Cheerful Ghost: An Awesome Community For Gamers

Nintendo Switch OLED Model Coming Oct. 8

I found out about this a day ago and thought I'd share with you Switch lovers and owners, in case you weren't aware. A new model for the Switch (OLED) is coming on Oct. 8 at the same time the new Metroid game is coming out. The new model includes a bigger screen, improved audio, wider adjustable stand, 64GB of internal memory, and a wired LAN port. It's going to cost $350. While this isn't a 4K model with upgraded hardware like the CPU, it's still a bit of an upgrade and the 4K upgraded model may still be in the Switch's future.

I think the bigger screen sounds nice. It reminds me of when the 3DSXL came out. I really wanted to get it. I finally did buy a 2DSXL,... Read All I found out about this a day ago and thought I'd share with you Switch lovers and owners, in case you weren't aware. A new model for the Switch (OLED) is coming on Oct. 8 at the same time the new Metroid game is coming out. The new model includes a bigger screen, improved audio, wider adjustable stand, 64GB of internal memory, and a wired LAN port. It's going to cost $350. While this isn't a 4K model with upgraded hardware like the CPU, it's still a bit of an upgrade and the 4K upgraded model may still be in the Switch's future.

I think the bigger screen sounds nice. It reminds me of when the 3DSXL came out. I really wanted to get it. I finally did buy a 2DSXL, although I've barely used it. I've owned many different iterations of Nintendo's handheld, including the original Gameboy, which I got not too long after it came out. I skipped the Gameboy color, but I got a Gameboy Advance and then the SP model, which I really loved. After that, the DS came out and I bought most of the models that followed it, including the 3DS and it's iterations as well.

I'd also like to mention that I welcome most of the other upgrades. More internal memory is always a plus. I think the wired LAN port is also a good bonus. I remember buying a wired LAN adapter for my Wii. I've always believed that wired was better than wireless, but I've seen how wireless technology has significantly improved and can be just as fast as wired. The improved audio seems to be nice as well. I'm not so sure about the stand, I feel kind of "meh" about that one, but I haven't experienced the current Switch and it's stand, so maybe people who have a Switch will appreciate it.

I think it's still unsure as to how the supply will be since there's still a semiconductor shortage going on. It's been going on for a while now and is a big reason why it's so difficult to get the new XBox and PS5. It's also contributed to PC hardware prices. For example, I paid about $300 for my GTX 1660 Ti (EVGA XC Gaming, which means EVGA overclocked it) on Amazon. I've seen it on Amazon just recently for about double the price I paid. This shortage has made it difficult to find new graphics cards like the RTX 30 series and why they're also very expensive, though it may not be the only reason, because digital currency seems to be affecting the supply and demand as well, which affects prices (Econ 101).

I still don't have a Switch, but I've recently learned (as we've mentioned here) about some games I've added to my mental list of games I'm interested in. I think years ago I became aware of the newer Switch model that had better battery life and that was the model I decided I would get, if I got one. Now, I think I'd probably go for this new model, assuming I could afford it.

This news isn't quite new with regards to Nintendo. Remember how many iterations of handhelds Nintendo released (as I mentioned above), improving on it with each. It looks like the Switch is going through that same evolution (although in my opinion the Switch Lite isn't an improvement and I refused to buy one at a discount when my local GameStop closed).

So, what do you think about this? If you don't have a Switch yet, but are planning on buying one are you going to hold off to get this new model? If you have a Switch, do you think you'll buy it? If so, do you plan to try to sell your current one or keep it around? If you plant to sell it, how do you intend to go about that? Feel free to let me know!

Source: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-switch-oled-announced-coming-october-8/1100-6493578/

Summer Games Done Quick 2021 IS HERE!

The Summer Games Done Quick charity speedrun has begun and if you love watching people play videos games fast and supporting incredible charities, this for you. You know, even if that might not sound like it’s your thing I’d recommend clicking the play button above to give a random speedrun a few minutes.

Summer Games Done Quick donations go to support Doctors Without Borders which is a fantastic charity that brings medical help to the places in the world that are in need. So if you have a few minutes to watch some fun runs and a few bucks to chip in make sure you do!

Summer Games Done Quick runs from July 4th - 10th.

https://gamesdonequick.com/
... Read All

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 07/08/2021 at 07:43am

Charity is definitely cool. This particularly catches my interest, because of GTA3. I really loved that game when it came out. I couldn't get enough of it. I had played a little bit of GTA and/or GTA2, but GTA3 really put the game in the spotlight for me. I enjoyed Vice City and San Andreas, too, when they came out. There were some GTA games for the PSP, too, which I also enjoyed. Although, I never did get my hands on Chinatown Wars.

I liked GTA4 and it's expansion packs, but I've only completed all three once on PS3. It was probably the first or at least among the first games I bought when I got my PS3. I have it on Steam now and I did start playing it at one time, but I didn't play it very long. Looking at it now, Steam says I've spent just less than 3 hours playing it. I had it installed recently, but uninstalled it since I hadn't gotten to it, found other games to play instead, and needed the storage space (my SSD is only 1TB, unlike the 2TB HDD I had for the Alienware, which unfortunately both the PC and HDD died two years ago).

