Cheerful Ghost: An Awesome Community For Gamers

Digital Foundry Retro Covers The Epic History of Tetris!

If I was making a desert island list of games Tetris would top the list. Tetris has a very simple premise yet the core gameplay is wildly fun and hard to master. Many of you might not know but Tetris was created in Russia and that fact led to its very rocky start. DF Retro has an excellent doc video that covers all of the games historical beats including its launch on Gameboy, which was the first time I ever played it.

"DF Retro returns with a visual tour through the history of Tetris. From 1984 to 2018, John examines nearly 30 versions of Tetris across multiple generations of consoles!"

What Do You Want Peter? The New Spider-Man: Far From Home Trailer Shows The Post Endgame MCU

The new Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer isn't new by any stretch but I decided to post it here after Avengers: Endgame has had more time at the box office because this new trailer contains more than a few Endgame spoilers. I'm not going to talk about the implications of the trailer here, but if you want to discuss all of that, let's have at it in the comments.

All that said, I wasn't sure if I was going to be interested in the MCU in a post Endgame world and it seems from this trailer, I am. I'm not sure if this is an opening night film, but something I will want to see in theaters for sure. What about you?

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/08/2019 at 04:48am

I'm 100% buying into the hype. Spider-Man is one of my favorite characters, so I was already planning on seeing this, but after seeing this trailer, this became an opening night movie for me. I will probably avoid any more trailers now!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/08/2019 at 03:23pm

That's a really good idea

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/08/2019 at 10:40pm

At 1:53 in the video, behind Mysterio, it looks like there's some furry dude, and behind Peter, it looks like someone with horns. Might it be some European festival that's going, or perhaps a multi-dimensional bar where they're talking? It seems odd that Mysterio and Peter would be at a bar without masks on... or I could just be seeing things lol

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 05/09/2019 at 10:56pm

I am still all in with the MCU

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/10/2019 at 03:54pm

🕷🕸

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Before Donkey Kong Country There Was Sega Aladdin!

Aladdin on the Sega Genesis only had a six month development window but what shipped was an incredible platformer worthy of the legendary cartoon. Ben Paddon takes a look at the game as well as the other ports surrounding it as well as how Virgin Games worked alongside Disney animators to make the game look incredible. The Aladdin game was Directed by David Perry who went on to mastermind Earthworm Jim as well as a host of other classic titles and Ben talks about that and how the game engine of Aladdin was used in a lot his work and beyond.

The Design of FTL & Into The Breach

FTL: Faster Than Light is one of those games I'll be playing here and there until I'm a grey beard and the followup Into The Breach is just as incredible looking, I just haven't played it yet. I'm holding out hope that it will come to the Switch and until then I'm a fan from the sidelines. Noclip, the amazing purveyors of YouTube game documentaries recently caught up with Subset Games at GDC and filmed a design discussion of FTL and Into the Breach. It's a good teardown of both games and how developers Justin & Matthew got their start in the industry.

The Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Trailer Looks Incredibly Campy

There is quite a bit one could say about the new Sonic the Hedgehog trailer but I want to focus my thoughts down to one basic thought. I love campy movies. Movies that are intentionally or unintentionally made with a nod and wink that revel in the underlying silliness of the premise can be some of the coolest theater experiences. The first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog seems to hat tip to the fact that this movie is gonna dial the camp factor to 11. Also, I wasn't interested in this film until I saw Jim Carrey doing his "Ace Ventura but with a bit more restraint thing" and I absolutely love it. Perhaps I'm a soulless nostalgia zombie tethered always to the 90's. Or... Read All

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/02/2019 at 01:56pm

I think the problem with Sonic is that he looks like a mascot, or someone wearing a Sonic track suit. I can't get part how bad he looks in this.

But, the effects look like they'll be cool, and the sounds are perfect. Jim Carrey was my hero growing up, and he does have a lot of Ace vibes in this role, so maybe that'll eventually draw me in. My guess is this probably ends up on Netflix quickly, and I'll see it then.

