than Nintendo’s big holiday title. There’s obvious trust there. As for interest, there is a lot. From Koei Tecmo calling it a valuable IP, to the series producer stating multiple times, including this year, that he’d like to bring it to the Switch Now, this comment pretty much confirms that a new Fatal Frame is not in development as of now, but it has a chance of happening. And remember, the last game is on WiiU, and if we know anything about those, is that they like to come to Switch. And though I don’t see Nintendo breaking their necks to make a new entry, I don’t think they’d oppose it if Tecmo pitches it to them, especially if it’s just a port. Chances: Good Fossil Fighters This game is not Pokémon, or so its fans tell me. Fossil Fighters is a DS game from 2008 where you collect various species of dinosaur and battle with other ~Dinosaur Trainers~ Fossil Fighters in RPG battles. It didn’t receive great reviews, but was successful enough to get a sequel two years later, and another one on the 3DS in 2014. Three games in six years is a pretty good release schedule, and things were looking alright, until that 3DS game came. It was primarily developed by a different studio, and it showed. The game received abysmal reviews, and fan reception was similar. Sales weren’t awful, but not great either. Since then, the series has been completely quiet. The developer, Red Entertainment, is still active, but hasn’t worked with Nintendo since the 3DS game. As for interest, there hasn’t been a peep from Nintendo about this series at all. No interviews describing vague interest in bringing it bad, no acknowledgment of fan demand, no cameos in other games (aside from Smash, which doesn’t count, Smash has everything). Even fan demand doesn’t seem too high, most of what I’ve seen is a Change.org petition which has been up for a year and has not reached its 2500 signatures goal. It looks like this series could become a fossil itself. Someday some might dig it up and revive it to use in battle, but I’m not feeling it. Still not as bad as Chibi-Robo Chances: Bad F-Zero This is the reason you’re reading this. Oh, F-Zero. If fan demand alone was the deciding factor, F-Zero would be top priority. People want F-Zero, people beg for F-zero, people who have never played, beg for F-Zero. And Nintendo knows this, they’ve acknowledged it. They themselves haven’t forgotten it. Even putting Smash aside, there was an F-Zero minigame in Nintendo Land. There are F-Zero tracks in Mario Kart. They’ve done everything but make a new F-Zero game, but why the hell not? Well, it’s important to understand that the F-Zero series declined in sales throughout its life. The best-selling game is still the first, and though the following games were fantastic, they sold less and less, and yet, strangely enough, between 2003-2004, Nintendo released THREE F-Zero games. Around the same time, they also released an anime. There are several great articles and videos about what happened to F-Zero, but the best point I’ve seen is that Nintendo tried, in 2003, to really push F-Zero, but it didn’t work. So, with their attempt failed, they let the series sleep, and just never woke it up, even as fan demand increased. In 2015, Miyamoto commented on the series, and said that, though he heard the demand, he was unsure on what to do with the series, on how to make a new game. Many fans scoffed and said he’d just need to make a modern F-Zero and that’d be great, but I think internal concern runs deeper. Just doing F-Zero failed in 2003, so why would it work now? That said, I think there is hope. Fan demand is powerful, and more and more we see a new generation of Nintendo developers pushing the company forward. These younger developers are the ones behind new IP like Splatoon and ARMS, and great reinventions of existing ones like Odyssey and BotW. It’s possible that these same younger developers could hear the fan demand, and want to take on the series without the hesitation of their older peers. It’s been 16 years, but Kid Icarus was gone for 19, wasn’t it? Stranger things have happened Chances: I want to believe Golden Sun And here’s the other one. Few Nintendo fans are as vocal and dedicated to their dormant franchise as Golden Sun games. For those who don’t know, Golden Sun was a couple of excellent GBA RPGs released in 2001 and 2002, with a DS sequel in 2010. Such erratic release schedule would make predicting the series’ future difficult at the best of times, but the DS game was seen as a disappointment by many fans and sales were unimpressive. With ten years having passed with no new game, is the series done for? Well, let’s look at it. In 2012, one of the developers gave an interview in which he straight up said that, if there was fan demand for it, there would “naturally” be a