Now we have GTA5 and it blew away everything else. I imagine it has to be the most popular in the series and even almost 7 years later, it remains popular. I imagine this could be in part because it was released for the next generation of consoles. That was nice, too, because it got some improvements.

Part of it's continued popularity probably also has to do with GTA Online. I played GTAO a little bit, but I was turned off by it, because of other players. It wouldn't take long for someone to kill you once you stepped out of your residence. I revisited GTAO last year, because there was a quest you could do which rewarded you with a special gun for Red Dead Redemption 2. Once I finished that, I was done with it.

Back to this, it's interesting. I still wonder how someone could speed run through the game and a simple search on Google tells me it's been done in about an hour. Wow! I didn't look into the details of how that's been done, but I still find that amazing.

I'm glad these modern GTA games are on Steam, I have them all, though I haven't played them much. I'd still like to go back and play some of them again. I remember trying to replay San Andreas when I got it on Steam, but I had an issue with the mission where you have to use the hydraulics on your car. The controls just didn't seem to work, but I later read how you're supposed to do it.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share my thoughts. I'm interested to know what anyone else here thinks about this and the series in general.

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.

Godzilla Singular Point Spoiler-Free Review

I was aware of Godzilla Singular Point before it was released, but I had forgotten about it until I wrote about Star Wars Visions. Star Wars Visions is an anime series coming to Disney+ this September (22nd), while Godzilla Singular Point is an anime series currently out on Netflix. Luckily, this was released globally not too long ago (Japan got it first), so my timing was about right.

The series (or first season) is 13 half hour episodes and I “binge watched” them, which I think is a great way to watch many shows. This is a TOHO production, which is the company that created Godzilla along with almost all of the Godzilla movies. They also created many other kaiju... Read All I was aware of Godzilla Singular Point before it was released, but I had forgotten about it until I wrote about Star Wars Visions. Star Wars Visions is an anime series coming to Disney+ this September (22nd), while Godzilla Singular Point is an anime series currently out on Netflix. Luckily, this was released globally not too long ago (Japan got it first), so my timing was about right.

The series (or first season) is 13 half hour episodes and I “binge watched” them, which I think is a great way to watch many shows. This is a TOHO production, which is the company that created Godzilla along with almost all of the Godzilla movies. They also created many other kaiju movies that didn’t feature Godzilla. I really love TOHO, because I really love Godzilla. I also really love the theme music for Godzilla and Mothra (the benevolent moth seen in some Godzilla movies, though she also stars in her own movies). Godzilla and Mothra’s music are very recognizable and I absolutely love them both. I also really love the sound of Godzilla’s roar, which is pretty much the same as it is in all the other TOHO productions. Godzilla’s roar is different in the recent Legendary movies, which I found disappointing.

Godzilla isn’t the only kaiju featured. In fact, we don’t see Godzilla for a few episodes. Rodan, the pterasaur, is the first kaiju we get to see and hearing it’s roar reminded me of watching the movies in which it appeared. That sound was the same and I really loved it! It appears frequently. Jet Jaguar is a giant robot from Godzilla Vs. Megalon, which is it’s only appearance. It also makes an appearance and is pretty much the star of the show, along with the humans. Jet Jaguar goes through an evolution, though not quite like another star of the show (“spoilers!” so I’ll be nice and not reveal that). There are other kaiju as well including Anguiris, the ankylosaurus-looking kaiju and Manda, the underwater dragon. Another named Salunga appears to be Gabara with a redesign and new name. There is one final character in the post-credits scene, but that is another spoiler I won’t reveal here.

I’ve come to realize that just because Godzilla is in something, doesn’t mean it’s great. I’ve watched and re-watched Godzilla movies and have come to the opinion that some of them are horrible, while others are fantastic. Even if a Godzilla movie isn’t great, the parts that directly feature Godzilla are and kind of make them worth watching. It’s kind of hard to pinpoint how I feel about Godzilla Singular Point. I’m not sure I’d call it fantastic, but I’m not sure I’d call it horrible either. The kaiju parts of it are definitely awesome. I was immediately impressed with the visual fidelity. The first part that really stood out to me was light. It wasn’t just basic cartoon-ish, bland light, but it looked realistic and very well made. However, I think the story was a bit too complex. I think it goes to an extreme to explain how these kaiju have shown up. It’s based on some very complex science including dimensional and temporal physics. Yes, time travel is part of it. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it. My favorite human character is probably the old man that is the head of the company that built Jet Jaguar. He also pilots Jet Jaguar in the beginning.

While the series did seem to come to a finale at the end, watching the post-credits scene makes me believe that there may be more to come. If there is a season two, I’ll definitely watch it.

