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#not necessarily like super modern but also updated versions of old games
gamersonthego · 7 months
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GOTG Review: AI: The Somnium Files and Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir
This is the next game in my Backlog Roulette series, where each month I spin a wheel to randomly select a game on my massive backlog that I must play (though not necessarily to completion). These wheel spins occur on the monthly preview episodes I co-host with my friends on The Casual Hour podcast.
Not every game on the Backlog Roulette wheel is going to be a winner, and they’re not meant to be. Many are games I curiously picked up on a sale or remembered from an old tweet or offhand comment from a friend. 
That was the case with AI: The Somnium Files. Someone described it as a Persona adventure game, and that was good enough for me to snag it on the cheap and hold onto for a rainy day. But it only took a couple of sessions to realize that while The Somnium Files isn't really what I had in mind.
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AI is a detective game at its heart. You embody Special Agent Kaname Date, an acerbic yet disaffected gumshoe with a missing eye. In its socket instead is an AI robot called Aiba who pulls double duty as a sort of Zelda Navi-like character while also giving you a host of super powers (like being able to see through objects or hacking into phone records remotely). But despite having these tools available to you, it only makes the moment to moment gameplay even more of a hunt-and-peck ordeal. 
I just couldn’t get into it, especially once my AI eye turned into a scantily-clad anime waifu for little to no reason. The writing goes into a very creepy and horny mode once this transformation occurs, and that was enough for me. Maybe if the game was more fun to play, I’d have been able to overlook it, but after already being bored and frustrated by the larger mechanics, it ended up as the final straw.
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Reeeeeal classy, Date.
So instead of slogging through AI: The Somnium Files any further, I put it down in favor of a different Japanese detective game that also happened to be on the Backlog Roulette wheel. One much more stripped down and straightforward (and much less horny), Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir. 
FDC is a series of two mystery games that (as the name implies) released on Nintendo’s Famicom console. While the 1988 and 1989 originals never saw a release outside of Japan, Nintendo and developer Mages remade the games from the ground up to release worldwide on the Nintendo Switch in 2021. 
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What a difference 30+ years can make.
Loading up the first game, The Missing Heir, the interesting mix of new and old hits you immediately. Gone is the pixel art of the 1988 version, replaced by hand-drawn backgrounds and anime-inspired character designs. The chiptune music tracks have all been updated to more modern instrumentation as well. But ever-present is the simple list of actions and dialogue options of the UI.
And it plays like an old adventure game too, requiring you to select some of the same dialogue options multiple times (or in specific, untold sequences) to unlock further options to progress the story. Occasionally, the game will highlight options in yellow to tell you of new options that have just opened up by some trigger, but that is not always the case, nor do these highlighted options always further the plot either. I can appreciate how a detective game should leave the player room to actually make deductions on their own, but oftentimes in The Missing Heir, I would end up cycling through every dialogue choice multiples times, just crossing my fingers I would finally hit upon the right sequence or frequency. Eventually, I would give in and pull up a spoiler-free guide to cut down on the repetition and get through the story.
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Because unlike AI: The Somnium Files, Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir actually has a fun story to uncover. Originally being a Famicom game, it’s no Sherlock Holmes, but there are ample rug pulls and intrigue, culminating in a twist you can probably see coming, but maybe not in quite the way you expected. Despite being a game centered around a murder (or two, or three), it’s just kind of a pleasant little experience to work your way through. It’s even got me interested in playing its prequel, The Girl Who Stands Behind.
AI: The Somnium Files may have ended up being a bummer for me (though other people seem to really enjoy it, according to numerous reviews), I’m glad it led me to a game I enjoyed much more. And even better, I was able to trim two games from my backlog this month. That's value, baby!
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ace-with--a-mace · 3 years
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anyways the phantoms but with modern video games
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good-omens-classic · 3 years
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Been thinking about the modernization of the narrative of Good Omens from the novel to the TV series prompted by those last posts.  DISCLAIMER: its actually been a while since i either watched the TV show or read the book so i might be misremembering stuff 😅
If i remember correctly, in the early stages of production of the TV show Neil Gaiman stated the aesthetics of Heaven and Hell were being updated to be less like countries at war, as they were in the novel, and more like factions of a corporation, with Heaven being the top office and Hell being the basement.  And he said this was to representing the shifting social anxieties of the time - the novel was written on the heels of the Cold War, and so has a lot of spy and soldier aesthetic to it, whereas nowadays we are all looking with a skeptical eye at Disney and Nestle as large corporations do whatever the hell they want without consequences.
I think this modernization is an effective one, but one that changes the flavor of the narrative slightly, and in a way that makes it less appealing to some people and more appealing to others.  One is not necessarily better than the other, and given one is a new TV show and one is an old novel so it’s hardly accurate to compare the size of fanbases, I can’t even say one is necessarily more or less appealing/popular than the other.  I think that the TV show was well-made, but there were a few small key changes in the writing that move the narrative away from the reasons why I got absolutely obsessed with the novel.  I think that David Tennant and Michael Sheen did a pretty good job acting the directions and script they were given, my main things I don’t like are kind of with the writing decisions (and tbh the costuming still but that’s petty 🙄)
I think it’s probably part of my upbringing, which was fundamentalist Protestant and honestly, obsessed with violence, that I don’t want to engage with a story where Hell is bad because it’s the dirty basement of an office building.  That’s a legit way to depict Hell, and one that has interesting thematical implications, but I personally want to read stories where Hell is fire and brimstone so that I can watch the protagonists defeat that.  I don’t fantasize about breaking free from an office job, or co-workers caught up in office petty politics, stories about finding softness and love amidst an actual war where violence is expected are what appeal to me.  The demons in the TV series are violent, but it’s just because they’re mean people, not because there’s a system put in place that forces them to be....which is honestly kind of part of why I liked the universe of the novel so much, because I liked to see Aziraphale and Crowley fight a system that tries to force them to be violent and fight and stuff?
The depiction of a narrative’s bad guy, even with subtle changes, can have some pretty significant impacts on how the audience feels about the narrative if what they’re looking for in the story is catharsis and wish-fulfillment.  For example, I often see people gripe about their DMs including homophobia and transphobia in their world-building in DnD, as though the ideal setting would be free from those things (and indeed, that’s the ideal setting for someone who wants escapism), but if you want to roleplay a character who struggles and overcomes those social issues, because they affect you in real life and you find it cathartic, constructing a world where those issues are very mild is not going to provide the same outlet that being victorious in a truly grimdark world is going to.  It’s not for everyone, but due to the novel’s vagueness about certain things, it allowed the fandom some level of flexibility in interpreting their version of the supernatural in whatever way they wanted (the only other angel we see “on screen” other than Aziraphale is Metatron, for like 3 pages, so it was really whatever your imagination cooked up to fill in those gaps), whereas the TV show fandom is working with more concrete building blocks.
This leads me to another gripe I have--making God female.  I understand this appealed hugely to a lot of people because they love the progressive implications of God not being male, and how it upsets religious bigots, but I honestly did not think this was super revolutionary or groundbreaking for the reason that Good Omens is a work of satire--it is criticizing God, and honestly?  I don’t think God is super kind and loving in either version of the story, Heaven is harsh and filled with asshole angels, Crowley was thrown out for just asking questions, and God plays games with his/her servants.  Not everyone sees it this way but I honestly feel like God in the GOmens universe is borderline abusive and gas-lighty, as a proxy criticism of the Christian Church, and the church has historically also been extremely misogynistic, so I think that aspect of it kind of falls apart when God is suddenly female.
That line about dinosaur bones being a joke that God played on humans hits differently when child-you went to a school that taught creationism in science class and thought you were going to hell if you didn’t believe what they told you.
But getting back to my main point, the TV show had the narrative updated for the times much more significantly than the radio play that came out in 2015--for that one, it was mostly cosmetic changes, such as tossing in a mention of X-boxes, whereas the TV show updated the basic narrative structure to reflect changing culture.  I think it was an effective change, but one that made the narrative less appealing to me personally.  A lot of people who were in the fandom before the TV show came out, or who just read the novel after watching the show to compare, seem to agree that the worldbuilding and the characterizations have subtle differences between the two incarnations, which to a casual consumer is not really that noticeable, but if you like one or the other because it hits a very specific sweet spot it might make a difference.  For me I liked it mostly because it provided a blank canvas with some very good building blocks for, like, my imagination to run off with, and the TV show closed a lot of those avenues by filling them in with something more concrete.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing and I can see myself experiencing this from the opposite side when I go into fandoms having just consumed the newest incarnation of a thing and quite liked it, only to find the fandom has people who liked it before that adaptation and hate it a lot!  That’s just the nature of the beast and an inevitable side effect of obsessing over something way more than you’re meant to, but it’s also why I’m not really interested in reading or writing fanfiction set in the TV ‘verse.  Anyway Im kind of rambling now but this is just kinda my thoughts and my onion so if anyone has any other thoughts on it feel free to share your onion with me too :)
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corishadowfang · 5 years
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WIP Questions Tag Game
Tagged by @fatal-blow--thanks for the tag!
