2025) Natalie Goes International!

Post published:11/09/2025
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:22 mins read
Post comments:7 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (3/30/2025) Game Fighter Animard is Dope!

Post published:03/30/2025
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:71 mins read
Post comments:4 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (2/09/2025) A Verde’s Doohickey 2.0 Act 3 Update

Post published:02/09/2025
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:28 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (1/19/2025) Why Are Games So Expensive to Make?

Post published:01/19/2025
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:46 mins read
Post comments:8 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Natalie Rambles About 2024

Post published:12/30/2024
Post category:Rambles
Reading time:155 mins read
Post comments:1 Comment

SIIIIDDDYYYEEEEEEOOOOTTTTT!

OR BELID RJI Q UTKS FU ‘TUAMS, VTADJID EKK YTUBODI, EMS KIECID OR E VTABNKIS BIDD!

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Rundown (11/03/2024) Natalie Rambles About Psycho Shatter 1988

Post published:11/03/2024
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:50 mins read
Post comments:11 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (10/27/2024) Rushing to Completion!

Post published:10/27/2024
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:28 mins read
Post comments:6 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (10/06/2024) Natalie Vs The Medical-Industrial Complex

Post published:10/06/2024
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:40 mins read
Post comments:11 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (9/01/2024) Nina Tendo Brain Problems

Post published:09/01/2024
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:69 mins read
Post comments:5 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (5/12/2024) Sprite Smarter, Sprite Sharder

Post published:05/12/2024
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:63 mins read
Post comments:4 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (3/10/2024) Wack-Ass Work Shifts

Post published:03/10/2024
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:33 mins read
Post comments:4 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (3/03/2024) Life Might Be a Waste of Time but It’s Nice!

Post published:03/03/2024
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:49 mins read
Post comments:2 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (2/18/2024) Xbox Is Not Dead, Y’All Lied To Me!

Post published:02/18/2024
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:23 mins read
Post comments:3 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (1/14/2024) Natalie’s Sexual Binary

Post published:01/14/2024
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:44 mins read
Post comments:7 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (8/27/2023) Trust The Rippers, Not The Crackers

Post published:08/27/2023
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:40 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (8/06/2023) Nothing Like the First Time

Post published:08/06/2023
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:27 mins read
Post comments:4 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (7/02/2023) Thanks Cap, You Made Me Write a Novel of Lore!

Post published:07/02/2023
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:23 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (6/04/2023) Natalie Needs to Sell Her Old Game Collection

Post published:06/04/2023
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:14 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (4/02/2023) Darcy’s Transformation Nightmare

Post published:04/02/2023
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:13 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (2/12/2023) Natalie Reviews Rintarou Panic! (And Other Assorted Treats)

Post published:02/12/2023
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:70 mins read
Post comments:6 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Pokémon Violet Review

Post published:01/04/2023
Post category:Game Reviews
Reading time:27 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Don’t violate or you’ll get violated!

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Rundown (11/20-11/26) Student Transfer Version 7.0 is Out!!!

Post published:11/27/2022
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:20 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

This Week’s Topics:

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Rundown (6/05-6/11) Segmented Summer Showcases (S3) 2022: Finding Frustrations

Post published:06/12/2022
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:26 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Wherein I discuss my quest for dope Dutch beatz, the worrisome MENA acquisitions, the posthumous return of Gattz and the Griff, the return of a leaked remaster, Nintendo’s next disaster, rudimentary game compilations, a ‘bad’ game getting re-re-mastered, and the diet E3 alternative that’s sweeping the nation of Earth!

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Kirby and the Forgotten Land Review

Post published:05/24/2022
Post category:Game Reviews
Reading time:14 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

♫It’s a whoooole new woooorld, and you’re still by my side!♫

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Rundown (4/17-4/23) Crisis is Ended – Now Work Like a Beeeeee!

Post published:04/24/2022
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:14 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Wherein I discuss the growing Gearbox Empire, the Definitive(?) Classic Sonic Collection, some crazy and jammin’ GaaS, Nintendo being frustratingly eccentric, and one of my favorite concepts.

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Pokémon Legends: Arceus Review

Post published:02/23/2022
Post category:Game Reviews
Reading time:30 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Brilliant as a diamond, shining like a stone.
By saving the past, a grand future is sewn.

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Rundown (2/06-2/12) Bluetooth Frustrations

Post published:02/13/2022
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:25 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Wherein I discuss Platinum’s painful pivot, another acquisition, a definitive failure’s grand success, and the oodles of delights from Nina Tendo’s happy time press release showcase!

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Rundown (1/30-2/05) Pokémon Legends: Arceus is Quite Good

Post published:02/06/2022
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:12 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Wherein I discuss the latest Pokémon game, another accursed acquisition, the successor to a 2014 indie darling, Nintendo’s excellent unit sales, and a subtle spark from the dank quagmire where Stadia was buried.