I think if you like anime and/or Godzilla, this might be for you. I love Godzilla, so everything Godzilla is for me. I don’t have anything against anime, I’m just not super in to it. Although there is plenty of anime I’ve seen that I love like The Animatrix (watch if you’re a fan of the Matrix), the Dragonball series, Pokemon, some Final Fantasy, and others. I was very glad that they made an English dub as I’m not fond of subtitles. I thought the voice acting was good. One of the voices in the series reminded me of the World of Final Fantasy game, though I have positive and negative feelings about it.

Feel free to let me know if this is something you’re into. Let me know if you’ve seen it and tell me what you thought about it.

Star Wars Visions Coming to Disney+ 9/22/21

I just learned about Star Wars Visions by watching a couple of videos, I've embedded one so you can take a look. This is a series of anime and all of them will be released on 9/22 (the day before my birthday!). One interesting and memorable story I heard about was a droid who dreams of being a Jedi. I think that premise is incredibly original, something I never thought of.

It's great to see things being added to the Star Wars universe. Star Wars is like the gift that keeps on giving. I could say the same about Disney+, which I've been quite impressed by with Marvel's shows (WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and Loki) along with Star Wars The Bad Batch.

I'm... Read All

Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Starting July 28 2021

So, I just found out about "Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster." I watched the embedded video. Honestly, my thought is, "how many times are they going to port these original FF games?" I realize now we're talking "remaster" instead of "port," but I think my point is the same. I've played all or almost all of the FF games in the list given in the video (FFI-VI) numerous times on many different platforms. I have the original FF NES cart along with the original FF II & III SNES carts. I have different copies of the FFII and FFIII ports, though these games are confusing as they are also FFIV & VI. I have the ones that came out for PS1 and DS. Not only that, but I also... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 07/05/2021 at 04:23am

I think this is a really good idea. Taking an old pixel game and putting into the proper aspect ratio for your device and TV is a really nice upgrade. That said, there are a lot of version of some of these games, such as Final Fantasy IV has the SNES US, SNES JP and GBA versions and they are all different. So I’m wondering what versions they consider canonical, I suppose if it was me it would be the GBA version but some might consider the SNES US version as that’s what they remember.

Regardless of which versions they plan to pixel remaster, I prefer this approach to re-releasing the classics because its closer to what the original games were as opposed to the remakes which can vary wildly in quality. I have heard that some of the text is hard to see in these versions and that’s something for them to consider but I give a strong thumbs up to pixel remakes of all classic games.

I think Blizzard and Double Fine also did something other companies should copy which is they have the classic version you can swap to on the fly OR play the updated graphical version. It’s harder to do for sure but it’s a better way to do it as it gives you both versions to decide which you want to play.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/05/2021 at 09:38am

Yeah, it is nice, I'm just overwhelmed with how many times they've released or ported these games. As I said, it's like how many times do I have to buy the same game? Again, as I said, I'm not too fond of the bundle price. Yeah, it seems reasonable to pay less than $20 for each of these and it makes sense that putting them all together adds up significantly. So, I guess my fondness of the bundle price isn't quite logical. Still, I'm sure some day the bundle will get a major discount and be well worth it, most likely during a summer or winter sale. I am surprised these aren't going to be an EGS exclusive, since that's what they did with Kingdom Hearts and it appears they're going to do it with FF7 Remake (more on that in the next paragraph).

I do like remasters as well, they are the same games we know and love just with a nice facelift. Other than the fact that it's not on PC (Steam) yet, I haven't jumped on to the FF 7 Remake train, because I'm a bit put off by the changes that were made. I believe I saw or read that there are ghosts in this version, which were not there in the original. The original was great. It's kind of like the phrase, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Still, it seems to be really popular and it seems it may be coming to PC eventually. I read it's listed in the Epic Games Store database, which is a hint that it's coming to EGS. My guess is it's going to be an exclusive for a while. Part of my reasoning for this assumption is because that's just how EGS rolls, which is something I'm not fond of. Another part of that reasoning is that the Kingdom Hearts remasters are there, but not yet on Steam. I appreciate other companies getting in to the business and all, but I can't help that I want all of my games in one place and I really like Steam. Granted, if Steam goes away, so does all of the games I've collected with it, which is many more than any other platform.

I agree with you, I like the ability to switch between "classic" and remastered graphics. Even though I'll probably always choose the remastered version, it's nice to have that ability, especially for players who want that option. Plus, it's interesting to see how a developer has improved a game's graphics. I experienced this with the Command & Conquer remaster.

Oh and I don't believe this is coming to consoles, but I think it should. I think it would be good so that everyone who wants to experience this early FF history has a chance to. I think it could get more sales. Plus, these were originally console games, so it seems to only make sense. I don't think these games (or at least most of them) are very well known and popular, not like FF7 anyway. There are probably other FF fans out there that would like to be able to get their hands on this.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/22/2021 at 08:28am

I just found out that this will come to other platforms if enough people request it. I'm not sure how to go about that though. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-pixel-remaster-collection-could-come-to-other-platforms-if-enough-people-request-it/1100-6494244/

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.

Microsoft Windows 11 Announced

I read a couple of articles recently about Windows 11. There was a project called Windows 10X. It was scrapped, but appears to have found it's way in Windows 11. The new OS features a more "modern" look with a centered task bar. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I think I'll have to see it for myself to decide.

