Please allow me to take my general Amazon XP and extrapolate:
1. AZ doesn't care about your satisfaction;
2. They will TOTALLY and RADLY sell you someone else's returned *****;
3. I have been the recipient of such. An Apple Watch leather band, drenched in - I'm sorry - Albanian levels of cologne concentration, came to my house as "new". Are you kidding me? Let me slight the Greeks here as well - same degree of over-cologne-ization...
4. Also, Moldavians...
5. If I haven't offended you enough, the whole damn Eastern Bloc = "Dude, one squirt is enough"...
6. Back to topic, Amazon will sell you someone else's disgusting cast-offs without remorse. Return it again! Forget VGs, I've experienced this with goods exceeding $500 in value. AZ does not care. And the Nomads make it worse. Happy Hunting!!!
Note/Edit. I feel I should provide some back-up for my totally accurate claims. I frequented certain establishments in Boston, during the mid to late 90's, that were overwhelmingly populated with Eastern Bloc visitors. Pravda, being one. Also, I have taken several cruises where the mid to old Greek gentlemen essentially squatted in the best part of the pool. These dudes will suffocate you with their cologne, I am not exaggerating..
Also, enough with the Speedos. EUROPE - NO ONE wants to see that ... Christ...
Folks: Don't lament this too much - it is God awful. The combat and strategy aspects are fun, but the writing is so bad that I am kicking myself for not being able to return my PC version. The level of cringe is off the scale - so bad that I uninstalled and will never go back to it. And I'm an 80's kid raised on Marvel. No thank you, no more please!
@Bret O right! But I would suggest that there have been a slew of pandemic-era relationship style games, or games that incorporate that mechanic as a requirement for most successful play. It’s an interesting issue, and I’m not looking to “yuck” anyone’s “yum”, just not my cup of tea.
It's got to be an age thing/advanced career thing - I just can't get into relationship games, no time, too impatient. Sure, Mass Effect/Bioware romancing I can do, but Three Houses had me bored to tears, I just don't have the time for that BS. Side note - same for crappy writing featured in interminable cutscenes - I'm looking at you Midnight Suns. Eliminating the relationship workload is fantastic, I'm really looking forward to Engage.
BTW, is the rise of relationship games a symptom of pandemic isolation/loneliness? Food for thought...
To the fine folks across the Pond - I was a Dangermouse ADDICT as a kid in the 80s. What's the "cor" deal? Yes I can look it up, but peoples' contextual info is always awesome!
The 4K is insulting, but wow, talk about airing your dirty laundry. In my mind this situation is Platinum effectively firing her by making such a low ball offer. Voice acting actually takes a ton of work and is physically demanding. Can take days of someone's time. Also, her abilities, talents, and being "the voice" of a particular character all have a value attached. This was Platinum, for whatever reason, telling her they didn't want her anymore by offering that low ball figure.
For comparison, although a different industry, the going rate in my area is between $2500 to $3500 for a representation in a first offense drunk driving case where the client wants to "plead it out" (i.e. not incur the expense of a trial and trial preparation). The reality of this is probably 8 to 10 hours of actual work, which itself is fairly routine. That's for your average lawyer, not those of us who are more experienced and/or prominent.
Forgive me for going against the naive tide here, but in my experience (I formerly practiced labor law) it is tough to find more incredibly corrupt organizations than unions. Yes, they are intended to serve an altruistic purpose, but let's not forget that the Department of Labor was created for a reason. If unions served their true purpose - collective bargaining - then perhaps the infection of human nature would be blunted. But, unions exert just as much effort, if not more, in political lobbying and enhancing the cult-like thuggery following that many unions feature. And let's also not forget the brazen, bold-faced corruption and fear tactics of the union bosses.
But, what would really make my blue-collar ancestors' blood boil is all these white-collar "workers" having the audacity to even seek to unionize. Unions are for laborers, not those of us who sit in a chair at a keyboard, meeting room table, etc. It's offensive, I'm sorry...
"It's generally known that developers are overworked, underpaid, and experience a multitude of negative experiences at work, from crunch culture to harassment."
Someone please explain why they should be exempt from the same crap the rest of us endure/have endured in just about every other possible field of employment? Try working in Big Law during the 80's, 90's, and 2000's (and now, quite frankly). It was soul crushing - both in how they treated us and the billable hours they demanded. No, I'm not saying they should endure the same, but comparatively they lead charmed lives. And make more money.
I find their complaining exhausting. Suck it up, it could be much, MUCH worse.
It took 20+ years, but last year I got back into drumming and, needing to get a new kit after so long, begrudgingly (at first) realized that my collectibles were piles of money waiting to happen. I had a serious CTJ moment and was finally able to shed that "itch" that prevented me from selling my hard-collected stuff. These things take up space, have to be coddled and dusted, categorized and organized, etc. It was incredibly liberating to start offloading them. Seriously - they are just sitting there, including most of my amiibo. I'll always keep my Zelda amiibo and probably Cloud, Pac Man, and 8-bit Mario, but the rest are going! My first pass at selling some rare video game guides and a handful of sought-after amiibo netted me over a grand. The boxed ones were significantly more profitable. Solaire got me over $100, Dark Souls Compendium went for $500.