fourth game. We know that developer interview doesn’t immediately guarantee a sequel, but this is also a much more positive statement than Custom Robo and F-Zero’s “We know there’s demand, but we don’t know what to do with it”. This is “If there’s demand, it will happen.” So, is there demand? You bet your ass there is. And it feels like it is growing. There was a high-profile hoax about a fourth game in 2017 (a similar hoax happened some time before the third game, by the way). The series received notably more content in Smash Ultimate than series of similar standing (quite possibly an acknowledgment of its popularity). And last year, Cory Balrog, director of 2018’s GOTY God of War, tweeted about all the franchises he would trade for a new Golden Sun. Nintendo could hardly have asked for a higher profile endorsement within the industry. So if fan demand is there, why hasn’t it happened yet? Well, it helps to look at the development history of the series. The first game took eighteen months to develop, considered a long time for a handheld game at the time. And though the eight years between the GBA and DS games may have you believe it took a long time to greenlight a sequel, that’s not the case. Signs point to internal discussion about a sequel to the GBA games as early as 2002, with developers quoted as saying that Nintendo was asking them to make a new one. One of the series producers also said that the series takes a long time to make because of its complexity. After the DS game failed to meet expectations, its understandable that Nintendo may not have been as enthusiastic for a new game as it was before, but it seems like, even if the series is alive and well, the long hiatus would not be uncharacteristic. In that same interview quoted before, the developer even said that a new game would take a long time. In fact, if GS4 had started development shortly after that interview, if it took as long as Dark Dawn, the game would be wrapping up production around now. Then there’s the developer, Camelot. Aside from Golden Sun, they pretty much only make Mario Tennis and Mario Golf. They release schedule is also super consistent, with a new game every other year, sometimes every year. We already got a Mario Tennis on Switch two years ago so, if not for COVID, their new game would probably have released this year. All things point, then, for the next Camelot game to hit the Switch next year. Smart money would be in Mario Golf, but maybe it is finally Golden Sun. Finally, I don’t think, as others do, that Xenoblade is the reason GS is not happening. Again, I don’t see evidence to support the idea that Nintendo doesn’t want to publish more than one game in the same genre. Both the GBA and DS had more than a dozen Nintendo-published RPGs, and the Wii and 3DS got RPGs even after Xenoblade released for them. I don’t see why Xenoblade would stop a Switch Golden Sun, especially when they are very different kinds of RPGs. GS is actually closer to Octopath Traveler, whose success was enough to impress SE, why wouldn’t Nintendo want a piece? Really, I think the biggest obstacle is that Nintendo might want to prioritize the safe investment of Mario sports games over Golden Sun, but the more I research, the more I feel like GS’s chances are higher now than they were at any point in the last ten years. I feel there’s hope this sun will rise again Chances: Above average Kid Icarus Sorry to keep you waiting. Kid Icarus was an OK NES game that had a forgotten Game Boy sequel and then nobody cared about it for 19 years until it was unexpectedly revived for the 3DS in 2012. This story is a testament to the fact that, just because its been a long time, it doesn’t mean it will never happen. But in order to know if it will happen again, let’s understand how it happened in the first place. It’s important to mention that reviving Kid Icarus was not the intent behind KI: Uprising, it was the idea of its director, Masahiro Sakurai. Nintendo had given him a project and Sakurai decided to use an established franchise for it. He briefly considered Star Fox, but decided to use Kid Icarus, for which he probably had a soft spot, considering he had added Pit to Brawl some years earlier. So, there wasn’t an exec at Nintendo who woke up one day and decided to bring Kid Icarus back, they gave the director a project, and, after some deliberation, he decided to use Kid Icarus for it. That director is currently busy developing Smash Bros DLC, but even after that’s over, he probably won’t revisit Kid Icarus. He has shot down the idea of him working on a sequel or a port. His words were: "For now, my thought is that perhaps we'll see someone else besides me make another Kid Icarus in another 25 years." Yikes. That’s pretty damning. Sure, Nintendo could get someone else