General Discussion [ Page 23 ]

Earth VS. The Spider - Because If You're Going To Be Up Late You Should Watch MST3K

When Joel Hodgson created the Kickstarter project to bring back Mystery Science Theater 3000 I was in a blissful nerdvana. Before that I didn't think the show would even come back and then it was funded. Recently they just wrapped up filming the new season of the show and are talking about releasing the new episodes early next year. We are so close to a new movie sign I can almost taste the satellite of love.

Shout Factory is the company that has released the old classic MST3K seasons on DVD a bit at a time and recently they have been dropping free episodes on YouTube. If you haven't seen Mystery Science Theater or want to revist it you should hit play on Earth VS. The... Read All

Portland Retro Gaming Expo

http://www.retrogamingexpo.com/images/shirt-2016a.jpg

Today is Sunday and it's Day 2 of the Portland Retro Gaming Convention! Jon and I are manning the booth, talking to people and right now we have a speed running competition for Super Mario Bros 3! If you are at the convention come stop by!

Travis Admin wrote on 10/23/2016 at 05:13pm

Any videos for the speed running comp? I used to enjoy speed running the Mario games. I never was good enough to be even remotely competitive but it's crazy fun.

Also I want one of those shirts!

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/23/2016 at 07:50pm

Good idea Travis, I'll try and get some.

Timogorgon Member wrote on 10/23/2016 at 08:09pm

I'm pretty jealous to be honest. One of these times I need to make a trip up there to attend this with you guys!

I saw you got a Retron 3 while you were there. I want to pick your brain about it later! I think my SNES is showing the first signs of failure, so I may need to look into a replacement system soon.

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/23/2016 at 08:25pm

Absolutely! We are already planning on a bigger booth for next year.

I'll do a Retron formal review in the next couple weeks for sure!

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/24/2016 at 05:43am

Hey everyone. I'll be writing up all my thoughts about the convention tomorrow so check back then.

Expect a few pictures.

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How Gaming Of The Future Looked Back In The 80's

http://www.bytecellar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/book19.jpg

"Within ten years the computer games of today will probably seem very basic and primitive. The games of the future will be faster and more exciting with superbly realistic screen displays."

I always love reading old ads or articles of how people viewed the future of gaming. This article pretty much nails most of what gaming has become. The ad even sort of plays at room scale VR, which isn't something i'd really have thought would have been a thing even after watching Lawnmower Man so many times I wore out the VHS tape.

Nintendo NX Rumors! Details Coming... Soon?

http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Nintendo-NX-Reveal-Detais.jpg

An http://www.inquisitr.com article quotes a Takashi Mochizuki (Wall Street reporter) tweet saying "Speculation is Nintendo would unveil NX details in coming week. I guess all we can do is just wait. No announcement from company yet." and speculation that details will be announced as soon as this week!

http://www.inquisitr.com/3606799/nintendo-nx-release-details-imminent-and-beyond-good-and-evil-dated/

The article also pulls a lot of information from this reddit post, by FlapSnapple:

https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoNX/comments/56jomc/leak_goodies_from_a_large_retail_partner/

I really hope some real information comes soon! But until then, hearing about some packaging and... Read All

scrypt Supporter wrote on 10/18/2016 at 08:35pm

Would be really cool to hear something official. These posts, especially the reddit from FlapSnapple, leave huge holes for skepticism. Highly doubt that the packaging for the new system will be similar to the Wii U, as Nintendo will want to make the distinction very obvious on the store shelves (the reddit post suggests the packaging is also "white and blue," rather than "the Wii U's blue and black." The base model Wii U packaging was white and blue.).

Speculation can be fun, though! I really like the idea of a Beyond Good & Evil reboot being a launch title :D.

AdamPFarnsworth Post Author wrote on 10/18/2016 at 08:58pm

I totally agree. It's all speculation and should all be taken with a hefty grain of salt :)

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 10/18/2016 at 10:02pm

I already have one.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/19/2016 at 01:22am

Speculation and rumors are why I've pretty much ignored what I've read about the NX. However, I've discovered in recent months that many rumors related to gaming actually turn out to be true, or extremely close. I'd like to know more about the NX as the new Zelda game is tempting me to get one. However, what I want to know most regarding that subject is if the game will be different on both consoles. I expect it'd probably perform better on the NX, but I guess we'll see. I might wait after the game's release when I can find out if there are differences in the two games. I'd be much cheaper for me to just buy the Wii U version, since I already own a Wii U. I also have some kind of high hopes for the NX. I've been loving Nintendo since the NES and I think the company seems to have lost some popularity over the years which I'd like to see make a come back.