My "little room" in the basement is slowly achieving focus in terms of what I actually want to keep. But I'm clearing out my impulse buys and never-used stuff. Liberating!
Reviews on other sites seem to downplay bland game play in favor of the story's themes/politics, which I will not discuss here as this is an easily searchable topic. It seems that advocacy reviewing elsewhere (not here) has been giving the game legs. Good or bad? Not my call...
@HedgehogEngine I'm using the Dragontail USB-C they include with the Red (with the Jitterbug FMJ b/c I'm crazy). Tried it again after today's update and no dice. I'm reading that Schitt DACs work with Switch as do others that share the same chipset. Going to stick with the Air Pods Pro, I got the best results with them.
I thought about getting the Cobalt when I got the Red, but decided to save the extra 100. I'm glad I did in retrospect b/c apparently the Cobalt has compatibility issues.
PSA - Your mileage will vary depending on your phones/gear. I tried running my Switchlite to a standalone streaming DAC/Preamp (NAD C658, which is always connected to my computer) with massive latency. I also tried Apple Air Pods, and noticed latency. Apple Air Pods Pro worked surprisingly well, no noticeable lag and good sound quality. Gave the Klipsch Fives a spin with direct Bluetooth, laggy but not too terrible, but muffled sound and sloppy bass.
I'd suggest that good IEPs will do the trick. Anyone else try other IEPs?
@HedgehogEngine Yes, yes, yes, lol. And you would think $9K would absolutely do it. The funny thing is, (and I'll avoid "gear flexing" here) that my used Proceed solid state setup, made in the early 90s, still blows away most of the stuff I try out to upgrade. For other types of "beefy" music, my Krell gear, again early 90s and purchased used, is also unbeatable. A very wise dealer near me, who stood to make a bunch of money selling me new gear, and take mine in trade, urged me to keep my stuff instead when I told him what I had. Love honest people!
On a related note, it's a shame Ninty doesn't include support for more external DACs. I have a couple I'd love to connect but they aren't supported. I tried the supported Earstudio DAC, and overall it had surprisingly good sound, but it started popping and sizzling after a couple of weeks so back to Amazon. I have a Dragonfly Red, unsupported last time I checked. Do you have any recommendations for a modestly priced portable DAC supported by Switch?
@HedgehogEngine I'm an audio guy and I totally get envying someone who "isn't picky enough". I really miss those days when I actually listened to the music and not "the gear". It's a sickness, constantly searching for that next upgrade (only to realize that $5K you just spent only resulted in a sidegrade). Ah, regret...
@SaveDinos I don't know if that's entirely fair, many of the rioters were certainly there for insurrectionist purposes, but some were just there to make a mess. "Insurrection" has a very specific definition and it comes down to the intent of the person in question.
But I can't argue with your sentiment. I was a lifelong Republican until Trump. He and his cronies destroyed the GOP, not just turning it into a group demanding absolute fealty (or he'll "primary" you), but they also warped the party's basic tenets or completely ignored them. It may surprise some, but many current and former Republicans are far more disgusted with these people than are many on the Left. These Trumpists are not just traitors to our country - they're also traitors to the party. /lecture off
@TJM Progressives (and really any "join us or you're against us" political ideologues, Right or Left) also engage in another ancient practice: deriding and excluding from discussion any disagreement or competing ideas. The Left has the majority of the media mouthpieces at present, so of course, it's more noticeable.
Eschew labels, have loyalty to ideas, not political groups or parties. It's quite liberating to admit to oneself that every major political group has some good ideas and, lo and behold, one is not required to maintain some sense of loyalty to any of them to the exclusion of others' great ideas.
The best point, IMHO, was your discussion of the organic way Samus "was a woman". No massive virtue flags waving, no, as you said, "Grrrrl power" BS. Every time an entertainment medium interrupts the story or jarringly inserts some political/identity declaration, it's so damn gratuitous; it actually undermines their attempts to persuade.
Not that the Arrowverse is high cinema, but the production team really went overboard with the "in your face", shoe-horned politics. Incredibly amateurish. I also recall during W's tenure just about every HBO drama series, especially Six Feet Under, took shots at him, etc. in a way that completely ruined the immersion.
@Musharna You can only plead the 5th if your answers would tend to actually incriminate you. Generally, this means that your answer would provide probable cause supporting at least one element of a crime. It's about potential incrimination, not just the desire to avoid testifying.
@AstroTheGamosian Generally the lawyers ask the questions and your first point would be a great issue for the ROM site's attorney to flesh out during an actual trial if one ever occurs.