It looks like Vista's gadgets will be making a comeback as widgets. I liked these, so I'm looking forward to possibly checking them out again.

I just found another article confirming that this is a free upgrade coming towards the end of the year. See: https://www.cnet.com/news/microsofts-windows-11-reveal-event-every-upgrade-announced/

There are a variety of... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/24/2021 at 10:22pm

Very relevant to gaming, promoted to main.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/24/2021 at 10:58pm

Thanks. Yeah, it is relevant to gaming. There are parts of this regarding gaming and performance, which are mentioned. Thanks for the promo. :)

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/25/2021 at 03:16pm

I don't know. Part if me loves technology evolving, but I'm dreading the possible compatibility issues with software at work lol

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/25/2021 at 11:50pm

I believe I read something in the last two or three weeks about this and it doesn't seem like it's a major overhaul, so I doubt compatibility issues are going to be a big problem. I could be wrong, though.

I found out the new system requirements. You'll need an 8th gen Intel or Ryzen 2000. The clock speed is still 1Ghz. You'll also need 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage space. You'll also need a DirectX12 GPU and at least 720p. There are a couple of tools mentioned at the end of this article to help you figure out if your PC is compatible: https://www.pcworld.com/article/3622940/windows-11-system-hardware-requirements.html

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/26/2021 at 11:24pm

Compatibility issues are always a problem when it comes to Autodesk products lol. But hopefully it won't be too bad!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/27/2021 at 12:03am

Hopefully! I don't have experience with Autodesk, so good luck! :) Are you going to upgrade your PC?

I certainly will, though I'm not quite too sure about the visual parts of it. I feel like having a centered task bar would be weird and take some getting used to. I am, however, very much looking forward to the DirectStorage feature and hoping I notice a performance boost. Auto HDR looks nice, but I don't have a compatible HDR monitor.

I am glad they're giving this free to those of us running Windows 10. Paying just over $100 for it was enough. I love adopting the new Windows versions, but getting them for free is quite a bonus.

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/27/2021 at 03:31am

I’ll most likely upgrade for free but not right away.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/29/2021 at 04:47am

MS says with DirectStorage "games can quickly load assets to the graphics card without bogging down the CPU." So, shorter load times. But, you'll have to have the game running on an NVME SSD to work with this. Plus, you'll need a DirectX12 GPU.

The OS will require TPM 2.0. Not all motherboards have this feature, which will require users to buy a piece of hardware so they can run the OS. You can check if you have it by running the command "tpm.msc" or you can find it under Settings>System>About>BitLocker Settings. I did the latter first and it took me to the MS Store to upgrade from Home to Pro edition (which I don't plan to do). The first option worked, but told me I didn't have it. So, I probably won't be an early adopter of Windows 11.

I may have to think about this more. Things may change before it releases, so we'll see.

I found this "new to me" stuff by watching this video: "Windows 11 GAMING: 10 Things You NEED TO KNOW" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-64g8AiD00

You can find more about the TPM 2.0 requirement here: https://www.pcmag.com/news/what-is-a-tpm-and-why-do-i-need-one-for-windows-11

Travis Admin wrote on 06/30/2021 at 02:12pm

Yeah I’ve seen some speculation that, while they said before that Windows 10 would be the last version of Windows and that they’d be building on that from here on, they bumped the version because of the TPM 2.0 requirement since they can’t guarantee compatibility.

There’s also the hypothesis that they introduced the 2.0 requirement to sell more PCs and get more money from new licenses that way.

It’s all speculation of course. For technical minded folks it’s usually going to be easy to add a TPM 2 module to their older motherboard. Laptops are a whole other thing though.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/30/2021 at 06:33pm

Well, since I wrote that comment, I've been working on looking into these new requirements. I think I might do it. I found out my motherboard has a TPM header, but I don't know enough about the tech, so I don't know what kind of module to buy. I've sent in a question to ASRock, the manufacturer of my motherboard, to find out if they have any recommendations. I noticed the header is 17 pins, but I found at least one (ASRock actually) module that's 13. Hopefully, they'll get back to me on that, though it looked like most or all modules on Amazon were sold out.

As for NVME, I found out I could get a NVME version of my SSD for about $120. I don't think that's too bad, I guess. I need to look into that tech more, too. I thought NVME was faster, but from what I've seen of their speeds, it looks like they're the same. My SSD is attached via SATA, but I know the NVME attaches directly to the motherboard.

As for all the speculation, I haven't read any of it. It's just my assumption that they're requiring TPM 2.0 so that computers are more secure.