to make the game, but if it was only Sakurai that was interested in the series in the first place, what is the hope of that? Well, that statement is not super accurate. Before Uprising, there was actually a Kid Icarus reboot in development for the Wii. It was cancelled, and thank God for it, as it was an awfully stupid gritty reboot, but it showed that there was interest in the franchise even before Uprising. Naturally, you’d expect interest to be bigger now than before. The fact that Uprising not only grew the series’ fanbase, but the that there are Kid Icarus characters in Smash Bros, means that the franchise has a permanent place in the interest in Nintendo fans. Smash in particular means that there are 18 million people who know Pit and Palutena and would turn their heads if a new game was announced. Furthermore, Nintendo’s new CEO is interested in bringing 3DS franchises to the Switch after the success of the Switch Lite, especially now that the 3DS is officially dead, so the opening is there for it. There is definitely demand for a new Kid Icarus game, but it is too sporadic a franchise to be certain, and if it were to happen, Nintendo would have to find someone new to do it. But, in the end, the series is definitely in a better place now than it was 10 years ago. Chances: Medium Legendary Starfy Legendary Starfy was a 2D platformer for the GBA that was apparently really successful, as it received four sequels in the span of five years. Not only that but, like Barbara and Chibi-Robo, Starfy himself was quite popular. He had cameos in Mario & Luigi and Super Princess Peach, music of the series was in Donkey Konga, he is a regular Assist Trophy in Smash and was a costume in Mario Maker. Though the series took until the last game to come to the West, there were plans to bring the first four games too, as well as consideration for expanding the series to the Wii. The series was widely advertised, with animated commercials and tons of merchandise, including plush dolls, CDs, pencils, birthday balloons, casino cards and two manga series. When asked if there were plans for a sixth game, the developer answered “Yes!”, no ifs, not buts, straight-up Yes. And then… nothing. The series just stopped. And the reason why is: I have no idea. Maybe if the last game bombed spectacularly, but it doesn’t seem to be the case. Sure, Japanese sales declined with each entry, but not by that much. Maybe NA sales weren’t what Nintendo was hoping for, but surely not enough to kill such a steady franchise. The confusion only grows when we look at its developer, Tose. Now, this is interesting. You’ve probably played a Tose game without knowing. They have worked on over A THOUSAND GAMES, but they never receive credit. They merely assist with development in the shadows. As one exec puts it: "Our policy is not to have a vision. Instead, we follow our customers' visions. Most of the time we refuse to put our name on the games, not even staff names." They are a ghost developer. Even its Wikipedia page admits that the list of games on it is purely speculative. There are probably hundreds more, that we don’t know about. The only exception is the Starfy series. That series was their vision. So why did they stop? Could they have decided that it was against their vision to make a game of their vision? We can only speculate. The fact that the series’ end was so unexpected, and its developer so mysterious, means that any speculation about it is a shot in the dark. All I can say is that there’s no particular reason to expect it. Chances: Not Good Nintendogs Here’s a big one. Nintendogs was one of the biggest successes of the casual era, on par with Brain Age and Wii Fit, but unlike those, it remained a multi-million seller during the 3DS/WiiU generation. And though Nintendo may have tried, at first, to distance the Switch from that era, the return of Brain Age and Clubhouse Games indicates that other casual games would follow, and Nintendogs would be a no-brainer. There is, however, one big problem: the Switch does not have a microphone. While Brain Age on the DS also used the microphone a lot, it was not essential to it. You could easily make Brain Age without it. But not Nintendogs. Issuing voice commands to your virtual pup is integral to the experience. No microphone means no Nintendogs. But with that said, Nintendo did go to the trouble of making a Switch stylus, seemingly just for Brain Age, so maybe they could make a microphone peripheral. Sure, a microphone would be more complex to make than a stylus, but not inconceivable. They did something like that with the Wii Speak. I’m sure for that nintendogs money, Nintendo would do it. Worst case scenario, Nintendo releases Nintendogs and forces you to use the NSO app’s voice chat to talk with your dog. You