Secondly, people lie through their G*ddamned teeth in court. Outright lies and deceptions are rampant. As for omissions, a witness is only required to answer the question posed to them. It is the examining lawyer's responsibility to ask the "right" follow-up questions to reveal more of the "truth" from that witness. Otherwise, they shut up (if I prepared them) and only reveal what is absolutely, literally responsive to our opponent's questions. For example, the correct answer to "Do you know what time it is?" is not to look at one's watch and say the time. Rather, the correct response is, "Yes" after looking at the watch.
So, yeah, courts are rife with what normal humans consider lies. And it's allowed.
@ArchRex Oh I know my friend. Maybe I'm too focused on the passiveness (word?) of the genre. I like pressing 'X' and unleashing Heck. Did I mention I have crazy ADD?
@JasmineDragon Yes, as a lawyer I feel similarly about "well we do it "this way" do we really need a constitutional amendment. My answer is, "Yes, because that what the GD rules say." Taking the wrong road because it is easier is NOT what was intended. Do it correctly and with the right process, or dare I say, Due Process. The Constitution is NOT a living document. And I'm a defense lawyer for the indigent, BTW. Easier doesn't mean throw the rulebook in the trash.
@JasmineDragon Thank you! I should probably expose my bias towards favoring "old-style" grammatical rules. See my other comment, but I firmly believe that modern grammar guides simply acquiesce to commonly employed incorrect usage. See, now everyone can say they're right!
@Nontendo_4DS I amicably disagree - "Samus" is a singular proper noun that calls for apostrophe "s" regardless of the word ending in "s". Now ... I am aware some sources dispute this, but they seem to be more modern and have essentially acquiesced to everyone continuing to improperly use this construction. It feels like "they" essentially threw up their hands and said, "ok, we give up, keep doing it wrong."
But here's the thing - no one "does grammar right" these days anyway, so - despite my bad effort at humor - arguing about it (or trying to educate) is an exercise in futility. Our schools don't force kids to learn this stuff properly anymore and so the Gods of Grammar just adopt the wrong usage because that's what the damn people are going to do anyway. What's worse, "professional" journalists don't bother to proofread their work. I know that they're all trying to beat each other to the punch, but that's no excuse for style and grammatical errors. Just one example: I read Paul Tassi regularly and like his work, but the guy just doesn't proof his columns. This site, however, consistently publishes quality, well-proofed copy.
Don't get me started on the overuse/incorrect use of "curated" and "fraught", or the use of modern internet slang in headlines. Yes, I'm old-fashioned and I believe I have previously provided notice to avoid trespassing on my lawn.
@ArchRex I promise I wasn't trolling, it just seems so damn passive to me. Also, I've been cursed by this hobby since '79, so my frame of ref might be a bit different...
I kinda like the agency of more active voice games, if you will. I also enjoy reading actual, paper books.
Guys, guys, GUYS... Are you CNN? Polygon? No, you're a respected Nintendo source. The way your headline reads (that they "admit" to issues) suggests Black Isle was trying to hide this. Quite to the contrary, they have been completely transparent about their difficulties getting the code to market for Switch. Jeebus, be fair for Pete's sake. No need to sink into the rabble, good people...
For the love of God - it’s a small “v”. Epic v. Apple. Not “V”, not “vs.”, not “VS”. Just “v.” No joke - the majority of headlines out there are getting this wrong.
"Unfortunately, nostalgia has often seemingly taken precedence over good storytelling, resulting in some rather questionable throwbacks (looking at you, Mr. Cline)."
Yes, yes, yes - THIS. I'm a child of the '80s and maintain that his book is garbage. A poorly-written mish-mash of interminable cultural references with a side of ham-fisted political statements tossed in. The whole thing is just forced and the characters all try to "out-80s" each other. The movie is a smidge better, although I suspect his actual motives for writing it was a film adaptation. You know, to make piles of money - the very thing he rails against in the book.
My 47 y/o hands, almost arthritic from too much VG playing since '83, prefer the feel of the accept button at the bottom quadrant, not the right. Also, the WiiU Pro Controller, because of its overall layout, was completely unusable for me. Who puts the buttons BELOW the sticks? Crazy!
@TheFrenchiestFry I bought Revelations: Persona on the day of release (1999) and upon playing it I was immediately turned off by how damned monochromatic the game was. All shades of gray with a splash of red every now and then and the characters all look the damn same, etc. My boredom and spite caused me to spew a scathing review on rec.games.video.sony.playstation ("back in the dayyyyy!!!") Although I got absolutely roasted in flames for such an unpopular opinion, I stand by it and recommend not bothering with P1. There are far too many other great games, including those in the same series, BTW, that you could be playing.
@lighteningbolt79 I disagree, and respectfully your post comes off as dismissive of an opinion that doesn't seem to match your politics. Folks can criticize change without it being some brand of "phobic", or, can judge media based on the merits, which is easily done in this instance. The writing in DW went drastically downhill about midway through Matt Smith's last season. The Capaldi years had 3 or 4 good episodes, but was mostly mediocre or even cringy. The writing, tone, and production values of the 13th Doctor's seasons are just wrong, and I like Jodie Whittaker. To my older eyes, remembering the 80's onward, this new show just isn't Doctor Who. Moreover, the bad writing and reinventing that permeates the 13th's seasons, especially this new origin story they've cooked up, is a poorly crafted, shoehorned thing. I'm hoping they make another switch and can actually land Idris Alba to play him in a manner that befits the series as a whole.