Rules: Answer the questions, then tag some people.
1: Describe the plot in one sentence
Local boy turns into a dragon to avoid dying and now has to run from the police. 
2: Pick one sight, smell, sound, feel, and taste to describe the aesthetic for your WIP.
Sight: Basically the city scape; a river running alongside a relatively modern city, later in the day in hues of blue/gray.
Smell: That smell just after a rain shower.
Sound: To be honest, my immediate thought with this is music, so I think some sort of piano piece?
Feel: This one is...hm.  The feel of ice cracking under your feet, but also of the warming spring.  Maybe?  I don’t know, this one is kind of tough.
Taste: Bittersweet chocolate.
3: Which 3+ songs would make a playlist for your novel?
OKAY, SO.  I’ve actually been think about this quite a bit and thinking about actually making a playlist?  I have a number of songs I might through on, but the first three that come to mind are: Dead Hearts by Stars, Coma Baby by Nicole Dollanganer, and King by Lauren Aquilina (in that order).
4: What’s the time period and location in which your novel takes place?
Time period would be relatively the equivalent of modern day.  The location’s an alternative version of earth where dragons once existed alongside humans; more specifically, it takes place in the city of Provenance, the birthplace of Familiars.
5: Are there any former titles you’ve considered but discarded?
Nope!  The title was on of the first things I came up with, and honestly I’m too attached at this point to change it.
6: What’s the first line of your novel?
White stained everything in that little hospital room: white sheets, white walls, white floors.  Even the drapes fluttering in the window were white.  The heart monitor beeped, but Tucker’s son remained unmoving.
7: What’s a line of dialogue you’re particularly proud of?
So trying to find one that’s not spoilery is surprisingly difficult.  I don’t know if I’m necessarily ‘proud’ of this exchange, but it’s not that spoilery and I think it’s funny:
           “Didn’t we arrest you just a few days ago?”
           “Yep.  Got out on bail.”
           “Yeah, I know, but—why are you back?”
8: Which line from the novel most represents it as a whole?
I don’t know if it represents the entire novel, but:
But perhaps, if it were something like this, she could get used to a family.
9: Who are your character(s) face claims?
Oh, boy.  I don’t have the motivation to draw new pictures for these guys, so old art incoming:
Aiden
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Kiru
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Gertrude
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Jackie
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One day I’ll update their art.  One day.
10: Sort your characters into Hogwarts houses.
Aiden: Hufflepuff
Kiru: Gryffindor
Gertrude: Slytherin or Ravenclaw.  (Leaning towards Slytherin, though.)
Jackie: Gryffindor
11: Which character’s name do you like the most?
Gertrude’s--mostly because it’s a name you don’t see as much anymore.
12: Describe each character’s daily outfit.
Aiden’s is usually some variation of a t-shit and jeans, accompanied by a coat on colder days.  Gertrude’s is sweatpants, a sleeveless shirt, and the same sleeveless sweatshirt she wears all the time.  Even when it’s cold.  (She’s kind of sentimental about it, even if she won’t talk about it that much.)  Jackie’s has the most variety; she can vary between a t-shirt and jeans, to something like she’s wearing in her picture up there, to sportswear.  It’s usually all very tomboyish, though.
Kiru is a Familiar.  He doesn’t wear anything.
13: Do any characters have any distinctive birthmarks/scars?
Aiden has a small scar over his chest where his heart was operated on, but I’m not sure that counts as ‘distinctive.’
14: Which character most fits a character trope?
...Like, any character trope?  Because they all fit some sort of trope...
But I guess we’d either have Aiden as a classical anti-hero, or Gertrude as a trickster mentor.
15: Which character is the best writer? Worst?
That’s...kind of a mixed bag.  Jackie has the best prose, but Aiden’s the most imaginative.  Kiru is the worst.
16: Which character is the best liar? Worst?
GERTRUDE IS DEFINITELY THE BEST.  This is like, here specialty, and it’s really hard to tell whether she’s lying or telling the truth.  (You have to be paying attention to her eyes; they’re what’ll usually give her away.)  Aiden, on the other hand, is undoubtedly the worst.  Every time he tries to lie he stutters and fidgets a lot so they’re usually not super convincing.  (Jackie usually doesn’t lie because she prefers honesty, but is decent at it when she choses to be.  Kiru also most often just choses to tell the truth, and when he lies it’s usually also to himself and he legitimately believes it.)
17: Which character swears the most? Least?
Jackie swears the most, especially when she’s stressed.  Kiru basically doesn’t swear at all, though surprisingly Gertrude also swears very little.  Aiden’s somewhere in between.
18: Which character has the best writing? Worst?
Best, as far as hand-writing goes, would be Jackie.  Worst would be Kiru since he doesn’t actually, you know...have hands.
19: Which character is the most like you? Least like you?
All of them are kind of a mixture?  I think Aiden would be the closest to me, but even then there are a lot of differences.  Kiru I think is probably the least like me?  Or maybe Jackie?  Not sure.
20: Which character would you most like to be?
I’d prefer to be none of them, actually!  Just generally preferring to be me aside, these guys...don’t exactly have the best situations and I would not like to be in their shoes.
This was fun!  I’ll tag @cawolters, @jess---writes, @writevevo, @diwrites, @maple-writes, @paladin-andric, and @scarlett-olivier, if you guys are interested in doing this!
(Also tagging @siarven and @focusdumbass for content.)
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I’m bored ignore me
Describe your current mood/feelings
I feel awful. I’m so unhappy in my current situation and I got a glimpse of what it’s like to be outside of it and I can’t wait to make that happen.
Which is your favourite country that you’ve been to?
Ireland probably.
What are the first things you notice when you look at/meet someone?
Smile and usually eyes but I haven't been great at that lately.
Have you ever been in love/are you in love currently?
I have been in love, I’m not currently.
Are you currently in a relationship?
I am not. 
Would you ever date someone online?
I’d date someone that I met online but not someone I couldn't be with in person.
Is there anyone of your friends that you would ever consider having sex with?
Yes.
Sex in the morning, afternoon or night?
Night is more my thing.
What side of the bed do you sleep on?
Left.
Have you ever taken your clothes off for money?
LOL no.
Would you choose love or money?
Right now, money probably except for one person that I would choose over that. 
When did you lose your virginity?
When I was 18.
 Do you prefer men or women?
Men usually but gender really doesn't matter to me. I’m attracted to personalities.
Do you have a sex playlist?
No but I’ve heard someone else’s and I am totally into it.
When was the last time you had sex?
Saturday 🙊
Has anyone ever gone beyond your personal line of respect sexually?
Yes.
Where is the most romantic place you would want to have sex?
When I picture romantic sex it’s usually in a bed, sooooo.
Where is the weirdest place you would want to have sex?
Balcony.
What would you do if you were ever caught having sex?
Depends who caught us.
Would you ever go to a bar just to get sex?
I’d go to a bar to flirt.
Has anyone ever tried to pick you up in a bar?
Yes.
Would you have sex in a movie theater?
YES that’s so risky I dig it.
Would you have sex outside?
I would as long as its not dirty.
Would you have sex in a bathroom?
Probably.
Does anyone have naughty pics of you or are you on film?
There’s pics of me out there.
Have you ever had sex with someone and called them the wrong name?
Not physically said it but I have thought of someone else and almost said it.
Would you ever use ‘toys’ in bed?
I would.
What would you do if your partner suggest a threesome?
I’m down.
How many people have you slept with?
5.
(1/2) If your lover/crush were in your bed right now, what would you do?
Sex probably.
(2/2) Then?
CUDDLE he’s great at that and probably talk a lot. 
What are your favorite bands? 
Set it off, Beartooth, Grayscale, As it Is, Mayday Parade.
What are your favorite singers? 
Barret Wilbert Weed, Taylor Louderman, Carrie Hope Fletcher, I’m obsessed with the Broadway stars right now.