know they’d do it. There’s also the fact that another developer released a nintendogs clone for the Switch last year, but I don’t think Nintendo gives a shit. Chances: Good Nintendo Wars You may know this series better as “Advance Wars” and you may also know that it is fantastic. In fact, it is one of the highest rated Nintendo franchises on Metacritic, and had a pretty consistent release schedule between 1988 and 2008. All was looking pretty god. But unfortunately the series has been dormant since the last entry on DS. Part of it may be because the series, though originally Japan-only, was never all that popular in Japan. In fact, that last game only saw a limited release as a My Nintendo reward in the region. There is, however, still demand for the series, both externally and internally. Producers from both Nintendo and developer Intelligent Systems have expressed enthusiastic support for a new entry, although they’ve also expressed some uncertainty on what they’d do with it, similar to the Custom Robo and F-Zero responses. The developer for the series is Intelligent Systems, who do a ton of stuff and will be discussed multiple times in this post. They used to release multiple games a year, but have slowed down this past game to just one or two games a year, another possible reason why Advance Wars has been deprioritized, especially in comparison with that boogeyman of Advance Wars and Smash Bros fans alike: Fire Emblem. There is real concern that Nintendo might not want to make a new Advance Wars when they could just make the similar but more popular Fire Emblem instead. That said, IS has already released a Fire Emblem and Paper Mario for Switch, and though we definitely will get at least one more FE during the Switch’s life cycle, there’s enough years left for IS to release some other games, whether they be AW or one of the three other franchises we’ll discuss in the future. Problem is, of those franchises, AW might be the most difficult to produce, and the most risky, so it could probably be lower priority. When asked about the series last year, one IS producer gave a pretty evasive answer, so things aren’t looking too good, but they aren’t hopeless either. Chances: Medium Ouendan/Elite Beat Agents This rhythm series for the DS is widely beloved by those who played it, but its life cycle was pretty limited. One game in 2005, and Americanized version in 2006, and one sequel in 2007. Nothing more since The games were critically acclaimed, but not blockbuster hits. The series creator said back in 2016 that he would love to create a new game, but nothing else has been said about it. The game’s developer iNis, doesn’t appear to be super active either. All in all, there is very little pointing to a return Chances: Bad Pilotwings The biggest obstacle to seeing this series of arcadey flight sims on the Switch is that the series has a very specific purpose: it’s a tech demo. All three games were launch titles for their systems and explicitly meant to show off each system’s new tech. The original game was made to show off the SNES’ Mode 7, the N64 game was meant to show off the console’s polygonal graphics, and Resort was meant to showcase the 3DS’ stereoscopic 3D. With the Switch’s release far behind us, and its graphics not really needing a showcase, Pilotwings chances seem low. Granted, Pilotwings doesn’t need to be a tech demo, but it could be how Nintendo views it as. There is some fan demand for it, but not as much as F-Zero or Golden Sun, and no developer has commented on the possibility of a return. Pilotwings has always been moderately successful, but not enough to justify constant releases. The only glimmer of hope is the comment from Nintendo’s CEO about wanting to bring more 3DS franchises for the Switch, but it’s quite possible that he didn’t have Pilotwings in mind when he said that Chances: Bad Punch-Out!! Another series popular enough to get a Smash character but not popular enough for consistent sequels, Punch-Out is a beloved classic with a consistent fanbase, but with a very erratic release schedule. After the SNES game in 1994, the series lay dormant for 15 years until it was revived for the Wii in 2009 and then laid to rest again. One explanation is that the series was never really popular in Japan. Neither the NES or SNES games were even available as full releases in the country, being instead, distributed as prizes or rewards. And though the Wii game got a full retail release, it sold very poorly. It’s always been a game more for Americans, so it is understandable that the Japanese developers at Nintendo aren’t super enthusiastic about it. That said, it was Nintendo who pitched the reboot in the first place, so they may want to do it again someday. The developer for the Wii game was Next Level Games, who