Looks good and they seem to have nailed the aesthetic, but the animations are too choppy for 2020, or 1997 for that matter (i.e. the silky smooth SOTN). Animations remind me of Golden Axe, Altered Beast, or other older, memory-limited games (someone above said it reminds them of a Megadrive/Genesis game, which I also immediately thought, but not in a good way). Art style is perfect, I think several more frames of animation all around would perfect it.
Hopefully the devs made an option to disable screen shake. It also looks like other spell/attack effects have a jarring/blinding (for lack of a better descriptor) issue. The whole time I watched the clip everything was jittery and disjointed. Maybe that’s their point, I wonder?
@Mrnotultra Ahhhhh, apologies if it came across harshly. I did not know he died and I wasn't looking to attack him or anyone personally. I'm a bit old fashioned, I guess, but I just don't get the appeal of the DJ genre. Just my opinion as a middling musician myself.
This was up there with Tactics Ogre, Bahamut Lagoon, and Final Fantasy V as a yet another incredible game that desperately deserved, but was denied, a Western release. Can't wait.
So seriously, what is all this DJ nonsense? I can't wrap my mind around it, maybe I'm too old. People pay money to stand/sway/"dance" in an arena, on X/MDMA, while a strangely-dressed dude broadcasts "music" that is sampled from others' work or created digitally (and one could simply play at home if they have a capable 2 channel set-up), all while pumping his one arm that douchey DJ way?
I realize the forum is Nintendo-centric, but if you're a Game Pass subscriber this is (big quotes) "free" and it runs like a dream on PC. I've been dabbling and it's fun if you take it for what it is. I'm not dumping hundreds of hours on it, but I'll probably clear all 3 difficulties (maybe).
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Re: Poll: Have You Ordered Physical Switch Games That Came With The Cart Missing?
Please allow me to take my general Amazon XP and extrapolate:
1. AZ doesn't care about your satisfaction;
2. They will TOTALLY and RADLY sell you someone else's returned *****;
3. I have been the recipient of such. An Apple Watch leather band, drenched in - I'm sorry - Albanian levels of cologne concentration, came to my house as "new". Are you kidding me? Let me slight the Greeks here as well - same degree of over-cologne-ization...
4. Also, Moldavians...
5. If I haven't offended you enough, the whole damn Eastern Bloc = "Dude, one squirt is enough"...
6. Back to topic, Amazon will sell you someone else's disgusting cast-offs without remorse. Return it again! Forget VGs, I've experienced this with goods exceeding $500 in value. AZ does not care. And the Nomads make it worse. Happy Hunting!!!
Note/Edit. I feel I should provide some back-up for my totally accurate claims. I frequented certain establishments in Boston, during the mid to late 90's, that were overwhelmingly populated with Eastern Bloc visitors. Pravda, being one. Also, I have taken several cruises where the mid to old Greek gentlemen essentially squatted in the best part of the pool. These dudes will suffocate you with their cologne, I am not exaggerating..
Also, enough with the Speedos. EUROPE - NO ONE wants to see that ... Christ...
Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns On Switch "No Longer Planned"
Folks: Don't lament this too much - it is God awful. The combat and strategy aspects are fun, but the writing is so bad that I am kicking myself for not being able to return my PC version. The level of cringe is off the scale - so bad that I uninstalled and will never go back to it. And I'm an 80's kid raised on Marvel. No thank you, no more please!
Re: DC's Justice League: Cosmic Chaos Looks Perfectly Pleasant In Gameplay Trailer
Anyone else catch that 70's Supermobile/sub with the punching fists?
Re: Here's The First Gameplay Trailer For Mech Action Adaptation 'UFO Robot Grendizer'
Yes, yes, yes, yes! Force Five! Now release the show on Blu Ray in the US...
Re: Review: Octopath Traveler II - A Confident Follow-Up And One Of Switch's Finest RPGs
Great review!
I'm at the Point of No Return in the first one, so wrapping up sidequests and tracking down gear I don't yet have, then into the Gate.
Started the demo with Throne, so far so good!
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Fire Emblem Engage?
@Bret O right! But I would suggest that there have been a slew of pandemic-era relationship style games, or games that incorporate that mechanic as a requirement for most successful play. It’s an interesting issue, and I’m not looking to “yuck” anyone’s “yum”, just not my cup of tea.
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Fire Emblem Engage?
It's got to be an age thing/advanced career thing - I just can't get into relationship games, no time, too impatient. Sure, Mass Effect/Bioware romancing I can do, but Three Houses had me bored to tears, I just don't have the time for that BS. Side note - same for crappy writing featured in interminable cutscenes - I'm looking at you Midnight Suns. Eliminating the relationship workload is fantastic, I'm really looking forward to Engage.