Travis Admin wrote on 05/02/2019 at 04:17pm

Honestly I like campy movies and so-good-it's-bad movies so when this hits streaming services it may be worth a peek.

It's interesting though that a lot of people are saying that the saving grace of the trailer was Jim Carrey, and maybe he was, but the one thing holding me back from that is that Ace Ventura style Jim Carrey. Those movies are nails-on-a-chalkboard levels for me. I LOVE most of his work, and he's clearly a genius at what he does. Truman Show, Man on the Moon, The Majestic, he can play funny and heartfelt really well at the same time which can't be easy. And I loved Liar Liar, in college my roommate and I watched that like once a month. Even The Cable Guy which doesn't seem to be remembered well always gets laughs out of me. I guess at least the Ace movies aren't Me Myself and Irene which was just... ugh, I digress.

That said, Jon you described it as "with a bit more restraint" which may help. I much prefer Jim Carrey in this trailer than I did in the Ace movies so I'm optimistic for that part at least.

But yeah, I think this movie was made by fans based on some of the nods. When he goes down to slow-mo and makes a comment about his fitbit he has the pose that Sonic makes in the genesis games when you put the controller down for a while and he gets impatient with you.

So yeah I'm hoping for something fun and campy, or at least bad enough so that it's good again.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 05/02/2019 at 05:46pm

It actually looks kind of interesting. I love Jim Carrey, too, he's real funny.

Also wonder why they used "Gangstas Paradise" in the trailer, seems kind of odd.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/02/2019 at 06:42pm

> Also wonder why they used "Gangstas Paradise" in the trailer, seems kind of odd.

Cynic in me says because marketing for this is aiming __ALL__ of what this is on nostalgia aimed purely in the 90's. "Ohhh remember Sonic?" "Ohhh remember that Coolio song?" "Oh remember Jim Carrey?" "Oh remember Sega?"

Or maybe they just too a list of things you shouldn't do and did that. Frankly I thought the way the mixed the audio levels higher and lower based on what people said to be really distracting but then again this trailer blew up the Internet which seems like a wild success to me. Perhaps the genius of this trailer is in how bonkers it is, which anymore is a great way to get the word out.

NEXT UP A MARKETING VIDEO FOR CHEERFUL GHOST WHERE I TALK TO A BIRD FOR 1 MINUTE WHILE I PLAY SEMI-CHARMED KIND LIFE ON REPEAT WHILE EFRANKENBERRIES!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/02/2019 at 06:43pm

That might sound like a take-down of the trailer, but it's not, just honestly looking at what it is or at least how it seemed to me. Also it worked, but I'm that kind of old person that this trailer seems aimed at.

Travis Admin wrote on 05/02/2019 at 06:58pm

> NEXT UP A MARKETING VIDEO FOR CHEERFUL GHOST WHERE I TALK TO A BIRD FOR 1 MINUTE WHILE I PLAY SEMI-CHARMED KIND LIFE ON REPEAT WHILE EFRANKENBERRIES!

Shit I'd give you money for that.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 05/02/2019 at 09:50pm

LOL Good point, Jon. It's funny because the other day I heard Vinny listening to that song and wondered why. Now I know, he was watching the trailer. He agrees w/ me on this, too, I don't know why Jim Carrey is Dr. Robotnic and funny like Ace Ventura. Dr. R isn't a funny character, but he is in the movie because of Jim Carrey of course. It's odd, still kinda cool though.

Travis Admin wrote on 05/03/2019 at 02:20am

Looks like the power of a lot of fans complaining online has led to a design change:

https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/05/02/sonic-movie-director-vows-to-fix-hedgehog-design

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/03/2019 at 05:44am

That's great to hear!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/03/2019 at 04:30pm

Yeah, maybe. Not sure it would have meant anything for the box office and i'm not sure each person complaining means another ticket sold because they are addressing it.