What are your favorite albums? 
I’m LOVING the Mean Girls Cast Recording right now, also Dear Evan Hansen and Heathers. Only Human by Calum Scott is pretty good, and The Greatest Showman.
What are your favorite songs? 
Would You Be So Kind - dodie
Someone Gets Hurt, Revenge Party, World Burn, I’d Rather Be Me, and Apex Predator all from Mean Girls
Requiem, Waving Through a Window,and You Will Be Found all from DEH
And I’m gonna stop now because this list could go on forever.
What is the best concert you’ve ever been to? 
Oh gosh. Can I cheat and say Warped?
How did you first find out about your favorite band/singer?
Okay top two: I found SIO by accident at the mall in Hot Topic in 2009. Loved them ever since. And I found Barrett through Heathers.
If someone asks you what music they should check out, what are your go-to recommendations? 
Usually SIO unless were talking about musicals.
What was your first concert? if you haven’t been to one, what do you want your first concert to be? 
Omg Hilary Duff when I was like 8 probably.
How do live performances, whether they’re from your friends or professionals, tend to make you feel? 
SO HAPPY
Singing in the shower or singing in the car?  
Both but I sing in the car more. I only sing in the shower when I’m home alone, but I love that more cause acoustics and the steam is good for the voice.
If you could pick one instrument to learn how to play, what would it be? 
Trumpet!
What is your singing voice like? what singers do you remind yourself of? 
I’m a mezzo/alto. I try my hardest to be like Barrett tbh.
Have you ever been involved in any music programs? which ones and for how long?
Uh yeah like all through high school and college.
Which instruments do you know how to play? what’s your skill level? 
Flute/picc - advanced but I’m probably a bit rusty since I haven’t practiced in a while.
Piano, guitar, and ukulele - self taught/beginner
How do you feel about video game soundtracks? 
I like them if they’re super dark/edgy cause it’s fun to dance to.
What soundtracks do you enjoy listening to the most? 
Mean Girls, Heathers, DEH, Man of La Mancha, basically any musical.
How do you feel about musicals?
You’ve probably figured this out already but I live for them.
What are some songs whose lyrics you relate to? 
Would You Be So Kind - dodie
Are You There? - Bare (taken out of context, of course)
parts of Beautiful - Heathers
Breathe In Breathe Out - Tich
I’d Rather Be Me - Mean Girls
Someday - Zombies (taken out of context)
Do you prefer songs that have good melodies or songs that have good lyrics? 
BOTH. I usually really like songs that feel good to sing (good melodies) but I will download and listen to a song just for the lyrics.
Look at your country’s song charts, listen to the first unfamiliar song you can find, and share your opinion on it.
Billboard Top 100 said Psycho - Post Malone. And I hated it. 
Any cover versions that you think are better than the original? 
Chandelier - PVRIS from Punk Goes Pop
Uptown Funk - Against The Current & SIO
How often do you listen to music? 
Literally every day.
How do you feel about classical music? 
I love it.
Would you ever want to have a career in music? 
I think it would be fun but like realistically probably not.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is music to you? 
16.5 I couldn’t live without it.
How do you feel about rap music? 
Not a fan.
How has music affected you as a person?
It’s been my life since like 6th grade so it pretty much made me who I am.
What songs do you listen to when you’re sad?
I just listen to Mean Girls all the time
But sometimes Bare bc sad
What songs do you listen to when you’re in a great mood? 
Still Mean Girls.
What songs do you listen to when you’re getting ready for sports/to work out?
Anything from Mean Girls (do you see a trend here?)
What is your favorite movie?
The Kissing Booth was good, The Greatest Showman, I mostly listen to music.
What are you currently watching on Netflix/Hulu?
Skins UK (for the second time)
What shows have you finished?
13 Reasons Why, Grey’s, The Fosters, Misfits, Skins UK, Dance Academy, Degrassi, Backstage
Do you binge watch shows on Netflix or Hulu?
Netflix if I can find a good one. Hulu is for episodes that I missed when they aired.
What colour palette are you most drawn to?
Cool tones. Blues, purples, silver, but also rose gold.
What other country would you move to if you could?
Ireland or England
Which accent do you find most attractive?
IRISH
Would you rather be able to shapeshift or teleport?
Teleporting would solve a lot of my problems.
Would you do a destination wedding? where at?
Does Disney World count?
Dream honeymoon?
....Disney World.
Which celebrity’s voice do you wish you had? 
BARRETT
Would you rather live on a beach, mountaintop, on a farm, in the city, or in the forest?
The middle of a big city.
Do you still want to be what you dreamed of as a kid?
No I wanted to be a marine biologist and work at Sea World.
Would you rather live in a functional tree house, a rustic but renovated barn, and old stone cottage, a tiny house, an antique victorian character home, or an artistic cob home?
Antique victorian character home with an updated interior that's modern but still preserves the charm.
What do you want your life to look like in 1 year?
Living in a big city (preferably Baltimore or DC) and having a real job.
4 favourite youtubers?
I've really been into Shane Dawson and the squad lately. Also Soph (Sophdoesnails), Shelby’s DCP vlogs, and Sophie Lousie
What would your absolute dream partner look like?
Goofy smile, bright eyes (not necessarily in color, but like they light up when they’re excited and have life to them), taller than me, got meat on his bones
What would your absolute dream partner be like?
Sweet, an absolute nerd, adorable, knows how to charm the heck out of me, ambitious (I’m describing someone if you haven't caught on yet)
7 names that you really love?
James, Amelia, Sophie, Noah, Riley, Madison/Maddie, Samuel
Do you like your name? what would you change it to if you could?
No I hate it, I’d change it to Elizabeth which is my middle name. 
What is your biggest but most impossible-seeming dream in life?
Living in the middle of NYC
Do you collect anything? why’d you start?
Tsum Tsums because they’re cute af and I can’t resist, and I really want to start collecting pins.
When you’re hanging out in your room, do you usually sit on the bed, a chair, the floor, or somewhere else?
Bed.
How many pillows are on your bed?
6 because I bought all of the pillows for the apartment aside from the two he brought and I took them when I left.
Do you share a room with anybody? Have you ever (as in long term, not a sleep over)?
I don’t currently, but I shared with Lexi when were little, I had roommates for 3/4 years of college, and I shared with Nick in our apartment until the end.
Are there any posters or artwork on your walls? What are they?
I have an SIO poster, a One Direction poster, posters of the 5SOS boys, and a Callahan family crest from Ireland. (I really need to redecorate).
Where do you keep your clothes?
Dresser and closet (and the laundry basket of unfolded clothes that never seems to get emptied)
What color are your walls?
Purple.
Is your mattress on a frame or the floor?
On a frame.
What position do you sleep in?
On my side usually but I can sleep in all positions really.
What’s your favorite part of your room?
My bed.
What’s your least favorite part of your room?
It’s a god damn mess right now and that it heats up with the morning sun so it’s always hot.
How many hours a day on average do you spend in your room?
LOL way too many.
Have you ever been told that you spend too much time in your room/never go outside/live in your room/etc?
Yeah all the time.
Is there a desk in your room? Do you actually use it for homework?
There is and no I literally don’t but I should.
Is there a tv in your room?
Yes there’s a TV in my room.
If your bedroom could look any way you want, forgetting cost and practicality, what would it look like?
Clean and Tumblr-y
Do you put stuff under your bed?
I don’t try to but stuff ends up under there.
If you play an instrument, do you practice in your room or somewhere else?
When I was in college I rarely practiced in my room. If I do practice now (rarely) I do it in the living room.
Do you charge your phone next to your bed?
On my bed.
How many windows are in your room?
Just 1. 
Do you have a private/connected bathroom?
No I wish.
Do you keep makeup, jewelry, lotion, perfume/cologne, and hair stuff in your room or the bathroom?
It’s in my room. I keep it all in the Alex 5 drawers from IKEA.
What is your dream job?
HR but I’ve also been super interested in marketing lately? Also interior design or wedding planner.
What’s your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Baseball but also hockey? I’ve never been a hockey fan until I started watching the Preds in the playoffs this year and I’m totally into it now.
Who is your favorite athlete?
Nick Castellanos 😍
Have you ever been in love?
I have.
Do you currently love someone?
It’s unrequited and complicated so I just say no usually.
Do you want a relationship?
Not right now. In the future, yes.
How long was your longest relationship?
Over 2 years.
How long does it take for you to know you love someone?