BTW, is the rise of relationship games a symptom of pandemic isolation/loneliness? Food for thought...
Re: Random: A Keyboard That Looks Like A Switch? Megalodon Has You Covered
Reminds me of the Logitech PS2 Keyboard/Controller that was amazing for FF11. I still have it somewhere in the bowels of my basement...
Re: Square Enix Releases 'Final' Tactics Ogre: Reborn Trailer Ahead Of Launch
To the fine folks across the Pond - I was a Dangermouse ADDICT as a kid in the 80s. What's the "cor" deal? Yes I can look it up, but peoples' contextual info is always awesome!
Re: Bayonetta's OG Voice Actor Asks Fans To "Boycott" Third Game After PlatinumGames Wage Fallout
The 4K is insulting, but wow, talk about airing your dirty laundry. In my mind this situation is Platinum effectively firing her by making such a low ball offer. Voice acting actually takes a ton of work and is physically demanding. Can take days of someone's time. Also, her abilities, talents, and being "the voice" of a particular character all have a value attached. This was Platinum, for whatever reason, telling her they didn't want her anymore by offering that low ball figure.
For comparison, although a different industry, the going rate in my area is between $2500 to $3500 for a representation in a first offense drunk driving case where the client wants to "plead it out" (i.e. not incur the expense of a trial and trial preparation). The reality of this is probably 8 to 10 hours of actual work, which itself is fairly routine. That's for your average lawyer, not those of us who are more experienced and/or prominent.
So, yeah, she's being insultingly low balled.
Re: Former Playtester To Receive Settlement Payment From Nintendo Hiring Agency
Forgive me for going against the naive tide here, but in my experience (I formerly practiced labor law) it is tough to find more incredibly corrupt organizations than unions. Yes, they are intended to serve an altruistic purpose, but let's not forget that the Department of Labor was created for a reason. If unions served their true purpose - collective bargaining - then perhaps the infection of human nature would be blunted. But, unions exert just as much effort, if not more, in political lobbying and enhancing the cult-like thuggery following that many unions feature. And let's also not forget the brazen, bold-faced corruption and fear tactics of the union bosses.
But, what would really make my blue-collar ancestors' blood boil is all these white-collar "workers" having the audacity to even seek to unionize. Unions are for laborers, not those of us who sit in a chair at a keyboard, meeting room table, etc. It's offensive, I'm sorry...
Re: Review: Shovel Knight Dig - A Finely Formed Roguelite That Strikes 16-Bit Gold
@BenAV I'm glad it's not just me!
Re: Random: GQ Calls Video Game Patches "Laziness", And People Are Not Impressed
"It's generally known that developers are overworked, underpaid, and experience a multitude of negative experiences at work, from crunch culture to harassment."
Someone please explain why they should be exempt from the same crap the rest of us endure/have endured in just about every other possible field of employment? Try working in Big Law during the 80's, 90's, and 2000's (and now, quite frankly). It was soul crushing - both in how they treated us and the billable hours they demanded. No, I'm not saying they should endure the same, but comparatively they lead charmed lives. And make more money.
I find their complaining exhausting. Suck it up, it could be much, MUCH worse.
Re: Nintendo Releases Another Update For Switch (Version 14.1.2), Here Are The Details
No proper Bluetooth fix? Boo.
Re: Video: The Unsolved amiibo Dilemma - Boxed Or Unboxed?
I do a bit of both - but ...
It took 20+ years, but last year I got back into drumming and, needing to get a new kit after so long, begrudgingly (at first) realized that my collectibles were piles of money waiting to happen. I had a serious CTJ moment and was finally able to shed that "itch" that prevented me from selling my hard-collected stuff. These things take up space, have to be coddled and dusted, categorized and organized, etc. It was incredibly liberating to start offloading them. Seriously - they are just sitting there, including most of my amiibo. I'll always keep my Zelda amiibo and probably Cloud, Pac Man, and 8-bit Mario, but the rest are going! My first pass at selling some rare video game guides and a handful of sought-after amiibo netted me over a grand. The boxed ones were significantly more profitable. Solaire got me over $100, Dark Souls Compendium went for $500.
My "little room" in the basement is slowly achieving focus in terms of what I actually want to keep. But I'm clearing out my impulse buys and never-used stuff. Liberating!
Re: Review: Unsighted - A Fantastic Top-Down Metroidvania With A Warm, Vintage Feel
Reviews on other sites seem to downplay bland game play in favor of the story's themes/politics, which I will not discuss here as this is an easily searchable topic. It seems that advocacy reviewing elsewhere (not here) has been giving the game legs. Good or bad? Not my call...
Re: Dead Cells 'Practice Makes Perfect' Update Makes The Game Easier, But Only If You Want That
Anyone know if you can still unlock blueprints/items while using the "cheats"?