Travis Admin wrote on 10/19/2016 at 03:36am

"Highly doubt that the packaging for the new system will be similar to the Wii U, as Nintendo will want to make the distinction very obvious on the store shelves"

I agree, then disagree, then re-agree here. Agree: companies definitely want to differentiate their products. Disagree: Nintendo did a poor job of that-- people thought the Wii U was an addon to the Wii. Re-agree: But Nintendo is smart, so you'd hope they would have learned and would want to really differentiate now. So honestly I wouldn't be surprised either way :D

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/19/2016 at 03:46am

I really want Nintendo to drop some real news about the NX soon. I bet most of what we've heard is accurate, as Greg says, rumors are often more true than not and I imagine it will be a sort of handheld that attaches to a TV. Thew rumored price seems fine and all the other details too but some real information soon would be better.

AdamPFarnsworth Post Author wrote on 10/19/2016 at 05:18pm

After Scrypt commented about the packaging, I looked back through the boxes of all the Nintendo consoles, and I really hope they swing back to the SNES red and black scheme. Nintendo already has the reputation of being a soft, kids company, and I want it to be rad again. Blue/black, blue/white, neither seem like good options to me #MakeNintendoRadAgain

(I've gone from speculation to just simply want I want now lol)

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/19/2016 at 07:06pm

If you know me then you'll know that I must fully disagree. I think they should go with the blue/black color scheme. Red/black is so 90's! It's time to continue to look forward with blue/black. Hahahaha Well, that's just my personal preference. It doesn't really matter to me what color scheme they use. I'm more interested in specifics.

AdamPFarnsworth Post Author wrote on 10/19/2016 at 07:56pm

Of course you say blue Greg ;)

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/19/2016 at 08:49pm

:) Congratulations Adam, you know me. Haha

Travis Admin wrote on 10/20/2016 at 03:05am

Soon!

https://twitter.com/nintendoamerica/status/788900063833493504

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/20/2016 at 04:50am

Yep Thursday.

http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/19/13341218/nintendo-nx-announcement-trailer-date-time

scrypt Supporter wrote on 10/20/2016 at 02:14pm

I know someone's about to post an article here about the reveal. I would but I'm on my cell, and more nimble fingers would likely beat me to it. Sooo...post that article! :D

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Obsidian Devs Create Mos Eisley In Their Spare Time

Some Obsidian devs have created Mos Eisley in Unreal Engine 4 just as a fun little project. This is not for any game. Don't want you to get your hopes up! :D

The download clocks in at 7.4 GB, just for one level, which tells you something about the assets. If you've ever wanted to walk around in the most realistic Mos Eisley imaginable, now's your chance!

The project started as a 3DSMax model of the Falcon, and then grew from there. 17 people at Obsidian joined in to provide artwork and other help.

This really pushes graphics hardware, getting about 45fps on a GTX 970/980, so if you have aging hardware you might just get a slideshow.

They are about 90% done with it and... Read All

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 09/09/2016 at 04:35pm

Updated with a "review"

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 09/09/2016 at 06:40pm

You should try the Star Wars VR experience. :) I have had the Falcon fly over me, and I have worked on the falcon. I am pretty much an expert in Millennium Falcon repair. :)

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 09/09/2016 at 08:38pm

I would love to, but I don't have any VR gear.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 09/09/2016 at 09:31pm

I found the secret weapon. It's not a lightsaber. It's pretty amazing though.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 09/10/2016 at 01:12am

Is it a laser cat?

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 09/10/2016 at 02:18am

Nice. I think I found the secret weapon, or at least another one, but I wasn't sure how to pick it up. I cranked the options and it said my FPS was 62.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/10/2016 at 04:29am

Can't wait to try this!

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 09/10/2016 at 04:32am

Greg, if you found it you just walk over it to pick it up (or near it) and you select it with H. Was it in a room with other secret-looking stuff, including pictures from other movies?

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 09/10/2016 at 04:38am

Was it orange?

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 09/10/2016 at 02:53pm

Yes.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/12/2016 at 02:50am

Tried this on my new laptop and I got the home screen set a few values and tried to start it. It hung each time.

Bummer. It looks really cool.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 09/12/2016 at 03:29am

Are you sure it "hung?" It takes a while to load.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/12/2016 at 05:45am

Yeah a couple windows pop up about COOKED or something and then it crashes.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/12/2016 at 06:02am

Oh, ok so I did it again and waited a really long time and it finally loaded.