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/30/2021 at 08:07pm

I haven’t really looked into the TPM but last time Microsoft wanted to bake this into Windows, at the time it was called “Trusted Computing” (not too different than TPM) the Internet flipped their shit. Now it seems, no one cares? Unless the reason now is to avoid hacking using hardware encryption and not locking you out of your shit. But I’m not sure, maybe that was what Trusted Computing was and we just over reacted.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/30/2021 at 09:20pm

So, I got a reply from ASRock. It's lame, because they just sent me a pic that shows TPM 2.0 specifications. At the bottom it says, "not supported with Intel 8 and 9 series chipsets." This is very disappointing. I built this PC 2 years ago. I have no idea how many people have 10th or 11th gen CPUS. I have an i7-8700 and on a separate list, I did see my CPU listed as compatible with Win11, but with this TPM info (assuming it is correct), then it isn't. It seems confusing. If all of this is true, then I most certainly hope MS gets a load of backlash for it and removes the requirement. Otherwise, I can't imagine many people upgrading. If they don't remove it, then I won't be able to upgrade unless I upgrade my motherboard and CPU, which is pretty much most definitely not going to happen. Those two items are not on my list of things I want to upgrade soon. Still, I might get a NVME just to see if there's a performance boost. Ark is still a very hardware demanding game.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/30/2021 at 09:49pm

Looks like I don't know much about NVME either. I have a Western Digital SSD connected via SATA III. I found an NVME exactly like it. Both have the same speeds, so I was confused. So, I went through the list of NVMEs compatible with my motherboard and learned. NVMEs are to SSDs are what SSDs are to HDDs. NVMEs are much faster and more expensive. It seems you could get a 1TB SSD (SATA) for over $100, but an NVME of 512GB is going to cost a bit more than that.

I miss the 2TB HDD I had with the Alienware, but it died. I now have the 1TB SSD and it's almost half full. I want my OS and games all on the same drive, so a 512GB NVME doesn't seem like it would be good enough, unless I got extremely serious about how much storage space I'm using. Since I now only have that 1TB, I don't keep a lot of games installed. I do have an old HDD I am using for other things like documents and other random files, including those files I've downloaded to install programs like Steam, Java, Chrome, etc.

I'll have to think on this more.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/01/2021 at 08:09pm

The more I read, the worse it looks to me. I just read an article (shared below) about how many PCs aren't going to be compatible with Win11. Basically, the security features affect performance negatively. Older CPUs and even some newer ones apparently aren't up to the task. While having the security features on creates negative performance, users can turn the features off to get a performance boost.

Also, the article points out the security improvements AMD and Intel have made in their CPUs. The difference between CPU generations isn't completely about cores.

"Why Windows 11 is Leaving So Many PCs Behind": https://www.pcworld.com/article/3623713/why-windows-11-is-leaving-so-many-pcs-behind.html

jdodson Admin wrote on 07/01/2021 at 09:20pm

Right away, there doesn’t seem to be a big reason to upgrade to Windows 11. A lot of PC’s may very well be left behind and that might be ok? For instance, some folks tend to buy all new PC’s every so and so years so that might work out in the end. Some PC’s might never go to Windows 11 which might be ok given that a lot of games won’t require it for quite some time.

jdodson Admin wrote on 07/01/2021 at 09:22pm

I have an old PC kicking around that’s still on Windows 7. I use it to dual boot into Linux and it’s primarily a Linux file store and I use it to rsync files to my NAS. I’m also trying to build a Windows 98SE PC so in the end, I think it’s kind of neat some machines stay at older version of operating systems. Then again, I play a lot of retro games too so… yeah.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/01/2021 at 11:11pm

Wow! I was talking to someone recently and she mentioned someone that won't upgrade from Win7. I loved Win7. It may have been one of my most favorites, but I've loved them all (95 and up).

98SE? LOL I remember that, too! Was that one that people hated? I don't know, I think there are lots of people who hate every version ("haters gonna hate"). I think it's because they get used to one and don't want to have to "relearn" how to use a new version. This doesn't apply to me at all, though. Sure, I might have to figure out where some things have been relocated, but I don't see that as a problem.

It's cool you're running a Linux file store, though I don't know much about that. I also don't know much about NAS. You and Travis definitely have IT expertise that I don't, but that's ok, it makes me respect you more. LOL

Travis Admin wrote on 07/02/2021 at 12:21am

Greg you're thinking about Windows ME that was a crashfest lol. Man it was rough. I even thought Vista was ok when it came out but ME was something else.

Sadly my only Linux box right now is my Raspberry Pi NAS. I need to set up a dual boot so I can try out the Steam Proton improvements.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/02/2021 at 12:41am

Yeah, I remember WinME was a crash/horrorfest. I think I still liked it though. One version that stands out to me in my memory is Windows 96. It was cancelled, but I remember trying it out.

Travis Admin wrote on 07/02/2021 at 08:50pm

I had to look that one up

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Nashville

Travis Admin wrote on 07/02/2021 at 08:51pm

I used to love running early builds. I used the midpoint between Windows 2000 and Windows XP as a daily driver for a while. It was shockingly stable.