Re: PSA: Remember To Update Your Joy-Con, As Well As Your Nintendo Switch
@HedgehogEngine I'm using the Dragontail USB-C they include with the Red (with the Jitterbug FMJ b/c I'm crazy). Tried it again after today's update and no dice. I'm reading that Schitt DACs work with Switch as do others that share the same chipset. Going to stick with the Air Pods Pro, I got the best results with them.
I thought about getting the Cobalt when I got the Red, but decided to save the extra 100. I'm glad I did in retrospect b/c apparently the Cobalt has compatibility issues.
Good stuff!
Re: PSA: Remember To Update Your Joy-Con, As Well As Your Nintendo Switch
PSA - Your mileage will vary depending on your phones/gear. I tried running my Switchlite to a standalone streaming DAC/Preamp (NAD C658, which is always connected to my computer) with massive latency. I also tried Apple Air Pods, and noticed latency. Apple Air Pods Pro worked surprisingly well, no noticeable lag and good sound quality. Gave the Klipsch Fives a spin with direct Bluetooth, laggy but not too terrible, but muffled sound and sloppy bass.
I'd suggest that good IEPs will do the trick. Anyone else try other IEPs?
Re: PSA: Remember To Update Your Joy-Con, As Well As Your Nintendo Switch
@HedgehogEngine Yes, yes, yes, lol. And you would think $9K would absolutely do it. The funny thing is, (and I'll avoid "gear flexing" here) that my used Proceed solid state setup, made in the early 90s, still blows away most of the stuff I try out to upgrade. For other types of "beefy" music, my Krell gear, again early 90s and purchased used, is also unbeatable. A very wise dealer near me, who stood to make a bunch of money selling me new gear, and take mine in trade, urged me to keep my stuff instead when I told him what I had. Love honest people!
On a related note, it's a shame Ninty doesn't include support for more external DACs. I have a couple I'd love to connect but they aren't supported. I tried the supported Earstudio DAC, and overall it had surprisingly good sound, but it started popping and sizzling after a couple of weeks so back to Amazon. I have a Dragonfly Red, unsupported last time I checked. Do you have any recommendations for a modestly priced portable DAC supported by Switch?
Re: PSA: Remember To Update Your Joy-Con, As Well As Your Nintendo Switch
@HedgehogEngine I'm an audio guy and I totally get envying someone who "isn't picky enough". I really miss those days when I actually listened to the music and not "the gear". It's a sickness, constantly searching for that next upgrade (only to realize that $5K you just spent only resulted in a sidegrade). Ah, regret...
Re: Soapbox: Super Metroid Showed Me I Had The Right To Exist
@SaveDinos I don't know if that's entirely fair, many of the rioters were certainly there for insurrectionist purposes, but some were just there to make a mess. "Insurrection" has a very specific definition and it comes down to the intent of the person in question.
But I can't argue with your sentiment. I was a lifelong Republican until Trump. He and his cronies destroyed the GOP, not just turning it into a group demanding absolute fealty (or he'll "primary" you), but they also warped the party's basic tenets or completely ignored them. It may surprise some, but many current and former Republicans are far more disgusted with these people than are many on the Left. These Trumpists are not just traitors to our country - they're also traitors to the party. /lecture off
Re: Soapbox: Super Metroid Showed Me I Had The Right To Exist
@TJM Progressives (and really any "join us or you're against us" political ideologues, Right or Left) also engage in another ancient practice: deriding and excluding from discussion any disagreement or competing ideas. The Left has the majority of the media mouthpieces at present, so of course, it's more noticeable.
Eschew labels, have loyalty to ideas, not political groups or parties. It's quite liberating to admit to oneself that every major political group has some good ideas and, lo and behold, one is not required to maintain some sense of loyalty to any of them to the exclusion of others' great ideas.
Re: Soapbox: Super Metroid Showed Me I Had The Right To Exist
The best point, IMHO, was your discussion of the organic way Samus "was a woman". No massive virtue flags waving, no, as you said, "Grrrrl power" BS. Every time an entertainment medium interrupts the story or jarringly inserts some political/identity declaration, it's so damn gratuitous; it actually undermines their attempts to persuade.
Not that the Arrowverse is high cinema, but the production team really went overboard with the "in your face", shoe-horned politics. Incredibly amateurish. I also recall during W's tenure just about every HBO drama series, especially Six Feet Under, took shots at him, etc. in a way that completely ruined the immersion.
Re: Nintendo Fears A Popular ROM Website Could Make A Comeback
@r0mer0 Hah!
Re: Back Page: The Ten Best Crabs On The Nintendo Switch
@KateGray Your content continues to make me smile.
Re: Nintendo Fears A Popular ROM Website Could Make A Comeback
@Musharna You can only plead the 5th if your answers would tend to actually incriminate you. Generally, this means that your answer would provide probable cause supporting at least one element of a crime. It's about potential incrimination, not just the desire to avoid testifying.