What it might mean is the art team dying to make this happen in 5 or 6 months. I can see why the art team made Sonic that way, it sort of makes him human like and somewhat real-world practical. I've seen the fan renders of what they'd do and he has toothpick arms and legs. I get it why people are complaining, but it seems off to me. Like... Sonic seemed odd to me but I moved on.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 05/03/2019 at 07:13pm

I was fine w/ the Sonic in the trailer, but the internet really has done well to change him. Here's a pic. There may be more on this guy's Twitter account, I haven't looked too in depth. https://twitter.com/LarryBundyJr/status/1123418428906381317

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/03/2019 at 07:46pm

Now I've seen a conspiracy that this was all simply brilliant marketing, and that they weren't planning on releasing the movie with Sonic like this, but they made him look like trash for the publicity. Whilst that's highly unlikely, I want to believe it ;)

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/03/2019 at 08:06pm

> Now I've seen a conspiracy that this was all simply brilliant marketing, and that they weren't planning on releasing the movie with Sonic like this, but they made him look like trash for the publicity. Whilst that's highly unlikely, I want to believe it ;)

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GRWbIoIR04c/maxresdefault.jpg

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/13/2019 at 09:52am

The redesigned one has been released! https://youtu.be/szby7ZHLnkA Check out the comparison: https://youtu.be/gxoGRVKFUvg

Travis Admin wrote on 11/13/2019 at 06:15pm

Yeah it looks better. Well. Sonic looks better. The movie, eeehhhhhhhh... I don’t think I’ll see this one 😂

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 11/13/2019 at 08:04pm

I might see this just out of appreciation to the studio for hearing our complaints and fixing it :)

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Borderlands 3 Gameplay Reveal

Gearbox had a Borderlands 3 event recently where they unleashed a lot of information about the new game including gameplay. If you are a super fan of Borderlands the included video is a must watch and includes a showcase of the new Sanctuary starship hub, the first intro level with Claptrap and co-op. It seems that all the guns in Borderlands 3 have alt fire modes where you could have a pistol that fires regular bullets and it's alt fire mode shoots grenades.

Graphically the game looks like Borderlands with a bit more resolution and detail and a higher frame rate. Rand Pitchford boasted that this is the biggest Borderlands game yet, but I didn't get a sense for how big... Read All

Cheerful Ghost Radio Episode 56: Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame is thrilling MCU fans and dusting box office records. In this episode we review the conclusion to the Infinity Saga, make some ludicrous Star Wars Episode IX predictions, and talk about what we've been playing and watching over the past month.

Since this episode is a big one, if you want to skip around here's how to find each section:

0:00 - Intro
1:00 - What we've been playing and watching
17:08 - Star Wars Episode IX trailer reactions and predictions
34:01 - Avengers: Endgame spoiler-free thoughts
41:26 - Avengers: Endgame super-spoilery thoughts
1:03:48 - Predictions we had for Avengers: Endgame and how right we were (Thanks Will and Adam for submitting... Read All

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/01/2019 at 09:48pm

Just starting to listen to the episode, buy I looked back on the predictions, and great job Travis! You nailed a lot of it, but thankfully the movie was super surprising in how it did all of it! I dont know if we want to talk about spoilers... but I suppose you guys get into spoilers in this.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/01/2019 at 09:49pm

Now we need a GoT podcast, especially from Jon ;)

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 05/01/2019 at 10:03pm

Yeah I started off pretty well, but I slipped as I went. Jon said I should just delete my second comment and I'd look like Nostradamus :D

And YES, Jon needs to get on GoT so we can do that!

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/01/2019 at 10:05pm

On the Episode 9 trailer: since it came out just 2 weeks before Endgame, i thought it would be rad to wait and watch it for the first time in the theater... which ultimately was a bad idea. There's just no way to avoid all spoilers, so I had heard about the laugh at the end. And everyone was talking about the trailer like it was the most amazing thing they've ever seen. So I probably was *too* hyped to see it, and when I finally did, I was incredibly underwhelmed by it. It's a fine trailer, but to me it wasn't great. That said, I'll still eagerly anticipate more trailers (and watch them the second they come out, so I have no expectations) and will see the movie opening night :)

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/01/2019 at 10:06pm

It might be a funnier podcast with Jon not seeing the show lol

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 05/01/2019 at 10:24pm

So that's something I meant to mention-- the theater we saw Endgame in didn't play the Episode 9 trailer. I thought for sure they would.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/02/2019 at 01:45pm

I'd demand a refund Travis. Seeing that Ep 9 trailer again in the theater was really fun.