Not long.
Is it special to you if your s/o meets your parents?
Depends on the situation. Like for my exes it wasn’t but if I started dating someone in Tennessee it would be different cause my parents live 500+ miles away.
Do you watch Game of Thrones?
I’ve watched parts of it.
Have you ever been to Michigan?
Lived here for most of the 22 years I’ve been alive.
Have you ever went on a road trip with a boyfriend?
Nick and I drove back to Michigan once but we were mad at each other the whole time so there's that.
Do you support abortion?
I have no say over what someone else does with their body.
Are you an extrovert or an introvert?
Introvert hardore.
Glitter or feathers?
GLITTER
Daisies or buttercups?
Daisies
Have you ever self harmed?
Yes.
Are you more rational or emotional?
Emotional lmao.
What’s something you love to do but feel guilty about after/during?
Inevitably someone makes me feel bad every time I have sex with someone I’m not dating. 
Have you ever had sex with someone you weren’t dating (but had feelings for) in the hopes that they would ask you out later?
Lol, not for that reason, although I would love it if he did ask me out.
Do you ever turn your phone off because you don’t want to talk?
The only time I ever did that was after Ashlyn died because I was mad at Nick because he wouldn’t stop playing video games with his friends to come over.
Have you ever been to a gay pride parade?
Not a parade but I went to the pride festival in DC this past weekend.
Would you take your dream job if it were out of the country?
More than likely. I’m in a position where I could right now.
What is your zodiac sign?
Libra
What do you like to do when you’re home alone?
Sing very loudly.
Should the guy always pay for the date?
No. I’m hella independent and most of the time I hate when other people pay for shit.
What kind of music calms you down?
Most music calms me down.
Who did you last go to a park with?
I went walking on a path/river thing with sunshine this past weekend. It’s not really a park but like idk?
Have you ever been robbed?
My iPod got stolen when I was like 12.
When was the last time you were on an airplane?
Last week.
Are you currently crushing on someone? 
Yeah.
Do you think your crush likes you back?
I actually don’t know how he feels? I know he liked me at one time and then a thing happened and we accepted that we couldn’t actually be together but then we were together and it felt really right and I don’t know how he feels now.
Is anyone currently crushing on you?
Other than him probably not.
Have you ever been in a long term relationship? 
Yes two.
Have you ever been asked out? 
Yes.
Have you ever asked someone out? 
I've pushed someone to ask me out but that’s the closest.
Have you ever kissed your crush? 
Yes.
Has your crush ever kissed you? 
Yes. 
Are you more of a flirt or a hopeless romantic? 
Both
Do you have a crush on the person you last kissed?
Yes.
Have you ever confessed your feelings knowing they were unrequited? 
Lol story of my life.
If the person you like/love was with you right now, what would you say/do?
Um we would probably be cuddling and talking or kissing honestly. 
Have you ever broken up with someone? 
Yes.
Have you ever been broken up with? 
Not officially. Only for a break and then he begged for me to take him back.
Do you like cuddling? 
I LOVE IT
Have you ever had romantic feelings for a best friend?
That’s usually how it works for me.
Tell me about your crush:
Hair color? 
Brown
Eye color? 
Brown or green(? I’m pretty sure they’re brown and I suck I know)
Age?
We’re the same age but he will not tell me his birthday so
Build? 
He’s a little bit taller than me, he’s not scrawny but he’s not big either, like the perfect dad bod.
Clothing style? 
He barely has any clothes. He wears like jeans and t shirts and shorts he can find on sale basically. 
Stereotype? 
He's a TOTAL nerd and I’m so into it.
Hobbies? 
Computer stuff. He likes techy stuff and board games.
Are they your type? 
I don’t really have a type. He's got a killer personality and he’s SO sweet and charming and that’s what gets me. 
When did you started liking them? 
Like January I think?
Do you talk to him/her everyday? 
Not everyday.
Do you talk about them to your friends? 
Yes Colby lets me talk about him all the time.
Do you like hearing their voice? 
Yeah, it’s nice.
Do you like receiving text messages from them?
Um, yeah? That seems like a weird question.
Do you like their laugh/giggles? 
His laugh is adorable. 
When you see them, are you shy? 
NO he makes me feel so comfortable. I’ve never felt so comfortable around someone I wasn’t dating.
One day will you be with him/her?
Honestly, probably not but maybe?
Do you get jealous when he/she talks to the opposite sex? 
No. This is weird, but we actually encourage each other to get out there and be with other people since we really can’t have each other and we’ve accepted that.
Will you wait for him/her, to be yours?
I honestly don't want anything right now, so I’m willing to wait for now. Once I’m settled and know what I want in life I’ll move on if were still not together. 
Are they more shy or outgoing?  
He's outgoing
Y'all have the same group of friends?
No 
Does your crush smell nice?  
I mean, yeah. He doesn’t wear cologne or body spray or anything but his normal human smell was nice?
Does your crush have a nice smile?
That goofy smile tho (yes).
Are they kind to you?  
Yes he is SO sweet it hurts.
Are y'all considered friends or acquaintances?  
We’re friends. 
When’s the last time you saw them?
Saturday.
Do you have their phone number?  
Yeah but we usually talk through snapchat.
Is your crush talkative or more of a listener?
He's a talker but he’s a good listener too.   
Can they speak more than one language?  
90% sure he can speak at least some German. 
Where did y'all meet?  
Work.
Do they live close to you?  
No. He's literally over 500 miles away.
Have you ever been to their house? How about their bedroom?
Yes and yes.
Do you even vaguely believe your crush is interested in you? 
I answered this earlier. It’s complicated.  
If given the chance, would you have sex with them?
Yes.
Have you ever hugged or kissed your crush?  
Yes.
Ever seen em naked? Do you wanna?  
I have, and I wouldn’t say no to doing it again.
Does your crush have long hair?  
No it’s super short.
Do you think you’ll lose contact with your crush within 5 years?
I hope not but maybe.
Is your crush more naughty or good/innocent?  
He can be both.
Is your crush gay/straight/bisexual/transgender?  
When I asked him he said “bi-ish” so 
Is your crush a freak? Sexually speaking…
I’d call it adventurous and experienced.
Is your crush a virgin?  
No.
Do they have any pets?
No. 
Do they have a job? If so, where do they work?
Yes he has a job at a company which I’m not going to name. 
Do you know if they have an STD or not?
If he does he hasn’t told me, and it’s kind of common courtesy to tell someone you have an STD if you sleep with them sooooo   
What kind of music are they into?  
Um, rock probably? He also likes musicals so there’s that. 
Their fave color? If you don’t know just guess
His favorite color is blue (even though he’s blue/green colorblind). 
How long have you known em?  
Less than a year.
Their fave type of food? Guess if you don’t know
I don’t know but probably like burgers cause he tried to take me to a bar for food. 
When will you see your crush again?
Quite possibly never which is literally awful to think about. Hopefully sometime in the future.
Is your crush extremely confident?
He’s pretty confident.
What’s ultimately stopping you from making them yours?
Distance.
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aion-rsa · 3 years
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Why the GoldenEye 007 Remaster Was Cancelled
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If you’ve been keeping an eye on video game social media over the last few days, you’ve probably spotted this video of a YouTuber playing a remaster of GoldenEye 007.
While many people were quick to call this remaster “fake” or merely a fan-made tribute, recent evidence strongly suggests that this is the remains of an official attempt to remaster GoldenEye 007. Naturally, that information has left many people wondering why such an incredible remaster of such a beloved game never saw the light of day despite the fact that it appears to be nearly finished.
The answer to that question is complicated, controversial, and heartbreaking for legions of GoldenEye 007 fans who have been waiting for the chance to play one of the best multiplayer experiences ever released on a Nintendo console. Ultimately, though, it’s a story you have to hear.
What is the GoldenEye 007 Remaster?
The GoldenEye 007 remaster is an updated version of the 1997 N64 classic. It appears to be the same game content-wise (aside from a few additional multiplayer maps and a couple of relatively minor features), but it has been updated to feature 60 FPS gameplay, a 16:9 ratio, and various visual improvements. It’s been said that the remaster was designed similarly to the Halo remasters, which is to say that a team essentially just swapped out a few parts of the original ROM. Like those Halo games, the Goldeneye 007 remaster even offers the ability to swap between the old and new visuals on the fly.
