Nerd! Episode 3: Mega Man 2
Dre and Jeff return with another NES podcast
Episode three of Nerd! (formerly Shut Up Nerd!) is out. Check out patreon.com/jeffmay if you want regular feeds for the show and more, you can also subscribe on Apple Podcasts, but you may have to wait a little longer than Patreon. Also, if you missed episode 1: Zelda 2, and episode 2: Punch-Out!, well, check them out too!
Now, enjoy some timestamped notes!
My goto historical resources for the show were:
Pikasprey - Mega Man 2 Video and Mega Man 3 Video
11:30 - We find up down a Stan Lee / Steve Ditko tangent about credit and “idea people.”
18:00 - We talk about creative freedom, a subject that came up on Jeff’s Podcast with Dave Igo, talking, of all things, being a Foot Locker employee!
25:25 - Sonic connection! Fun idea for a future show maybe?
28:00 - Excuse me, Monster Hunter is Capcom’s #2 franchise behind Resident Evil, and Milla Jovovich made a movie for this?
32:35 - Is Rush the dog in Mega Man named after the Canadian Rock Band or the Capcom arcade game “Rush and Crash?” Listen to find out!
36:19 - We talk about modern nerd culture, e.g., Mega Man 2 shirts are available at Target. See one modeled by one of Jeff’s cool friends Dan Telfer!
40:45 - Jeff comments Computer Science math isn’t interesting, but I defend it because I studied it. I’m able to note he was on the exact opposite side of this argument on his recent podcast Ugh Fine with Kym Kral.
44:05 - We jump into the code of Mega Man. Thanks, Displaced Gamers! Great episode on Zipping, also AI and code efficiency. Without a doubt, Jeff’s favorite part of the show.
46:40 - Speed runs in Mega Man 2! Summoning Salt is the defacto source for these.
47:15 - Dr. J and the ABA are undervalued in NBA history, a topic that happened to have been on my timeline a lot the day of recording. We compare this to Cyghfer’s history as a Mega Man 2 speedrunner.
48:15 - Somehow I, of all people, missed a layup Dikembe Mutombo reference. Shame!
49:30 - Jeff made a “joke” Tweet on the Betel test. We agree, it counts as a joke, technically. Moving on.
51:20 - Uh oh! We inadvertently get into a classic Mega Man 2 debate. Is Bubble Lead pronounced Leed or Led? The Japanese Anime does support Leed. Anyway, what do you think?
58:44 - Fun discussion on the philosophy of speed run types.
1:00:50 - Much worse show title idea? Nerd!: Oil and Vinegar Flavor.
1:04:15 - Discussion on psychology and how we handle positive and negative reinforcement.
1:12:05 - We talk about Dr. Wily looking like Dr. Einstein and why that makes sense for him to be the ultimate villain. Funny, as Jeff was recently on an Unpopular Opinion Podcast about fascism. Worth subscribing to Adam Tod Brown’s Substack, where he published the article about it.
Next Month’s topic is up to you! Check out Jeff May’s Twitter (@heytherejeffro) and Instagram (@heytherejeffro) for polls on if we’ll do the Muppet’s Christmas Special (1987) or the He-Man Christmas Special!