Re: Nintendo Fears A Popular ROM Website Could Make A Comeback
@AstroTheGamosian Generally the lawyers ask the questions and your first point would be a great issue for the ROM site's attorney to flesh out during an actual trial if one ever occurs.
Secondly, people lie through their G*ddamned teeth in court. Outright lies and deceptions are rampant. As for omissions, a witness is only required to answer the question posed to them. It is the examining lawyer's responsibility to ask the "right" follow-up questions to reveal more of the "truth" from that witness. Otherwise, they shut up (if I prepared them) and only reveal what is absolutely, literally responsive to our opponent's questions. For example, the correct answer to "Do you know what time it is?" is not to look at one's watch and say the time. Rather, the correct response is, "Yes" after looking at the watch.
So, yeah, courts are rife with what normal humans consider lies. And it's allowed.
Re: Feature: Diving Deeper Into The Switch Game With A Perfect Metascore
@KateGray This "oldish" guy loves your writing, whether I agree with it or not. You're a good egg, kid. And quite witty.
Re: Feature: Diving Deeper Into The Switch Game With A Perfect Metascore
@ArchRex Oh I know my friend. Maybe I'm too focused on the passiveness (word?) of the genre. I like pressing 'X' and unleashing Heck. Did I mention I have crazy ADD?
Re: Feature: "Samus' Adventure Will Continue" - Metroid Dread Producer On The Series' 2D Revival And Future
@Nontendo_4DS Hah! Don't worry, I may bark at you, but there are Manhattans and other delights if you want to stop by!
Re: Feature: "Samus' Adventure Will Continue" - Metroid Dread Producer On The Series' 2D Revival And Future
@JasmineDragon Yes, as a lawyer I feel similarly about "well we do it "this way" do we really need a constitutional amendment. My answer is, "Yes, because that what the GD rules say." Taking the wrong road because it is easier is NOT what was intended. Do it correctly and with the right process, or dare I say, Due Process. The Constitution is NOT a living document. And I'm a defense lawyer for the indigent, BTW. Easier doesn't mean throw the rulebook in the trash.
Re: Feature: "Samus' Adventure Will Continue" - Metroid Dread Producer On The Series' 2D Revival And Future
@JasmineDragon Thank you! I should probably expose my bias towards favoring "old-style" grammatical rules. See my other comment, but I firmly believe that modern grammar guides simply acquiesce to commonly employed incorrect usage. See, now everyone can say they're right!
Re: Feature: "Samus' Adventure Will Continue" - Metroid Dread Producer On The Series' 2D Revival And Future
@Nontendo_4DS I amicably disagree - "Samus" is a singular proper noun that calls for apostrophe "s" regardless of the word ending in "s". Now ... I am aware some sources dispute this, but they seem to be more modern and have essentially acquiesced to everyone continuing to improperly use this construction. It feels like "they" essentially threw up their hands and said, "ok, we give up, keep doing it wrong."
But here's the thing - no one "does grammar right" these days anyway, so - despite my bad effort at humor - arguing about it (or trying to educate) is an exercise in futility. Our schools don't force kids to learn this stuff properly anymore and so the Gods of Grammar just adopt the wrong usage because that's what the damn people are going to do anyway. What's worse, "professional" journalists don't bother to proofread their work. I know that they're all trying to beat each other to the punch, but that's no excuse for style and grammatical errors. Just one example: I read Paul Tassi regularly and like his work, but the guy just doesn't proof his columns. This site, however, consistently publishes quality, well-proofed copy.
Don't get me started on the overuse/incorrect use of "curated" and "fraught", or the use of modern internet slang in headlines. Yes, I'm old-fashioned and I believe I have previously provided notice to avoid trespassing on my lawn.
Re: Feature: "Samus' Adventure Will Continue" - Metroid Dread Producer On The Series' 2D Revival And Future
It's "Samus's". You're welcome, I know everyone loves a Grammar Nazi.
Re: Feature: Diving Deeper Into The Switch Game With A Perfect Metascore
@ArchRex I promise I wasn't trolling, it just seems so damn passive to me. Also, I've been cursed by this hobby since '79, so my frame of ref might be a bit different...
I kinda like the agency of more active voice games, if you will. I also enjoy reading actual, paper books.
Re: Feature: Diving Deeper Into The Switch Game With A Perfect Metascore
Perfect-ish scores for ... a... visual "novel". Do these games have a wide audience? High sales? I literally don't get the allure.
Christ, I'm getting old...
Re: Black Isle Admits There Have Been "Issues" With The Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Switch Release
Guys, guys, GUYS... Are you CNN? Polygon? No, you're a respected Nintendo source. The way your headline reads (that they "admit" to issues) suggests Black Isle was trying to hide this. Quite to the contrary, they have been completely transparent about their difficulties getting the code to market for Switch. Jeebus, be fair for Pete's sake. No need to sink into the rabble, good people...
Re: Here's All The Juicy Gossip From The Epic V Apple Lawsuit So Far
For the love of God - it’s a small “v”. Epic v. Apple. Not “V”, not “vs.”, not “VS”. Just “v.” No joke - the majority of headlines out there are getting this wrong.