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Rundown (10/10-10/16) Tax Season Has Ended — The Galaxy Is At Peace

Post published:10/17/2021
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:12 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Wherein I discuss my Q4 plans, the frustrations of the Sub-Platinum, a surreal revival, how Nintendo is abusing their legacy for profit, and some crypto stuff.

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Rundown (9/19-9/25) Natalie Is Incompetent — Never Trust Her

Post published:09/26/2021
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:19 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Wherein I discuss how I cannot complete a simple child-level task, a potential revival of a niche game series nobody actually cares about, a faux celebration by barons of incalculable greed, the Kotick-Epstein Connection, and a Semi-Dope Nintendo Direct.

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Rundown (7/04-7/10) Welcome Summer Hiatus!

Post published:07/11/2021
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:5 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Wherein I discuss an upcoming drought, an upsetting upgrade, and arbitrary human constructs that I am unable to change nor shift.

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Rundown (3/21-3/27) No Pleasure for the Children

Post published:03/28/2021
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:12 mins read
Post comments:2 Comments

Wherein I discuss an NSFW paradigm, Sony’s grand exodus, a half-step upgrade, another migration to the great North, and the next episode of the Cookstar Saga.

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Rundown (8/23-8/29) Work Life Imbalance 2: Sorrow is a Virtue

Post published:08/30/2020
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:10 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Wherein I discuss a brand new Switch-up, a most unexpected remake, the fall from Zero unto nothingness, and yet another incomprehensive compilation.

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Rundown (1/26-2/01) The Questionable Box

Post published:02/02/2020
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:8 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Wherein I discuss the troubles plaguing Natalie’s precious Box, Okabe’s adaptation adventures, a new home for my 1,000 babies, the success of the Switch-makers, and another icy blunder.

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Pokémon Shield Review

Post published:12/04/2019
Post category:Game Reviews
Reading time:17 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

It’s a brand new world… and it’s a touch rough.
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Rundown (7/14-7/20) Natalie and the Computer-Generated Flowcharts

Post published:07/21/2019
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:5 mins read
Post comments:4 Comments

It has recently come to my attention that TFGamesSite member nexoq developed a computer-generated flowchart maker known as Graphify that can take .rpy files for Student Transfer Scenarios and create a functional flowchart using them. This is a far cry from needing to dig through the .rpy file oneself and playing the game to test for any and all possible path permutations, and it’s something that I will be using in the future to double check my work. But I’m still going to make my usual hand-made Draw.io flowcharts since they look a lot nicer, are more space efficient, and have a more unified format. I mean, just compare the header image to this flowchart I made for the same Student Transfer Scenario. But this is still quite amazing. Thank you nexoq!
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Rundown (7/07-7/13) The Lattice Method

Post published:07/14/2019
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:7 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Back in grade school when I was learning long multiplication, my teacher introduced my class to a method to simplify complex multi-digit multiplication problems into single digit problems known as the Lattice Method. It involves taking the equation, making a grid or rather a lattice, and then splitting the equation into several single digit multiplication problems, the answers of which are added up at the end to determine the overall answer to the equation. It was always my preferred method of multiplication, but once I started attending high school, none of my teachers understood what this method was or why I was doing it, and since then I have never heard anybody reference this method, at all. Which is weird because while it is a bit time consuming and requires a sizable amount of space to write out, it is a very easy and reliable way to calculate an equation. Anyways, that’s all I have to share this week. Time for video games!
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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Review

Post published:07/03/2019
Post category:Game Reviews
Reading time:24 mins read
Post comments:2 Comments

A Boundless Breadth of Mild Meandering

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Rundown (6/11) E3 2019: Hyper Bursting!

Post published:06/12/2019
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:16 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Woo! E3 is mostly over, and the hype has undoubtedly causes every audience member to burst with powerhouse excitement, and things may have gotten more than a little messy in the process. Anyways, the main conferences are done, the actual E3 event, where people try to get work done in a loud, crowded, and smelly convention center, is underway, and the only press conferences of the day was Nintendo’s. So let’s cut all pretense and jump right into the gooey center of the E3 ~~Claire~~ eclair.
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Rundown (4/14-4/20) Natalie Versus Transit

Post published:04/21/2019
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:7 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Sometimes when travelling back between the standbys of home, school, and work, I pontificate about how few placed I typically visit in a given year, and how that number is realistically less than 30 unique locations. I suppose this is a sign that I should “get out” more, but I truly have little desire in going to places for the mere sake of leaving, especially when the process of getting from one place to another is such a dull affair for people without the ability to work, read, or mess around on their phone while in transit. Seriously, I went to two new places yesterday but my 6 hours out involved about 4 hours of setting up computers and another 2 of sitting in a hot car in silence. It, combined with how often paratransit is late in picking me up really does make me worry about the future and the transportation related woes it will contain.
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Rundown (3/31-4/06) Natalie Got Her Gacha Fix!