release a game every three or two years, and they also develop Mario Strikers and Luigi’s Mansion. Having already released LM3, it’s likely they’ll release another game for the Switch some time soon. That could be Punch-Out, but it is just as likely that it could be Mario Strikers, or something else entirely. Some think that the series use of flagrant national stereotypes would impede it from coming back in today’s political climate, but frankly, I don’t think that’s as definitive a problem. Worst case scenario, they simply make a new cast, just like Super Punch Out, but less racially insensitive. Another interesting development is that Mike Tyson has been talking about wanting a new Punch-Out this year. I don’t think Nintendo cares what he says, and they definitely don’t want to associate with him again, but it is a pretty high-profile person talking about the series, which is bound to raise interest. Whether that’s enough for Nintendo to consider a new game? I don’t think so. But regardless, Punch-Out is popular enough that the door is never truly closed for it. Chances: Not Good Pushmo This acclaimed puzzle game was released for the 3DS eshop in 2012 and was successful enough to get three sequels. Although it hasn’t been seen since 2015, there doesn’t seem to be anything impeding its return. The developer is our good friend Intelligent Systems, and, of the aforementioned IS franchises still to launch on the Switch, Pushmo, being a simple, but beloved, puzzle game, seems like the safest investment. It likely could be developed alongside another major game. There is demand for it, and considering Nintendo’s eshop efforts, Pushmo would fit in perfectly alongside Snipperclips and fellow 3DS eshop puzzle star Boxboy. All in all, there’s no reason not to expect Pushmo to come back. Chances: Good continued in comments
Casino Club Nis, casino northern kentucky, probability of 7 in craps, scroll in ammo slot osrs. Guts. €500. Bonus. Prize pool: 100% up to $400. Novomatic, NetEnt, Microgaming, Betsoft Gaming, Nextgen Gaming. 100x WR. First Purchase. 100% bonus on your very first virtual credit purchase. Sign Up . Visit Casino. Showing bonuses: Bonuses valid for players from New York Sort by: Up to £1500 ADMIRAL Club Bulevar Dr. Zorana Djindjica Nis - Casino. Drive, bike, walk, public transport directions on map to ADMIRAL Club - HERE WeGo Slot Club Admiral Nis, gagner de l'argent casino roulette, valley forge casino resort deals, peter crapsey jr. Diamond VIP Casino - Welcome Bonus January 7, 2018. Full review go to casino. 10 Free Spins; Wager: See Casino; No Code Required; Roulette Royale. 18+, T&C Apply,, New Customers Only. 10 fs on registration . Many different games. 24/7 Support. 100. Read rewiew Cherry Jackpot Bonus up Casino Club Nis, tower defense slots, harness slot inserts, casino chanz. Review. Visit casino 0--Share this: Facebook Twitter. Total Bonus $1000 . 100% Up to £200 + 200 free spins. Wildz. Read our full review. Gamble Responsibly BeGambleAware.org. BetRebels . Want to know jupiter club casino no deposit bonusDas österreichische Online Magazin „Profil“ hat in seiner gestrigen Ausgabe über ein geheimes Protokoll des Finanzministeriums berichtet.Die Steuerabgabe könnte sich dann nach der Höhe des bereinigten Gewinns an Spieltischen und Automaten richten.Schließlich könnte nicht zuletzt die Höhe der Steuerabgaben darüber entscheiden, wie viele Gäste Joker Casino Nis, what is pureplay poker, ns slotervaart, poker hand strength app. Gamble Responsibly BeGambleAware.org. 0. Nice Welcome Bonus ; 2 Reload Bonues; Great Support; 18+, T&C Apply,, New Customers Only. Bonus. Gaming Club Casino - Welcome Bonus 3 Nice Deposit Bonuses; Very Nice Games; Good Support; Huge Selection Of Casino Games; Live Support from 10:00 to 22:00; Live Casino Games Casino Sport Slot Klubovi Promocije Club Prijava . Iskoristi našu ponudu dobrodošlice! Casino bonus do 10.000 RSD. Osvoji 100% bonus na prvi depozit do 10.000 RSD. 10 Freebet-a do 5.000 RSD. Osvoji 10 Freebet-a na prvi depozit do 5.000 RSD. Iskoristi SUPER KVOTU. Osvoji 1.000 RSD u kešu uz prvi depozit . Kreiraj nalog . Naše top opklade. Sportsko klađenje . Da li si zaljubljenik u sport Deutschsprachige Spieler lieben den CasinoClub, das Online-Casino mit den spannendsten Spielen, besten Boni, Top-Sicherheit und hervorragendem Service. Toggle navigation. Search. Serbia. more about this country Miami Club Casino Bonus 400% up to $4000. Visit the Raging Bull online casino website. Click the Signup button to open an account with the casino. Choose a username and password for your account. Provide all the required Atlantik Casino Nis personal details on the form available. Click Submit to open the account. Click the no Atlantik Casino Nis deposit bonus link to claim it. Enter the bonus