The reason we know so much about this remaster (and the reason it’s been in the news lately) is that a YouTuber called Graslu00 uploaded a full playthrough of the seemingly lost project. While footage of the remaster had been uploaded online before (more on that in a bit), this was the first time that most people outside of Rare had seen it played from start to finish.
The extent of that footage (as well as the quality of the remaster itself) inspired many fans to ask new questions about this canceled remaster that many people long suspected had been abandoned before it could be completed.
When Was the GoldenEye 007 Remaster Developed?
Before we go further, now is the time to clarify that some of the answers to these questions are based on loose information and more than a little speculation.
With that out of the way, the public conversation about this remaster really heated up in 2008 when EGM’s rumor mill turned out a brief mention of a GoldenEye remaster that had seemingly been canceled by Rare. A 2008 article from 1UP elaborates on this story by suggesting that the game was just a couple of months away from being released on XBLA for Xbox 360 before the plug was pulled. Uncovered files suggest that work on the remaster began as early as 2007.
However, there are a couple of details in that story that don’t gel with what we know now. For instance, the 1UP article notes that the “XBLA version would have featured the same graphics, maps, and weapons from the N64 version” and that the big selling point would have been the “crucial addition of online multiplayer over Xbox Live.” That doesn’t seem to describe the footage of the remaster that we’ve seen years later.
So far as that goes, there are two things to consider. The first is that some of the information available in 2008 was simply incorrect. This really seems like the most likely factor given how much information on this subject was known at that time.
It should also be noted that the remaster itself has been improved in some ways by modern emulators. While I won’t name drop some of the emulators and uploaders involved with this process, it’s clear that some of the visual fidelity that we see in these uploads wouldn’t have existed in 2008.
Still, the bulk of the remaster footage certainly seems to be based on the game that Rare quietly worked on sometime around 2007 and ultimately had to abandon just a few months before it could have been released.
Read more
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Why Was the GoldenEye 007 Remaster Cancelled?
Unlike some of the details regarding the GoldenEye 007 remaster’s development, we actually know quite a bit about why it never got released simply due to the fact that Rare has talked about it a lot over the years.
For instance, in a 2008 interview with Videogamer.com, Rare engineer Nick Burton clearly stated that the game’s cancellation ultimately came down to licensing:
“I kind of wished that the differences got sorted out, but obviously there’s the licensing issue for Bond, even if it’s something that’s already come out,” said Burton. “It’s incredibly hard to solve because there are so many license holders involved. You’ve got the guys that own the license to the gaming rights now, the guys that have the license to Bond as an IP, and there are umpteen licensees. Me, just personally, I thought, ‘God, that’s a difficult problem to solve.'”
Over the years, the narrative regarding those licensing problems boiled down to the idea that Nintendo and Microsoft (who owned Rare by the time this remaster was in development) simply couldn’t agree on a deal that allowed either to re-release GoldenEye. This story is seemingly supported by a 2006 MTV interview with Reggie Fils-Aime in which the former Nintendo of America president stated that he’d “love to see [GoldenEye 007] on virtual console” but that “there are a lot of issues there.”
That quote reinforces the idea that between Rare being a Microsoft owned company, Nintendo publishing the original GoldenEye 007, and EA and Activision controlling the gaming rights to the Bond franchise in later years, there were just too many moving pieces that had to come together for the remaster or a re-release to ever happen.
What’s interesting is that many people seem to think that the reason Rare couldn’t release the GoldenEye 007 remaster on XBLA or as part of the Rare Replay collection is simply that Nintendo ultimately failed to give the port their blessing. That idea makes some sense as it would seem that Microsoft and Nintendo would be the two major players involved in a deal over that specific Bond game. On top of that, a remake of GoldenEye 007 that was published by Activision was released exclusively on Nintendo Wii in 2010. That remake reinforced the suggestion that Nintendo ultimately blocked the Goldeneye 007 remaster from being released.
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Is Nintendo Really to Blame for the GoldenEye 007 Remaster Never Being Released?
While Nintendo does seem to be a factor in this story, leaker Graslu00 shut down the idea that this is all Nintendo’s fault in an extensive message that they recently reposted on Twitter.
I've updated the pinned comment on my longplay video regarding "Nintendo and the cancellation of XBLA". I'd appreciate it if you gave it a read before saying that Nintendo is the main issue and I misunderstood or simplified the problem, I did not. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/79wPyHEU8r
— Graslu00 (@Graslu00) January 31, 2021
If you can’t read that message, it basically says that even if Nintendo and Microsoft had struck a deal, they’d still have to deal with MGM and Eon Productions who had their own concerns about James Bond video games. Those concerns may have required Rare to alter the original GoldenEye in ways that would have almost certainly hurt the game in the minds of many fans. The idea of a remaster of GoldenEye with “no cheats, no use of Bond theme, and no good vs good characters in multiplayer” certainly doesn’t sound appealing.
While there is some debate regarding the exact content restrictions placed on Bond games, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of such restrictions. In a 2020 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Adam Foshko (Activision’s director of story development when they controlled the Bond gaming rights) explains that making Bond games requires adhering to certain ideas of the character.
“Bond is unique because the IP holders have a very particular view on Bond as a character and how he should be used,” said Foshko. “Having worked with them, it’s more about: ‘How does Bond get out of a situation?’ rather than: ‘Can Bond shoot a guy in the face?’ It comes down to the goals and things that are unique and special about Bond in particular — even though people would like to play Bond in a situation.”
Restrictions aside, the other factor that doesn’t get referenced all that much is Rare’s interest in such a project. In a 2015 interview with Polygon, Rare operations director Drew Quakenbush noted that one of the reasons GoldenEye wasn’t included in the Rare Replay collection is that the studio chose to focus on “characters and worlds that Rare made independently” when selecting the games for that collection. He says that the issue “wasn’t necessarily licensing” and that “GoldenEye doesn’t really fit tightly in with that particular boundary that we put on there.”
Even if licensing is more of an issue than Rare was willing to suggest, this idea that Rare wants to somewhat distance themselves from GoldenEye certainly isn’t new. In that 2008 interview with VideoGamer.com, Nick Burton is asked “Does GoldenEye almost haunt the studio?” Here is his response:
“No, not at all. I wouldn’t say indifference. It’s nice to see people still talk about it. But I also think, and a lot of us think this, that you look back at it and it’s still good fun to play, but if I played it now with my gaming tastes as refined as they are now, would I still have the same reaction or have I really got rose-tinted spectacles on? It’s almost impossible to separate one from the other. I still look at it and think, no, it’s got great level design for instance, but then you think I’m saying that because maybe the control feels really good, but it’s not perfect. But it’s not perfect because the frame rate wasn’t high enough. It’s very difficult to separate your memory. As someone coined at work the other week. ‘You need some brain bleach’ so you can get rid of the memory.”
From everything I’ve seen, the issue basically comes down to a combination of licensing problems, content restrictions, and willingness. The long and short of it is that many people see GoldenEye 007 as a time capsule that has proven to be especially difficult to dig up and preserve.
Can You Play the GoldenEye 007 Remaster?
Recently, outlets and players have revealed that a full, working version of the GoldenEye 007 remaster has been leaked online and is currently playable.
While the process of downloading and playing the game is complicated and almost certainly wouldn’t be approved by anyone with controlling interest in this game’s license, it’s already clear that the game files are rapidly spreading online and is generally well-received by fans so far despite its obvious rough edges.
It should also be noted that those interested in playing a more modern version of GoldenEye should absolutely check out the GoldenEye: Source fan project which remakes the N64 game using Valve’s Source engine. It’s a brilliant experiment that almost perfectly captures nearly everything that made GoldenEye 007 special while updating the game in ways that even this remaster necessarily does not.
The post Why the GoldenEye 007 Remaster Was Cancelled appeared first on Den of Geek.
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globebusinesscenter · 3 years
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The best retro gaming consoles of all time
Modern video games and devices provide a storytelling experience that rivals the blockbuster Hollywood movies, but also requires a heavy commitment to your playing time. 
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Retro gaming consoles
Sometimes you just want to jump into the action, and your favorite 8 and 16-bit games from last year are perfect for that. Retro games are more popular than ever, and finding the perfect old gaming gear can be a daunting task. So we did the work for you.
Whether you're a kid of the 1980s playing classic titles for decades and owning a mountain of old cartridges (and a hard drive full of ROM) or a teen curious to find out why so many people love the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, this guide will help you find the best way. To immerse yourself in old games.