Post published:04/07/2019
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:8 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Ever since I stopped playing Fire Emblem Heroes a year ago, I’ve been craving a game with some sort of gacha mechanics, as I love the sensations that come with getting rare and powerful characters accompanied with light flavor text and unique artwork. It is a desire that I have been looking to satiate in a somewhat healthy manner, and wouldn’t you know it, the Student Transfer dev team provided just that with their latest April Fools goof. A standard no-frills card collector gacha title where the player can earn 160 unique cards with flavor text that were enough to drive me to achieve a 100% completion rate, and then proceed to happily read through the descriptions, taking delight in the information, background, and general absurdity they provided.
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Rundown (3/24-3/30) Japan Vs West: A Statistical Battle!

Post published:03/31/2019
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:10 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

A topic that I regularly see brought up in the circles I follow is the idea of western game design versus Japanese design, what distinguishes them, and how Japanese game design is better. While it would be easy for me to say that I tend to prefer Japanese games, I’m the sort of person who likes to have data for things, and as such, I decided to go through every game I played from 2016 to now, and compile whether or not I have a preference towards Japanese games. What I found is that things are split fairly evenly between both fronts, as in that time I played 156 games, 53% of which were Japanese, and 47% of which were western.
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Rundown (2/17-2/23) Tax Time Makes You Go Crazy!

Post published:02/24/2019
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:8 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

So this past week I began another engagement with a CPA, wherein I aid him in various tax related activities while juggling my office job, grad school, personal time, and time spent making content for this quaint little site. It is a side job that pays well, and is rather pertinent to my interests as an accounting major, but it also represents yet another activity that impedes my ability to go through games or work on my own projects. It’s not ideal, and this week is a particularly hectic, since I am going into my part-time job today, on a Sunday, when the office is closed, because somebody thought it would be a nice treat if I went home early on Monday. I swear, I was mentally referencing last week’s header image for the past 5 days, stewing over how much I wish I had done everything sooner rather than later. Garf!
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Review

Post published:02/20/2019
Post category:Game Reviews
Reading time:14 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Super Smash Bros. Special Spirits Edition

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Rundown (2/10-2/16) Flowchart Nightmares Ahead 2: You Can (Not) Prepare

Post published:02/17/2019
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:18 mins read
Post comments:2 Comments

Last Friday the Student Transfer development team announced that Version 4 will be coming before the end of February, boasting that this version will contain roughly twice the content as Version 3. A surprising bit of news that I find to be simultaneously exciting and intimidating to me, as I have taken on the duty of creating the flowcharts for sprawling choose-your-own adventure style visual novels about TG, body swapping, and more. I very much want to enjoy the game and take my time with it, but Version 3 took me a good week to get through, so I am a bit concerned about getting a flowchart ready in a timely manner, especially with work and grad school keeping me so busy. As such, I decided to do my homework in advance and download what I can off of the public Student Transfer GitHub in order to get cracking on a rough flowchart for V4 at the risk of spoiling myself. Only to discover that with the way this game is developed, I would basically need to consolidate the builds available myself and… yeah, that sounds like more trouble than it’s worth.
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Rundown (1/27-2/02) The Saga Must Go On!

Post published:02/03/2019
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:9 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

So, just a few days ago I released The Saga of Vincent Dawn, and while I am ultimately happy with the finished project, I am aware that some of the writing seen throughout the story is not up to my previous writing standards. The act of going through and summarizing a hundreds of pages of poorly written text is an arduous process, especially when it is very personal to you, and when it came time to edit it all once more, my patience grew slim, as I just wanted to be done with the project and get started on the next one. Though considering how I am still working on the outline, I really have no idea when it will be done. But it will get done, ‘cos I’ve got a story to tell and I’m gonna tell it no matter what, even if nobody actually reads it.

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The End of 2018!

Post published:12/31/2018
Post category:Miscellaneous
Reading time:15 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Well, it’s that time once again! The seasons have passed, the Earth has concluded another rotation around the sun, and a whole bunch of nonsense happened! It’s the end of 2018!

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Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee Review

Post published:12/05/2018
Post category:Game Reviews
Reading time:17 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

We keep on trying and then we try some more! But now we’re starting over! C’mon let’s go!

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The World Ends With You: Final Remix Review

Post published:10/31/2018
Post category:Game Reviews
Reading time:11 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

“You know Neku, It’s A Wonderful World, and The World Ends With You. Just make sure you end it definitively. For this is the Final Remix!”
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Rundown (9/30-10/06) Backup Your Backup’s Backup!

Post published:10/07/2018
Post category:Rundowns
Reading time:6 mins read
Post comments:0 Comments

Something I really have not addressed in the 6 years I have been doing this (yes, really) is my stance on the physical vs. digital debate. The argument often seen here is between the permanence of physical goods versus the convenience of digital goods, with the arguments against each reflecting the alternative’s benefit. A la, physical goods can be cumbersome, and require install times and such, while digital goods are temporary licenses that could be revoked in many instances.
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