Re: Review: Narita Boy - Pay Homage To The '80s In This Marvellous Metroidvania
"Unfortunately, nostalgia has often seemingly taken precedence over good storytelling, resulting in some rather questionable throwbacks (looking at you, Mr. Cline)."
Yes, yes, yes - THIS. I'm a child of the '80s and maintain that his book is garbage. A poorly-written mish-mash of interminable cultural references with a side of ham-fisted political statements tossed in. The whole thing is just forced and the characters all try to "out-80s" each other. The movie is a smidge better, although I suspect his actual motives for writing it was a film adaptation. You know, to make piles of money - the very thing he rails against in the book.
Re: Talking Point: The Problem With The X Button
My 47 y/o hands, almost arthritic from too much VG playing since '83, prefer the feel of the accept button at the bottom quadrant, not the right. Also, the WiiU Pro Controller, because of its overall layout, was completely unusable for me. Who puts the buttons BELOW the sticks? Crazy!
Re: Soapbox: It's Time To Normalise Giving Up On Games Early
@TheFrenchiestFry I bought Revelations: Persona on the day of release (1999) and upon playing it I was immediately turned off by how damned monochromatic the game was. All shades of gray with a splash of red every now and then and the characters all look the damn same, etc. My boredom and spite caused me to spew a scathing review on rec.games.video.sony.playstation ("back in the dayyyyy!!!") Although I got absolutely roasted in flames for such an unpopular opinion, I stand by it and recommend not bothering with P1. There are far too many other great games, including those in the same series, BTW, that you could be playing.
Re: Square Enix Announces SaGa Frontier Remastered, Launches On Switch In Summer 2021
@Dezzy Yes, this all day.
Re: Two Brand New Doctor Who Games Have Been Revealed For Switch
@lighteningbolt79 I disagree, and respectfully your post comes off as dismissive of an opinion that doesn't seem to match your politics. Folks can criticize change without it being some brand of "phobic", or, can judge media based on the merits, which is easily done in this instance. The writing in DW went drastically downhill about midway through Matt Smith's last season. The Capaldi years had 3 or 4 good episodes, but was mostly mediocre or even cringy. The writing, tone, and production values of the 13th Doctor's seasons are just wrong, and I like Jodie Whittaker. To my older eyes, remembering the 80's onward, this new show just isn't Doctor Who. Moreover, the bad writing and reinventing that permeates the 13th's seasons, especially this new origin story they've cooked up, is a poorly crafted, shoehorned thing. I'm hoping they make another switch and can actually land Idris Alba to play him in a manner that befits the series as a whole.
Re: Wallachia: Reign Of Dracula Might Be The Closest We Get To A New Castlevania On Switch
Looks good and they seem to have nailed the aesthetic, but the animations are too choppy for 2020, or 1997 for that matter (i.e. the silky smooth SOTN). Animations remind me of Golden Axe, Altered Beast, or other older, memory-limited games (someone above said it reminds them of a Megadrive/Genesis game, which I also immediately thought, but not in a good way). Art style is perfect, I think several more frames of animation all around would perfect it.
Re: Elden: Path Of The Forgotten Brings "Brutal, Technical Combat" To Switch Today
Hopefully the devs made an option to disable screen shake. It also looks like other spell/attack effects have a jarring/blinding (for lack of a better descriptor) issue. The whole time I watched the clip everything was jittery and disjointed. Maybe that’s their point, I wonder?
Re: AVICII Invector Encore Edition Launches On Switch In September, Free Demo Announced
@Mrnotultra Ahhhhh, apologies if it came across harshly. I did not know he died and I wasn't looking to attack him or anyone personally. I'm a bit old fashioned, I guess, but I just don't get the appeal of the DJ genre. Just my opinion as a middling musician myself.
Re: Herzog Zwei Is The Next Sega Ages Classic To Come To Switch
This was up there with Tactics Ogre, Bahamut Lagoon, and Final Fantasy V as a yet another incredible game that desperately deserved, but was denied, a Western release. Can't wait.
Re: AVICII Invector Encore Edition Launches On Switch In September, Free Demo Announced
So seriously, what is all this DJ nonsense? I can't wrap my mind around it, maybe I'm too old. People pay money to stand/sway/"dance" in an arena, on X/MDMA, while a strangely-dressed dude broadcasts "music" that is sampled from others' work or created digitally (and one could simply play at home if they have a capable 2 channel set-up), all while pumping his one arm that douchey DJ way?
Get off my actual-music-appreciating lawn.
Re: Review: Minecraft Dungeons - A Simple Action RPG That Relies Too Heavily On The Minecraft Name
I realize the forum is Nintendo-centric, but if you're a Game Pass subscriber this is (big quotes) "free" and it runs like a dream on PC. I've been dabbling and it's fun if you take it for what it is. I'm not dumping hundreds of hours on it, but I'll probably clear all 3 difficulties (maybe).