Kind of neat. Didn't find the secret stuff but made my way around it.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 09/12/2016 at 04:16pm

Here's the secret weapon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvYNbwLLcRM

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 09/12/2016 at 07:41pm

LOL Funny weapon. I found it, but I guess I didn't get close enough to it to pick it up.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/13/2016 at 03:51am

Hahaha. That's great!

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Now Might Be The Time To Start Making A Game - The Humble GameMaker Bundle

If you ever wanted to try your had at making games the Humble GameMaker Bundle might be the thing you are looking for. Many awesome games have been made in GameMaker such as Hotline Miami, Risk of Rain and Home. The Humble GameMaker Bundle includes GameMaker and a ton of games made in GameMaker but if you hit the right tiers also includes the source code for certain games included in the bundle. So not only do you get GameMaker but also the code from a bunch of games making your process of learning that much easier. $15 is the top tier that unlocks everything and for what you get, it's an incredible value.

If you're not interested in making games you can simply enter... Read All

Travis Admin wrote on 09/09/2016 at 02:30pm

You'd think GameMaker would just make little simplistic games, but it's amazing what you can do with it. Getting started in it is simple, I've made a few not-really-games just playing around with it, and it's very easy to get into but has enough depth to make some impressive stuff. It's not going to be as complex or push the graphical boundaries as what you could do in Unreal Engine or something, but there have been some indie darlings that have used GameMaker.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 09/09/2016 at 02:46pm

I picked this up! I even spent a little more than the max needed to unlock everything since it is such a great value.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/09/2016 at 08:27pm

I picked this up, too. Just the base package without any modules, though I'm tempted to go in for the HTML module. I'm assuming they are about to release a new version of GameMaker, but this is an amazing deal regardless. One of my favorite games in recent history (Risk of Rain) was made on GameMaker!

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/10/2016 at 01:56pm

Worth noting that this is the Pro version of GameMaker Studio, so it comes with features that the free version doesn't.

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Classic Sierra Games on Steam

http://www.tawmis.com/onlinesierra/sierra2.jpg

It looks like a bunch of old Sierra games have been released on steam:

Police Quest Collection

Gabriel Knight 1, 2, 3

Arcanum

Quest for Glory Collection

Phantasmagoria 1 & 2

Caesar 3 & 4

I played a lot of these games when they first came out. I had a lot of good times with them. I can't say how well they have aged, but they might be worth checking out if you want to play some old Sierra games.

http://store.steampowered.com/news/23840/

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/01/2016 at 02:21pm

Bumping this to main.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 09/01/2016 at 04:00pm

Rad.
Every once in a while, Rich and Jack (Previously Recorded on YouTube) play a Sierra game. It usually quite entertaining to laugh along with them as they read the dialogue (Rich's Sonny Bond character is spectacular). I can't speak to the rest of the games, but the Police Quest games still hold up :)

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 09/01/2016 at 04:09pm

For instance, here's the first video of their Police Quest 1 play through. It's an older video, where they were still getting the whole streaming thing together, so it takes a few mins to actually get into the game lol
https://youtu.be/rElDEKd-fe8

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/01/2016 at 04:48pm

Oh, I need to watch one of those!

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 09/01/2016 at 04:51pm

The video I posted is their first foray into Police Quest, and it's fun watching them discover the game as they go. If you want to jump right into craziness, find their Police Quest 2 or 3 videos (3 was just uploaded recently, I've not seen it yet, but I assume it's good).

Travis Admin wrote on 09/01/2016 at 05:09pm

Oh man, Caesar 3. That was my first world building game. I bought it on a whim and loved it.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/01/2016 at 11:07pm

ALSO there is a Humble Sierra bundle out now to get some some older and newer Sierra games bundled up.

https://www.humblebundle.com/sierra-bundle

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/02/2016 at 03:40pm

Thanks Jon! It might be my first humble bundle!

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Batman: Arkham VR Trailer

At this year's Comic Con International: San Diego, we gave over 500 fans the chance to #WearTheCowl - they are among the first people in the world to play Batman:Arkham VR.

If you haven’t witnessed first-hand what it’s like to become Batman, then the newest trailer for Batman: Arkham VR will give you a glimpse of what players are calling the closest you’ll ever get to stepping into the role of the World's Greatest Detective.