Travis Admin wrote on 07/02/2021 at 08:53pm

Whistler! That's what it was called:

https://b00merang.weebly.com/uploads/1/6/8/1/16813022/windows-whistler-2_1_orig.png

I also used Longhorn for a while between XP and Vista. I loved the interface at the time

https://betawiki.net/images/9/97/WindowsLonghorn-6.0.3718-Desktop.png

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/02/2021 at 09:08pm

I looked up Win96, too, just to be sure my memory wasn't fooling me or that it was fake. Now that you mention it, Whistler and Longhorn seem familiar.

jdodson Admin wrote on 07/05/2021 at 04:24am

I didn’t have too hard a time with Windows ME as I think I had hardware that worked really well with it. But, Windows 98SE did seem to have a much larger set of hardware compatibility.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/12/2021 at 09:12pm

If you want to run Windows 11, but are worried about the system and hardware requirements (including TPM, UEFI, and Secure Boot), you may not have to worry at all. There are currently ways to bypass many of the OS's requirements. Hopefully Microsoft doesn't prevent these bypasses, but we won't know until Windows 11 is released. Check out this informative video from Linus Tech Tips to learn more: https://youtu.be/NivpAiuh-s0

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 10/04/2021 at 11:23pm

We're a day away from release, but is Windows 11 worth the upgrade? I found a good, thorough review and the conclusion doesn't look good for Win11. If you're thinking about upgrading, you might want to read this article. If you're hesitant about upgrading then I suggest waiting and not jumping into it, at least not for now. There are many things wrong with it, especially the strict hardware requirements that most users probably will not have and thus don't have compatible computers. Even the gamer "goodies" require extra hardware. To give it a look yourself, check out this review I found: https://www.pcworld.com/article/539183/windows-11-review-an-unnecessary-replacement-for-windows-10.html

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/05/2021 at 02:49am

I'll check that out, thanks Greg. I don't plan on upgrading but will buy a new PC in the next handful of years. I imagine when I do it will come with Windows 11 unless Steam Decks new game Wine wrapper is so great I don't need to.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 10/05/2021 at 04:57am

There are parts I really want to upgrade in my PC and I've already upgraded some of them recently, but I don't even want to think about a new one. This one's only 2 years old and I'm still happy with it. I just wish for a much better GPU and monitor.

The article is a bit long, but I think it does a good job showing off the features of Windows 11 and how well they do or don't work. I'd say it's worth reading, especially if you're interested in upgrading. Even if you're definitely planning to upgrade, it's still good to know what to expect especially since expectation may not be met.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 10/07/2021 at 06:49am

Interesting. Microsoft now has a guide to install Windows 11 without TPM 2.0. It seems your computer still needs to be compatible with TPM 1.2. If you're interested in this story check out this link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shows-how-to-bypass-tpm-2-0-requirement-for-windows-11/1100-6496853/

Travis Admin wrote on 10/07/2021 at 01:58pm

I upgraded on the 4th, they released it a day early. I made a backup just in case it was bug-ridden or anything happened.

But the upgrade was just like each of the major windows 10 upgrades, it just has a new coat of paint now.

I’m sort of nonplussed about the whole thing. I don’t really prefer either. It’s just… fine I guess? If you’re used to Windows 10 it’s not majorly different.

I’m glad they’re opening it up for tpm 1.2

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 10/07/2021 at 06:58pm

Thanks, Travis! I was told by ASRock that my CPU (i7 8700) isn't compatible with TPM 2.0, so I gave up. I have a TPM module slot, but I can't easily figure out if my CPU and motherboard are 1.2 compatible. I'd probably have to search longer that I want to at the moment.

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/09/2021 at 04:40am

Anyone know if there is a free upgrade Window we _have_ to upgrade by or lose it? Like with what they did from Windows 7 -> 10?

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 10/09/2021 at 08:05am

Not that I'm aware of without "Googling" it. I believe they intend to fully support Windows 10 up until 2025 though.

Travis Admin wrote on 10/09/2021 at 04:18pm

They claimed that was the case but you can still use windows 7 and 8 product keys to install Windows 10. Kind of a not very popularized option but it still works.

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/09/2021 at 06:53pm

Oh, I didn’t know that. Interesting, thanks Travis.

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.

Valve Is Working on a Portable Switch-like Gaming PC: the SteamPal

Ars Technica has an exclusive preview of what may come with the SteamPal, but in short, imagine the GPD Win types of handheld PCs, but with docking capability similar to the Switch and Steam Controller features.

It currently appears to be targeting Linux, which makes sense considering how much work Valve has put into its Wine distribution, Proton, making gaming on Linux *far* easier than it has ever been.

I hope there are some high end and low end entry points for this, as I could imagine using it for Steam Remote Play Anywhere, sitting in my car at lunch playing some games streamed from my PC at home, or as a full-on powerful device in its own right.