Adam: That makes a lot of sense. I didn't come with many expectations, or rather I think my expectation was (Since 9 is a JJ film) the teaser would be a couple of shots not showing much. I was very happy with what I got but if everyone spoiled it and then hyped it up, I prob respond the way you did.

Question though, was Endgame spoiled as much for you or just the episode 9 trailer?

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/02/2019 at 01:51pm

Oh no, just the Star Wars trailer was spoiled, not Endgame.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/02/2019 at 06:37pm

#DontSpoilTheEpisodeNineTrailer

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Watch All Three GrandPooBear's Speedrun Sessions in Portland!

GrandPooBear is one of the best Mario Speedrunners in the world and he recently came to Portland to the Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade for his first ever Speedrun Sessions. He brought along Oatsngoats as well as Andy to speedrun Super Metroid and Link to the Past and I was able to make it to the event with some friends. In a nutshell, it was a really fun night and watching these events live has been one of my highlights in gaming. Poo closed the event to an incredibly warm audience that was whooping and cheering as he beat Grand Poo World 2, one of the hardest Kaizo Mario games i've ever seen.

I'm sharing Poo's Speedrun Session above for Grand Poo World 2 but I... Read All

What do YOU think is going to happen in Avengers: Endgame?

Avengers: Endgame releases this weekend, and I don't know about you, but I can't stop thinking about the possibilities. We have over ten years of movies that are all culminating in this one major event. So let's talk, what do you think is going to happen in the big finish?

Share your thoughts in the comments below, and it probably goes without saying but just in case: NO SPOILERS OR LEAKS OF ANY KIND! This is just for nerding out over our predictions.

We will be recording our review episode Sunday evening, and we will have a section of the episode where we talk about any predictions you share, so come be a part of Cheerful Ghost Radio and tell us what's going to... Read All

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 04/22/2019 at 07:54pm

I'll get us started, and I'm using some comic developments through the years to predict some of these, and also thinking about ways to end this whole 10 year plot while setting up the next 10 years:

I think Captain America and Iron Man will both be gone by the end of this. Not necessarily dead, but out of the picture in some way. Neither may die, both may die, who knows... but they'll be MIA.

But I bet they'll set up a kid to take up the mantle of Iron Man as a way to bring the character back in a few years. In the comics, a teenage girl is (or was?) Iron Man for a while.

And as in the comics, we'll see Bucky take over as Cap.

I do NOT think we've seen the last of Thor and Hulk. Before Ragnarok I would have added Thor to my previous prediction but I think they'll want to keep him going now.

This is one that I've been thinking since Ragnarok: Banner has been having power issues (stuck as Hulk and then can't even call him out) so I think we *may* get a setup for Banner to start working on a plan to become the smart Hulk that was in the comics for a while where they stop being two separate people, and he becomes Banner's mind in Hulk's body.

I think Loki is probably alive because he's a trickster and can seem to live through everything. At first I thought the scene at the beginning of Infinity War would make him remain dead after all this is done but I doubt that was even him. This is more wishful thinking because as much as he got on my nerves at first, I loved him in Ragnarok.

Gamora may be dead though. There are some theories that she's in the soul stone and will come back when the gauntlet is destroyed, and that's definitely possible, but then would she resurrect with Red Skull and be abandoned out there? It's messy and complicated to achieve in this movie. She may not be permanently dead but I think she still will be at the end of Endgame.

And the end of my permadead predictions: Either Nat or Clint will die, and either Rhodes or Falcon will die. I know we're getting a Nat solo movie so she's the least likely out of those to die, but that movie could take place earlier.

Some of my favorite bits of Infinity War involved some of the Guardians and Thor working together. I'm predicting we'll get a setup for a future Guardians film with Thor working with them, or a future Thor movie with the Guardians (maybe just Rocket and Groot)

I *hope* we get some Korg and Meek in this one!