Purchase forecasts for the remainder of 2020: While manufacturing and shipping delays that slowed deployments of new devices in 2020 continue into 2021, long-awaited older device releases like Analogue's Pocket and Panic's Playdate are on the way. Still in months. 
Small businesses, many of which are located in China, are always releasing cool old laptops, including the new Anbernic-inspired RG280V. One of the hottest elements for this Christmas is also a Nintendo renaissance and watch, but availability will be very limited and dedicated to Super Mario Bros fans.
The Best Portable Console for Experienced Retro Gamers
Anbernic RG350P
Just a few years ago, portable emulators made by former Chinese gaming fans were good, but not very good, and lacked the quality you'll find with big-company devices. This is no longer the case. The Annbernic RG350P looks solid like the Nintendo Switch, but instead of cartridges, it plays games using ROMs stored on microSD cards, for consoles such as various Game Boys, NES, SNES, the Sega system. 
Master, the original Sony PlayStation Genesis, and even older PCs. Like the Commodore 64. At around $ 88, it is also priced right for its capabilities but just be prepared for some forum research and tutorials when it comes to installing new emulators or making new ones. software updates, as the RG350P is designed for those more tech-savvy.
The RK2020
The price of the RK2020 is the same as that of the RG350P, it features a screen with remarkable accuracy, provides decent control, and a faster processor that allows it to play a large number of games from more powerful 3D consoles, including the N64. And Sega Dreamcast. The single analog stick makes playing PS1 games difficult (but not impossible), although the level of technical skill required to simply copy ROM files to its Linux formatted memory card makes the RK2020 much more difficult to operate. 
Instead of giving players a classic version of the Game Boy, Nintendo celebrated Mario's 35th birthday this year with the relaunch of its old school console Game & Watch that defined handheld games in the 1980s. New Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. Includes the original NES version of Super Mario Bros. 
Its sequel, plus a classic G&W game called Ball, test the magic of Mario and Luigi. However, it is only available in limited quantities and $ 50 is very expensive for only three old games. Alternatively, consider the new Anbernic 280V retro. It puts electronic components for the RG350P in a compact, pocket-friendly device. 
The two RG350P analog controllers are sacrificed in the process, however, which means that the RG280V is more suitable for playing games from the 16-bit era onwards. At roughly $ 85, it's more expensive than Nintendo's new Game & Watch, but it can also play thousands of old games, not just three.
The Best Portable Console for Casual Retro Gamers
Evercade
Unlike the RG350P and RK2020, Evercade does not require users to provide their own games. Its creators worked on licensing official games from the original publishers to create a thematic cartridge bundle each containing multiple games. 
There are over 120 games available for Evercade right now, and more are on the way, and for $ 100 you can turn off the handheld console itself and three game-filled vehicles to get you started. This approach means that Evercade doesn't rely on emulators, so every game works just like in the original system, with no slowdowns or audio out-of-sync issues.
Analogue Pocket
Until the Analogue Pocket officially arrives in May 2021, there aren't many portable console options that could run the original game carts if you still had your original kit on hand. But the $ 80 My Arcade Retro Champ can power the original 8-bit NES and Famicom game cartridges if you're okay with a portable console that's too big for a pocket. 
My Arcade has also revealed a follow-up, Super Retro Champ at CES 2020 that can power the original Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis cartridges but is currently another victim of manufacturing delays linked to the pandemic.
Super Impulse's Micro Arcade
If the size is an issue, Super Impulse's Micro Arcade line puts classic games like Pac-Man, Tetris, Dig Dug, Galaga, Oregon Trail, and Qbert into handheld devices the size of a credit card with the price tag. ranges from $ 20 to $ 25 depending on how many games are included in each one. Designed by the same engineer who created open-source Arduboy: 
The credit card-sized Game Boy lets anyone program and creates their own games. With a black-and-white OLED display, Arduboy games are as simple as old games can get, and while you won't find any A-list titles available for credit card-sized mobile devices (which whether the clone of Tetris or Space Invaders), all games are available.
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Currently completely free. You can get a version of Arduboy that lets you download one game at a time for $ 29, or wait until fall 2020 to get the new Arduboy FX at $ 49, which includes additional memory that can hold around 200 games at a time. times.
Many retro pocket players believe the genre has been mastered with the original Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and various iterations of the Game Boy Advance. If you prefer to stick with what you know, companies like Retro Modding can create a custom version of the popular Nintendo laptop for you using a mix of legacy hardware (original motherboards) and the latest parts including rechargeable batteries, backlit LCD screens, and more powerful speakers. Colorful buttons and bags that match the originals or feature more elaborate designs. 
Custom versions can set you back up to $ 500 if you choose to upgrade every last component and it often takes a few weeks to build, but if you're sad the original Game Boys won't work anymore, replacing the rebuild is the best thing you do.
Alternatively, with more than 55 million consoles sold so far, there's a good chance you'll have a Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite at home. The cartridge slot won't accept older Game Boy games - a feature Nintendo has included in their latest mobile devices for a while - but if you're paying for the Nintendo Switch Online service ($ 3 a month or $ 20 a month). A), you might not realize it. 
Two free apps you can download that gives you access to a library of over 60 classic NES and SNES games, with Nintendo being added to the library every few months. This makes playing the classic 8 and 16-bit Nintendo games very easy and the simulation is perfect, but access is only granted as long as you pay for the Switch online service.
The Best Console for Retro Gamers
Analogue Super Nt
In just a few years, Analogue has made a name for itself as the best possible solution for playing old original game cartridges on modern TVs. Instead of relying on software emulators that can be buggy with a performance that varies from game to game, Analogue's 16-bit Super Nt uses a custom FPGA chip that perfectly emulates Super Nintendo hardware. origin. 
Every game works flawlessly and the console includes an HDMI connection and countless options to customize the look of games on a giant screen so you can get as close as possible to recreating your childhood gaming experience. At $ 180, the Super Nt doesn't come cheap, but the bigger problem is that Analogue only produces its material in small batches, so you might have to wait a bit before Super Nt is back in. stock.
Analogue Mega Sg
Everything we said about Analogue Super Nt applies to the Mega Sg, except instead of playing original Super Nintendo cartridges, the Mega Sg plays 16-bit Sega Genesis games, 8-bit Sega Master games, Game Gear (with the correct cartridge adapter), and even Sega games Perfectly CD, no lag, no frame drop and, most importantly, no audio sync issues that have plagued Sega emulators for years. Analogue currently has a Mega Sg in stock for $ 190, but don't drag your feet as the company's equipment often sells out quickly and takes time to restock.
Also Consider
Analog Mega Sg can run original cartridges from over a decade of Sega controllers, but Analog Super Nt is only SNES. If you also have a set of NES cartridges, you will need to look for the $ 500 Analogue Nt or the latest $ 500 Nt mini Analogue Nt which is currently out of stock Analogue itself but appears occasionally on eBay.
 If you are looking for a cheaper solution and don't necessarily care about being able to power your old cartridges, Nintendo fans should definitely consider the $ 80 Super Nintendo Classic Edition that comes with 20 classic SNES 16-bit games and two. Matching consoles, or the classic $ 60 NES Edition that includes 30 8-bit games and a pair of old gamepads, but finding either might be a challenge now because Nintendo no longer produces the classic releases. 
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However, Sega fans should have an easier time finding the $ 80 Sega Genesis Mini, which includes an impressive list of 42 built-in 16-bit games running from the polished Genesis emulator, while native PS1 fans can also grab the thumbnail. PlayStation Classic in one game, for $ 100, includes 20 games and a pair of consoles - although you don't get the enhanced DualShock option with an analog joystick side by side.
It's not hard to find an online tutorial on how to turn a Raspberry Pi into an old simulation game box. We made one with a Raspberry Pi 3, and the new Raspberry Pi 4 is a more powerful solution, and a good deal starting at just $ 35. If the DIY approach sounds too intimidating, there are some pre-built Raspberry Pi based controllers as well. 
Allcade Itty Bitty smartphones look like regular NES, SNES, and N64 cartridges, but they're standalone controllers with USB power and HDMI connections hidden inside. 8-bit Allcade at $ 149 and 16-bit Allcade at $ 169 and $ 199 for 64-bit Allcade, each of which comes with a matching legacy controller and the ability to easily mount ROMs using a USB drive.
The best retro gaming consoles of all time Gaming via exercisesfatburnig.blogspot.com https://ift.tt/354fgnW
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flowing-paint · 6 years
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Free wargame rules
Have you ever thought about using your precious lavishly painted miniatures in other games? Just to be told by your local alpha gamer or GW store owner something along the lines of "take that crap off the table" or "that's not even a tomb king skeleton!". If yes, well... you landed on the right page for you because today I'm going to tell you how to use them. For free.