While I'm glad the... Read All

The New Zelda Game And Watch Isn't Quite A Gameboy Classic, But It Will Do

During Nintendo's E3 Nintendo Direct we got word of a few Zelda game bits most notably Breath of the Wild 2 is coming next year and Nintendo will release a Zelda game and watch this November. If you remember I picked up the Super Mario Bros. Game and Watch and love it. Do I have Super Mario Bros. already? Yeah, yeah of course, but it's fun to get old games in new forms and I never had the old Mario Game and Watch so why not this one? Apparently Nintendo wanted to do one better in that the Zelda Game and Watch which seems to take the original concept and kick up a few notches. Not only does it come with The Legend of Zelda but also The Adventure of Link and the... Read All

E3 In 2021 So Far: Microsoft Is Game Pass

With Sony not involved in E3 this year as well as the continuing effects of COVID have caused this years event to be very different. E3 always seemed to be overstuffed with gaming news but with this one it seems like all the announcements have been at a sustainable clip. E3 always felt like a fire hose and this year it's more like a fun lawn sprinkler that's out in the yard just the right amount of time. I'm going to lightly cover some fun bits and if you saw something you wanted to mention, drop it in the comments.

Halo Infinite

I'm not sure how, but Halo Infinite multiplayer looks a bit more interesting than the brief single player they showed. I'm still quite excited... Read All

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 06/14/2021 at 03:41am

Thanks for posting this! I was thinking of making a general post about some E3 things I found interesting. I did see that Starfield trailer. I found some other things, though, so I'll share those links below.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (remember Tiny Tina is from Borderlands): https://youtu.be/gUmZEFjmPlk

The Outer Worlds 2 (funny trailer): https://youtu.be/dpY3B9Sesgw

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: https://youtu.be/swURMAREhOQ

Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin is interesting as it goes back to the first game in the series: https://youtu.be/XltPKOYQDHY

And in case you missed it from my comment in another post, here's the Diablo II Resurrected Street Date Trailer: https://youtu.be/DttPBtsZ5fc

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/14/2021 at 03:42am

Diablo II Resurrected looks very exciting. As I said in the other thread I'm not sure which version I am going to get but with cross platform saves maybe it doesn't matter?

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 06/14/2021 at 03:43am

As I said in that other thread "PC Master Race!" LOL

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 06/14/2021 at 09:40am

Oh and there's some cool Far Cry 6 coverage, too. I haven't watched all of it, but this trailer is interesting (especially after seeing Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian, which is the only role I've seen him play): https://youtu.be/QQtaY_xKejo

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 06/15/2021 at 09:39pm

Metroid Dread!

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 06/16/2021 at 06:25am

Diablo 2: Resurrected available for pre-order: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-2-resurrected-is-up-for-preorder-new-bundle-available/1100-6492817/

I wish I had a Switch (the powerful one), because...(see below)

Breath of the Wild 2: https://youtu.be/fNAhxl0uYQw

Metroid 5 aka Metroid Dread. I had no idea what Will_Ball was talking about, but I found this trailer. It's like classic Metroid side scrolling with modern high quality graphics and some new abilities and such. Coming 10/8/21: https://youtu.be/4tYzveufd9Q

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity's Pulse Of The Ancients DLC Coming June 18 For Nintendo Switch: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hyrule-warriors-age-of-calamitys-pulse-of-the-ancients-dlc-coming-june-18-for-nintendo-switch/1100-6492877/

Both available for pre-order.

(Geez, how many times have I deleted this comment to add more to it? LOL)

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 07/16/2021 at 09:25am

BTW here's what's up w/ the new look of Samus's Power Suit in Dread: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-explains-samus-new-suit-in-metroid-dread/1100-6493978/

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation

My childhood just came rushing back!

I had *all* the He-Man toys (probably nowhere near "all" lol) as a kid, but eventually gave them away to a neighbor kid... and then would go over to his house and play with the toys with him lol.

I LOVE He-Man, and this trailer looks so good! I will definitely be watching this on Netflux next month!

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 06/11/2021 at 09:25pm

Wow, my childhood came rushing back, too! "After 40 years" though? Wikipedia says He-Man came out in '83 and I'm 41 (I was born in '79 and will be 42 in a few months), some how this math doesn't seem to add up (and I suck at math). I thought I saw something about this while reading the daily news at GameFAQs.com (GameSpot). Thanks for sharing, this looks cool! I also like the music in the video! Oh and I also still have some He-man action figures (along with others like TMNT), I've seen them recently.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 06/11/2021 at 10:06pm

Kevin Smith is showrunner on this.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 06/11/2021 at 10:43pm

> Kevin Smith is showrunner on this.

Awesome!!!

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/14/2021 at 03:51am

Somehow He-Man looks more ripped in 2021? Will the new season address his possible steroid use?

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 06/14/2021 at 04:30pm

He has been lifting battlecat.

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/14/2021 at 05:30pm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cringer_kitten.jpg

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 07/03/2021 at 01:51am

Check out this video I just watched with some awesome details about the show! I'm mostly impressed with the cast, which includes Mark Hamill as Skeletor along with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alicia Silverstone, which are two that I haven't seen or heard about in a very long time. There are other well known cast members, too! Oh another point, is that the composer has worked on Walking Dead (which I've never seen and have no interest in), Battlestar Galactica (the reboot that I loved), and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (something else I loved). https://youtu.be/CclUI4iI7xM

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 08/20/2021 at 05:04am

There's also another CG animated He-Man and the Masters of the Universe show coming to Netflix. It doesn't star our familiar He-Man characters, though some of them look similar. You can check out the trailer here: https://youtu.be/ZXApnj-ztIE

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/25/2021 at 12:22am

*My non-spoiler thoughts I wanted to share.*

There are currently only 5 episodes with 5 more to come, although their release hasn't been announced yet. I really enjoyed it and seeing the characters again after so very many years. It brought back some fond childhood memories. It reminded me of the action figures my cousin and I used to collect, some of which I believe I still have. Of course, it reminded me of the cartoon we used to watch.