I do not think that Ant Man will fly up Thanos's butt and expand to kill him. But something about the quantum realm will be important to taking him out.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 04/22/2019 at 07:55pm

Continued:

SHIELD will come back to more than just lurking in the shadows (which will tie into the next season of Agents of SHIELD) and they'll be put back in charge of the Avengers Initiative, thus ending the fight over the Sokovia accords. I don't recall the UN council ever giving anyone permission to fight Thanos anyway.

BUT Fury will die or retire.

I recently watched Dr. Strange and they keep warning about how time manipulation is dangerous, so I'm betting without Strange there to guide them they'll properly muck up the timeline.

In fact, based on that previous prediction, Thanos may not even be the final big bad. Something they do to the timeline may invalidate some important thing they did in the past. So I predict the first half of the film will undo the snap, and the second half will be all about fixing what they broke.

Stark will work with Wakanda to make something important. We have two massive technological powerhouses and the two of them together would be something special.

Captain Marvel will deliver most of the damage to Thanos but won't be the one to actually take the final blow, because there are about a dozen other people who have a more emotional claim to that.

Finally, and this isn't a stretch, I bet we'll see a lot of hints from the previous movies that we basically just ignored.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 04/22/2019 at 08:04pm

Oh and one more: Vision will somehow come back, maybe it's as easy as them putting the stone back in his body? But this is kinda easy mode predicting, like saying Spidey will survive. We know he will because there's a new movie coming out. Same with Vision.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 04/22/2019 at 10:51pm

It will end with Star Child from 2001.

jdodson Admin wrote on 04/23/2019 at 02:02am

I will come back and read your predictions after the movie Travis. You don't know spoilers, but I want to come as fresh to the film as I can and I've really avoided most of everything.

That said, I think this is the first movie I've come to I've been excited to see I don't have any sense of what I want to see. I'm really OK with what they throw me. I am curious how they will continue the stories after Endgame, I think that's the biggest thing they are going to have to setup which is why the film will be three hours.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/23/2019 at 05:21am

Travis, I think you have a pretty sold list of predictions.

I had a theory about Endgame, but if it were true, it would retcon Infinity War and make it not as good of a movie lol. Basically, I wondered if Thanos was being influenced by Death to come up with The Snap. In the comics. Thanos wants to woo Death, and that's why he kills off half of everyone. So I wondered if in Endgame, we find out that Death has been pulling the strings, and another cosmic being (Eternity, Infinity or Oblivion) would have to step in to bring the universe back to actual balance. But the more I thought about the theory, it would hurt Thanos' character in Infinity War, so I dont think that will happen.

But, I could see The Avengers accidentally making things worse by playing with Time and the Quantum Realm, trying to "fix" reality, and a cosmic being needing to step in. I don't know if that would be satisfying though, as it could easily turn into a deus ex machina situation.

All I really know is that I'm super hyped for the movie! Just a few more days!

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/23/2019 at 05:21am

(Both of my "predictions" ended up being reasoning why my predictions probably won't happen lol)

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 04/24/2019 at 12:15am

I think that could help Thanos’s character honestly. If he was being influenced by someone and made the extreme decisions he did because of that, it would make them make more sense. As it is, his plan was really dumb and he was presented as this sympathetic villain but he wasn’t.

Having the thought that he did, but taking it to the extremes due to an external influence would make him actually sympathetic.

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Retro Tech: Marques Brownlee Reviews The Gameboy After Never Having Played One Before

Marques Brownlee is one of the best tech reviewers on YouTube. His focus is the latest smartphones, headphones and at times AV gear. He just released a new video in a series he calls Retro Tech where he takes a look at old tech and reviews it and in the first episode he looks at the classic Gameboy. The Gameboy has been reviewed before but Marques video is interesting because he reviews it from an entirely fresh perspective as he's never actually played one before. Along the way he interviews a lot of people in tech that have history with the Gameboy and looks at some of the peripherals of the system and its legendary indestructibility.

"The Game Boy is the most... Read All