Batman: Arkham VR is the winner of the first ever E3 Game Critics Award for Best VR Game. Developed by Rocksteady Studios, creators of the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham trilogy, Batman: Arkham VR is based on DC’s core Batman license and will... Read All

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 08/16/2016 at 03:57pm

Yeah, No Man's Sky would be a good candidate. I love my Vive purchase. VR is really cool. Two things that I would love to see in the future is wireless headsets and better screens.

Travis Admin wrote on 08/16/2016 at 06:53pm

Some people have dug into the No Man's Sky game files and have found indications that they've tinkered with VR. It may have been an abandoned idea and may never come to pass, but it may indicate future VR support.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 08/16/2016 at 07:13pm

probably PS4 VR. :(

jdodson Admin wrote on 08/16/2016 at 09:28pm

Cable less VR is definitely the next step but it requires some ultra fast WIFI or something.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 08/16/2016 at 10:35pm

Jdodson - It requires magic!

jdodson Admin wrote on 08/16/2016 at 11:07pm

So far, it does require magic as the cable is required. Is it a USB cable that you need attached to it?

jdodson Admin wrote on 08/16/2016 at 11:10pm

Speaking of magic: http://gizmodo.com/intel-made-a-vr-headset-and-its-totally-cord-free-1785350099

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 08/17/2016 at 04:25pm

I see a cord in that image. They lie. :) The vive uses a 3 in 1 cable. The cable has HDMI, USB and Power.

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Warning To Windows Laptop Gamers - Set Your Windows 10 Power Mode Properly!

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41gxG6beXgL.jpg

A couple days ago I wrote a few thoughts about my new ASUS ROG gaming laptop. It's a nice piece of hardware and if you are looking for a nicely priced portable gaming machine it's worth a look. That said for my most immediate computing past I've mostly used Mac OS and Linux and as such i'm not the biggest Windows power user and I recently learned something you might find useful.

Set Your Power & Sleep Mode To High Performance

One mistake I made when I first got my laptop was to mess around in the power and sleep mode control panel and set it to "power saver." It seemed like a reasonable selection as I figured Windows would switch into "high performance" mode when a... Read All

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 08/09/2016 at 12:22pm

Also, be sure to change the global setting in the Nvidia Control Panel. This can be done by right-clicking on your desktop, clicking Nvidia Control Panel, then Manage 3D Settings, then scroll down and make sure "Prefer maximum performance" is selected next to "Power Management mode." See the following link for a visual of what I'm talking about. http://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3130/~/setting-power-management-mode-from-adaptive-to-maximum-performance

Travis Admin wrote on 08/09/2016 at 03:00pm

Yeah that nvidia setting Greg mentions is one that might never cause you any trouble until it does. I don't know if it's a driver quirk or the way games use the driver or what but it usually adapts properly, it just sometimes doesn't.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 08/09/2016 at 05:33pm

That's good to know, I think it's set that way but I'll check tonight to be sure.

Nicholas_Biondi wrote on 08/09/2016 at 07:37pm

Yay! I have bought nothing but ASUS ROG for the last 3 laptops. Can't beatthe price/speed,quality for my money!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 08/09/2016 at 07:40pm

Nicholas_Biondi: That's really good to hear.

Based on how it keeps getting slimmer and lighter and that i've had such a great time with it so far, when the time comes i'll be looking into getting another. I usually wait a long time to get new hardware but going ASUS again seems like a very solid idea.

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One Month With the ASUS ROG GL552VW-DH74 Gaming Laptop

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images2500x2500/asus_gl552vw_dh74_i7_6700hq_16gb_1tb_128ms3_windows_10_64_15_6_1183449.jpg

I'm not gonna lie, originally I wanted to buy a Mac laptop. I like the Apple hardware, build quality and software better than nearly all of the Windows alternatives. And even though I may love Apple's products I don't love the price because when you buy Apple you pay a premium for it. And with that price and quality premium you also lock in to your hardware specs. Apple used to allow upgrades to it's laptop harddrives and ram after your initial purchase but that is no longer the case. I want a system that's reasonably priced, is mobile and something I can upgrade when the time is right. Playing games well is also important to me so after a bit of searching I finally... Read All I'm not gonna lie, originally I wanted to buy a Mac laptop. I like the Apple hardware, build quality and software better than nearly all of the Windows alternatives. And even though I may love Apple's products I don't love the price because when you buy Apple you pay a premium for it. And with that price and quality premium you also lock in to your hardware specs. Apple used to allow upgrades to it's laptop harddrives and ram after your initial purchase but that is no longer the case. I want a system that's reasonably priced, is mobile and something I can upgrade when the time is right. Playing games well is also important to me so after a bit of searching I finally pulled the trigger and bought an ASUS ROG laptop.