For the most part, miniatures as in miniature wargaming are the backbone of the revenue system of your favorite game, immediately followed by rule books and fluff-related stuff. And it's kind of a pyramid scheme if you know what I mean: newbies generally start with a huge monster/character because, yes they look awesome! Then if they want to play they are told they need gazillions of small units which are not necessarily super-good looking and they all look like each other. What to do now? They have two alternative choices:
go full-in and invest a ton of money in the game
sell their stuff on eBay.
If you are one of those newbies or you have one in your group of friends, I am about to give you the third choice: use your minis in another game. For free. Well, mostly free.
Here is a list of interesting resources.
Freewargamesrules.co.uk
There is a whole wikia page that is entirely dedicated to gathering links to free tabletop wargaming rule sets you can download and use. They are community created rule sets for the most part, meaning that they come with few to no fluff, no pictures and usually the look and feel of word documents. If this sounds bad to you then you should really think about buying your books from your favorite manufacturer. If this is what you are into, then you can definitely find some awesome stuff here:  Sci-fi games, fantasy games, historicals... They also have modern games of mixed genres and even a page for miscellaneous stuff where you can find zombie apocalypse games as well as blood ball clones.
Being completely sincere, I didn’t go through all the catalog: there are so many! I kind of looked for what I was more likely to enjoy so here are some honorable mentions:
Fantasy category
I chose Age of Fantasy as it is the adaptation of Warhammer Age of Sigmar to a more free-form approach. You can use your AoS models as they are and apply them the new rules. If you happen to come from a different background, choose one of the factions that best fit your minis and proxy with the characters you think appropriate. In addition to the standard AoS clone, you get a  rank-and-flank version (like the old WHFB) and a Skirmish version (in case you want to play with few models)
Sci-Fi category
I guess the for Sci-Fi category I should choose the Warhammer 40k clone Grimdark future. This is the modern version of the old One page 40k rules, hence it is made by the same creators of Age of Fantasy. I guess if you are into WH40k this should be the choice. It seems they also have a version for Kill Team which is named Grimdark Future: Firefight. However, I am not a big fan of Warhammer 40k so I decided to include the reference to a very intriguing game: Starship Marine. This is a full blown Sci-Fi game coming straight from the year 1975 and it looks very Space Hulk-ish. You impersonate a bunch of Space Starship Marines trying to board on a big ship controlled by your enemy. Therefore, you can use your WH40 miniatures here even though you still have to print/write your ship tiles as it seems there are no pre-built ones. What I find really interesting about this is that if you go to the main site you will also find that there’s a ground version of the game too! Where the space marines are forced to get out of their heavy and bulky armor... abandon their energy weapons for usual ones and slip into a Light Tactical Armor which is still hi-tech but not full bodied. Do you see where this goes?? You can use your Mercs miniatures here as they almost perfectly fit the bill! I strongly suggest you give this system a shot as I am personally planning to try it, maybe using my Space Hulk miniatures! Or even two of my Mercs factions. We’ll see where it goes.
Warlord from Reaper games
Reaper is certainly one of the biggest and most renown miniature manufacturers but few people know that some years ago they also ventured into gaming. Here you can find their website. As you will probably be able to tell, it’s a stone cold dead web page where the last update dates back to 2011 and it’s just a beta of a new faction that they clearly didn’t go on to add to the game. So, why am I suggesting this to you? Quick answer: Warlord is the perfect system for a free or very low cost fantasy skirmish game. Book version of the rules is long gone (sometimes shows up on eBay) but you can find the beta testing rules free to download on the internet here. Moreover, Reaper released an update of the points/stat system (called the data cards) that can be freely downloaded from Boardgame Geek. As you can see, you have all you need to play this intriguing skirmish game. A note about the cost: if you do not plan to go to official tournaments with your army, just proxy the figures with your miniatures and you will have plenty of fun. However, thanks to the advent of Reaper Bones series, many of the figures used in Warlord are actually really cheap and you may also think of getting some of them. We’re still talking about the fantastic sculpts that Reaper prints so, totally worth it. Even more if you plan to play with them. Stay tuned because a post introducing my Necropolis army is already in the pipeline!
Skirmish games
Something that people tend not to think about is to give a shot to all those sample rules that skirmish game manufacturers tend to give out for free. I understand the need that many people have to visually match their minis to the game but if you are only playing with friends, why not to try new games now with minis that you already own and maybe, only later, go full-in in the new system? I will try to list here all the games that I know give free rule books but I’m sure there are many others. Please write in the comments below if you have any new one and I will update the post with them.
Mercs 2.0 - One of my favorite tabletop games, Mercs is a near-future (almost present) skirmish where 5 units of opposing factions face each other in a terrain dense scenario. The rules are free to download (like all the material from Megacon Games) so you can give them a shot pretty easily if you have 10 painted models. All characters stats are included at the end of the rule book.
Wreck age - A post apocalyptic skirmish game. This is a really well done one; rules are pretty heavy but feature interesting mechanics like weapon malfunction and nerve tests under suppression fire. The rules and faction cards can be freely downloaded from the website so that you can give the game a shot before buying. Their minis are really good looking.
This is not a test - Another post apocalyptic skirmish game with Fallout-like atmosphere published by World’s End Publishing. The link to the demo rules is right there in the home page so try it out by using your miniatures as a proxy. I haven’t read enough of the rules but this is one I would like to try some day.
Infinity - Ultra manga-style Sci-Fi skirmish game, its rules can be downloaded for free from their home page. It’s quite difficult to proxy Infinity���s models with, let’s say, WH40K models (maybe Tau?) but if you’re just having fun you may think to give this one a shot.
Battletech - I have a full post on this game here. 
I think I can stop here even though I’m pretty sure I missed one... The overall length of this post is a good hint at how many games are out there, free to play if you already have miniatures for them. Some even give you the tokens to replace actual miniatures if you do not mind playing with cardboard stands. If you are low on budget or just tired of the wysiwyg culture surrounding some gaming groups here you have hours and hours of free fun covering all possible genres. The last note I would like to append to this post is so important that i will write entirely in italics:
Games are fun and having free rules for them is a good thing if you are really low on your budget or maybe a young kid just moving your first steps in the hobby. However, if you do have the money, please support all those manufacturers that actually provide you with free rules so they can keep doing the wonderful work they do. All the skirmish games I listed above have really low entry cost and if you enjoy their systems, you should definitely support them like I do.
... game on!
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gamerszone2019-blog · 5 years
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FIFA 20, Volta, And The Law Of Diminishing Returns
New Post has been published on https://gamerszone.tn/fifa-20-volta-and-the-law-of-diminishing-returns/
FIFA 20, Volta, And The Law Of Diminishing Returns
I recently got to play FIFA 20 at a preview event in Berlin and, as you might expect, the new game is like the current version, FIFA 19, but a bit different. The passing is a little better, the shooting is a little better, the UI has been tidied up in some areas–you know, the usual fare.
Out of curiosity on my return from Berlin, I booted up an old PS4 copy of FIFA 15, a game released when Ultimate Team was still a relatively new concept, Career Mode was still good, and Steven Gerrard was still the beating heart of Liverpool’s midfield. The five-year-old game holds up remarkably well and feels surprisingly similar to the upcoming FIFA 20. Sure, the newer games are slicker experiences, but FIFA 20 isn’t as far ahead as you might expect, given the five-game gap.
That’s not a dig at modern FIFA–I have thoroughly enjoyed 19 and it is comfortably my most-played game of the past 10 months. Rather it’s both a compliment to FIFA 15 and a comment on the diminishing returns developers face when making annual games. Despite five years of tweaks, gameplay improvements, a whole new development engine, and new modes like The Journey, we’re not that much further ahead.
This year’s big new mode is the FIFA Street-like Volta, which, on first impression, seems like a deep and engaging addition to the series’ portfolio. Once you’ve built your custom player-character, you’re presented with a world map showing a number of locations you can visit. These places are the battlegrounds that host various types of street football, and they include London, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro, among a bunch of others. You can then travel to these locales to partake in Story matches and city-specific events–some of which can be played against friends’ teams even when they’re offline. Your team in these modes is made of fake characters created specifically for the mode–though the story mode contains some real-life street footballers as ‘boss fights.’ There’s also a Volta Kick-Off submode that allows you to play small-sided matches–3v3 up to 5v5–with players from licensed professional teams like Man Utd or Real Madrid.