Mark Hamill is an excellent Skeletor. He's done a fabulous job not only as an live-action actor, but also a voice actor. The Joker is a character he often voices and Skeletor definitely sounds just like him, which I think is perfect. The rest of the cast is great, too. My ears didn't quite recognize Alicia Silverstone, but that could be because Queen Marlena doesn't play a major role, she speaks little. Sarah Michelle Gellar's voice for Leena is very recognizable and I really enjoyed hearing her again. It's been maybe about a decade since I've heard her voice since bingeing Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Liam Cunningham's name isn't as familiar, but his voice for Man-At-Arms makes him recognizable. At first I thought it was Liam Neeson. I think it's an interesting coincidence that both actors share the first name and to me sound very similar. However, if you watched Game of Thrones, you'll recognize the voice of Liam Cunningham. He played Davos Seaworth.

Some of the show is what I call "corny" although "cringe-worthy" I'd say is another term for the same thing. If you don't like puns, then beware there are plenty of them.

I don't want to give away spoilers, so I'll just say that the first episode was shocking. I had to verify that I had watched the first episode, you'll see why. The last episode leaves us on a cliff hanger and I am most definitely looking forward to watching more. I'm still curious about the fate of one character, whether or not it's actually final because I doubt it.

I'd say this show is definitely a good one for those of us who grew up enjoying the classic He-Man cartoon and action figures. I can't say whether or not someone unfamiliar with He-Man would like it.

If you watched this, let me know what you think about it. Let me know if you also grew up w/ He-Man.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 10/25/2021 at 02:58pm

Loved it. I have almost watched the first 5 two times through. Need to finish up the second viewing.

BTW, 2nd part got announced as coming out on Nov 23rd.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/25/2021 at 07:37pm

I'm glad you loved it, too. Thanks for the announcement. Wow, November's looking like a good month (here's hoping my state's election goes the way I voted).

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/25/2021 at 07:54pm

Of I forgot to say "arigato Mr. Roboto."

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/26/2021 at 04:34am

Kevin Smoth He-man was great. Honestly didn’t expect it to be as awesome as it was. Really looking forward to part two and I enjoyed what they did in the first season.

That said, I get why some fans didn’t like it. It focuses on other characters and gives the show immediate stakes, which makes it seem fresh. It really feels like a new show and I know it upset some folks but new isn’t always bad.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/26/2021 at 05:24am

Hm, well my world is pretty isolated, I'm not aware of what anyone else thought other than you and Will_Ball. My only guess for people not enjoying it is because they didn't grow up w/ He-Man like we did. I think I see your point, though. The show seemed to be focused on He-Man much less, which is perhaps why his name isn't even in the title. I'm glad you enjoyed it, too.

Also, I thought it was cool how it actually did tie to the original series. It was admitted that Skeletor kept trying and failing and I think even he recognized that and finally did something about it. I thought it did seem like a continuation or evolution of the original.

There's a CG show of the same world, but it's geared more towards kids and doesn't look interesting to me.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 10/26/2021 at 02:56pm

Some people thought it was too woke. Other people did not like how he-man was used and felt Kevin Smith lied about the show.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/26/2021 at 07:51pm

Really? "Woke?" Wow, people are getting really offended with that and I can't understand why. I'm confused, too, because my understanding of the term means becoming aware of racial inequality, but I didn't see that happening at all in the show. In fact, all the humans were white. What exactly did Kevin Smith lie about? Ah well, ya know, it doesn't matter what others think of something, if you enjoy something for yourself that's all that matters. You can't please everyone, clearly.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 10/26/2021 at 11:31pm

Woke in this case as putting the woman in the center rather than the man.

As for what Kevin "lied" about, I will have to be abstract, to avoid spoilers. Prior to the show coming out there were rumors that one character was sidelined. Kevin said that the character was in every episode. Technically Kevin was right, but there is some wiggle room here between what the fans were mad about and what Kevin was saying.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/26/2021 at 11:50pm

Ah, right, I guess "woke" isn't specifically racial. I can see how it applies generally to equality.

I see what you're saying about the "lie." That's a good observation. Perhaps people were expecting something much more like that classic cartoon, but instead we got something a bit more modern. Perhaps it has an unexpected focus. I guess it just flew over my head, because I didn't care, it didn't matter to me at all. I enjoyed it. I think the next 5 episodes might be closer to what others were expecting.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 10/27/2021 at 04:07pm

Trailer for part 2: https://twitter.com/NetflixGeeked/status/1453391066741329930

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/27/2021 at 04:21pm

Sweet! That looks truly epic!

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/29/2021 at 04:37am

Neat!

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.