Show Me The Specs

The ASUS ROG was in the right price and spec zone as it features an Intel Core i7-6700HQ 2.6GHz, 16GB RAM; 1TB 7200RPM + 128GB SSD harddrive & an NVidia GeForce GTX 960M -w 4GB VRAM. The OS runs on the SSD which means this thing boots up wickedly fast. The ROG features an HDMI port so plugging it in to my desktop monitor and TV is a breeze and after a bit of learning on my part I figured out how to rock a dual monitor/laptop screen setup in Windows 10. I went with the 15" laptop as 17" seemed way too large for a laptop and since the hardware of both sizes is nearly identical, I think the smaller size was a better choice. The ROG also features a nice illuminated keyboard that really helps with typing in the dark. In general the laptop hardware is solid in nearly every respect but I do have a couple gripes with it. The black finish is very neat looking but it's also a fingerprint magnet. It's not too bad but I do have to wipe it down from time to time because the smudges bother me. The other annoying part of using the ROG is that if you bend it slightly on occasion the DVD drive opens. Originally I thought i'd use the DVD drive more but apparently I don't use it at all so the only time the drive ever opens is on accident.

Beyond those minor issues the ASUS ROG is a very solid and powerful laptop. It's not too heavy has a good build quality to it and is very enjoyable to use.

Apparently, Windows 10 Is Pretty Good

I'll be honest, I am not a huge fan of Windows or Microsoft. This is mostly because I found the Microsoft of the 90's to be really bad in terms of it's anti-competitive behavior but recently the company has come around a bit. Windows 7 was a pretty good Operating System and after using Windows 10 for a month I can say that it's pretty easy and isn't too annoying to use. That said it phones home more than E.T. so if you don't want Redmond knowing when you go to the bathroom, I suggest you run SpyBot Anti-Beacon. The ROG also comes with a ton of crap-ware installed and that takes a bit to get removed but after all of that is gone and Windows isn't calling Bill Gates every 5 minutes, it's a solid experience. I can't honestly tell if Windows 10 performs better than 7 but I haven't noticed any slow downs in any games or actions on Windows 10.

This Thing Plays Games Well Too

If you want the biggest bang for your buck in PC-land you shouldn't go with a laptop. I went with a laptop because I wanted to play games and have a very portable system. I also wanted a machine I could hack Cheerful Ghost code using Linux and the ASUS ROG does that really well. It also plays games well, but again, if you want more power for your dollar go with a regular ol' PC. That said, I was able to max out StarCraft II with zero issues and the ROG can also play the new Doom game in 1080p without dropping below 30 FPS.

After using the ASUS ROG for a month I can say that i'm really happy with my purchase. It's a solid system for the price and it plays all the games I want to at a very acceptable speeds. It's comfortable to use on the couch and slides right in on my Desktop and works great with my monitor, keyboard and mouse. If you are looking for a nicely spec'd laptop that plays games well you might want to look into the ASUS ROG GL552VW-DH74.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 08/05/2016 at 08:06am

Sweet! How's the battery life? Does it get hot?

JaBo wrote on 08/05/2016 at 06:15pm

Huh, yeah, pretty similar to what I bought last year. ASUS G751JL 17-Inch Gaming Laptop
I love mine. Max graphics gaming on a laptop with a quiet fan that doesn't get too hot... I still love it. It's huge though... I had to buy a $100 gaming back pack for it lol. (I use it for school too ).

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 08/05/2016 at 06:34pm

Mmm, new hardware. Does it VR? :)

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 08/05/2016 at 11:41pm

> How's the battery life? Does it get hot?

The battery life is about 4-5 hours JUST with a browser open doing light surfing in battery saver mode. It's a couple hours if you are playing a game on battery.

It gets how when you have Steam or Battle.net open and/or are playing a game. It pushes hot air through a side fan, and it gets a bit warm on the bottom but nothing too bad.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 08/05/2016 at 11:42pm

> It's huge though...

I bet. That's why I got the 15" :D

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 08/09/2016 at 12:26pm

I just noticed in the picture you included in your post that the WASD keys seem to be highlighted. That reminded me of a keyboard change I'd like to see. On most keyboards you'll find that the J and F keys have little protrusions on them so that when you put your hands on your keyboard, you know where the "home keys" are without having to look. I think the WASD keys deserve the same treatment for gamers like us. :)

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