Elsewhere, Volta borrows heavily from Ultimate Team: players are represented by cards, whose chemistry is affected by the position you place them in and the formation you decide to play. Your team’s chemistry will also change depending on the type of court they prefer compared to the one they’re playing on–the presence or lack of solid walls on the outer edge, for example, makes quite a large difference to how a game plays out and to the tactics you can exploit. The mode also contains weekly challenges and deep customization options, the latter of which are represented in Overwatch-style fashion by different colors and labels denoting, for example, Epic, Legendary, or Common rarity items. EA says these items are purchasable using in-game currency only, with no microtransactions present at launch.
Aside from these customization options, such as hats, jerseys, and boots, the long-term appeal of Volta appears to be driven by multiplayer matches against your friends and their teams, as well as striving to accumulate the best players. (When you beat another team, you can pick a player to steal to join your own squad, though that player will also remain as part of their existing squad.)
Volta matches themselves feel very reminiscent of the 2012 FIFA Street reboot–while there is a greater focus on skills and showing off than is found in regular soccer, it’s not as over-the-top as the previous Street games were. There are no gamebreakers or classes, and the control scheme carries over from regular FIFA, a move EA says is designed to help players transition between the two otherwise diametrically opposed ways of playing. In that respect, it seems a successful move–and bouncing balls off walls and nutmegging opposition players before getting on your hands and knees to head a ball over the line is thrilling–but it did feel a little like I was straining against the control scheme in order to achieve such feats. It’s as if the framing was just a little too much like standard FIFA to enable the great moments to flow. Hopefully EA can tighten this up in the remaining weeks before launch.
I found the integration of Volta’s multiplayer and single-player submodes and its AI-driven community squads a little confusing, so I’m eager to get my hands on the mode again when the final game launches at the end of September. My initial instincts say Volta will be a fun option that I’ll dip in and out of throughout the year when I grow tired of Ultimate Team or Career Mode, rather than a main draw like either of those two. However, at least Volta’s appeal appears to be longer-lasting than that of The Journey, which, while I enjoyed, held little to no long-term value.
Volta is a refreshing new way to play FIFA, then, but what happens on the pitch still doesn’t feel significantly different to what came before. This is a problem many games faced toward the end of the last console generation. The reality is that when hardware stays the same, developers can only achieve so much–especially when they face the continual deadlines of annual releases and increasing pressure to update existing games as live services. This issue is not unique to FIFA, and PES has suffered from a similar deceleration in gameplay improvements. The games are still getting better and steps forward are still being made–they’re just smaller with each passing year.
This is reflected in the way the series are developed and marketed these days. EA and Konami focus less on gameplay enhancements and their somewhat ridiculous buzzword labels–Elite Technique, Pro Instincts, Hyper Shooting, Super Space Auto Tackling 2.0, that kind of thing–and more on entire new modes or aesthetic changes. Konami has gone all-out on its license acquisitions this year, for example, while EA points to FUT and Volta before it gets to what’s changed on the pitch. This isn’t necessarily a problem, since we’re still getting cool new features to make it worth forking out every year, but maybe, for the time being, we need to adjust our expectations of what developers can achieve in yearly development cycles.
With the next generation of consoles on the horizon, I’m sure a revolution is coming for football games. Until then, we’ll have to make do with an entirely new mode that, while not groundbreaking, is an enjoyable alternative to the modes we’ve come to know and love (and, occasionally, hate). I suppose Volta could be summed up as being like standard FIFA 20–but a bit different. How very modern.
FIFA 20 launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC–with legacy editions coming to Switch and older platforms–on September 27.
Source : Gamesport
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newlaptopreviews · 6 years
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Nvidia went all out for PC gaming at CES 2018
Nvidia (NVDA) might be making big news at CES 2018 thanks to its artificial intelligence and self-driving car technologies, but the company originally started out by building PC graphics cards. And despite all of its recent success, it’s not leaving those roots behind.
In fact, it’s pushing them forward with a number of new products ranging from cloud gaming to enormous PC displays and super-thin laptops. It’s an impressive display of gaming power, and likely to drain players’ wallets in the year ahead.
Cloud streaming
Nvidia has been working on cloud gaming technology, the ability to stream and play games at their highest settings from high-powered servers to anything from the best laptop to a 5-year-old hunk of junk, for some time now. The company already offers a cloud streaming service for Apple’s Mac, called GeForce Now as a free beta for some time. And now, it’s bringing the platform to PCs.
Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service is finally coming to PC as a beta.
Cloud gaming is the holy grail of PC gaming, but it’s never taken off due to the fact that companies need to allocate an enormous amount of resources to run games for thousands of players trying to run different titles at the exact same time.
To deal with that, Nvidia, and others like it, have to build out data centers that can not only handle the load of all of those gamers playing at once, but locate those data centers in areas across the country to ensure players don’t experience any noticeable latency while they game.
It’s a lot of work, and Nvidia doesn’t quite know when the service will be available to the general public, or how much it will cost, but if the company can keep it affordable and easy to use, it could have a huge impact on the gaming industry.
A bigger screen for games
You want a giant gaming display? Well, Nvidia is bringing it to you. The company showed off three of its upcoming BFG-D screens or Big Format Gaming Displays and they are absolutely stunning. BFG, by the way, stands for Big F-ing Gun in the game “Doom,” which is why when Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced the screens during the company’s keynote, he made sure to emphasize the initials.
The screens, which can’t be called televisions because they don’t include TV tuners, run 4K resolutions at 120Hz, offer HDR color with a brightness of 1,000 nits. Nvidia showed off the screens by displaying a non-HDR image followed by an HDR version of the same shot, and the results were stunning. Colors popped and looked far more natural in the HDR version than the standard image.
Nvidia’s new Big Format Gaming Displays are massive computer screens with incredible performance and color.
What’s more, Nvidia has equipped the screens with its G-Sync technology, which ensures that the display and content you’re playing or watching are running at the same refresh rate. That’s important, because it means you won’t see the kind of tearing that occurs during games when your content is moving faster than the display can refresh.
Nvidia isn’t the one selling the BFG-Ds, though. Instead, Acer, ASUS and HP will be selling the screens under their own branding. Each version of the panels will look the same, though the companies will add their own types of speakers, designs and software to the mix. There’s no word on pricing for the BFG-Ds, but you can expect them in the second half of 2018.
GeForce Experience and Max-Q laptops
Nvidia’s GeForce Experience software is a suite of programs that allow you to do things like take 3-D screenshots of your favorite games, easily download and install drivers for your Nvidia graphics card and share your game replays with your social networks.
At CES 2018 the company is updating the software with its Freestyle feature. Freestyle allows you to customize your game’s visuals using a series of filters and effects that change the color and sharpness of images.
The software also includes filters that you can lay on top of your game. One filter Nvidia showed off while playing “Call of Duty: WWII” made the game look like an old black and white movie, complete with film tears. It’s a slick feature for gamers who prefer to make their games look just the way they want.
Nvidia also shined a spotlight on its Max-Q laptop design philosophy. Max-Q isn’t exactly new — companies have been shipping models that take advantage of the style for months — but Nvidia seems to want to put a greater emphasis on its role in the construction of such notebooks.
Max-Q isn’t a specific laptop, nor does it necessarily serve as a designation for the graphics chip a laptop uses. Instead, it’s how Nvidia refers to laptops that use high-end graphics chips while maintaining relatively thin bodies.
It’s not a particularly helpful descriptor, but what it means is you’ll get a very thin laptop with the kind of horsepower you’d expect from a much thicker system. Sure enough, I played with a handful of Max-Q-style laptops and they managed to push some of today’s biggest games at their highest graphics settings without breaking a sweat.
The idea is to prove that just because you want to game on a laptop doesn’t mean you have to buy a notebook as thick as an old VCR. After all, most modern gaming laptops aren’t exactly portable. But by outfitting notebooks with powerful graphics chips and processors, Nvidia hopes consumers who have been putting off buying a gaming computer because they only have space for a notebook will make the jump to becoming full-fledged gamers.
More from Dan:
CES 2018 Day 4 roundup: Self-driving cars and insanely big screens
CES Day 2 roundup: From breast pumps to robots
Google’s smart displays bring the power of search from home
The Blade Shadow turns your phone into a gaming PC
Email Daniel Howley at [email protected]; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley.
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