Soulja Boy is the rapper, actor, record producer and so on although he was already quite irrelevant sometime later after his hit song, Crank That, which was a hit like in 2007. The recent attention that attracted many gaming people is that he's selling the game consoles which are actually the Chinese-made and manufactured consoles that look like the genuine consoles made by other companies. Unfortunately, the real trouble was already born due to the fact that he's been selling game consoles with inaccurate advertising and pirated Roms that even Nintendo wasn't happy about that ever since Nintendo going all Ninja-ish into shutting down the sites that offer Roms of Nintendo games like the company's over-protective of their IPs. In fact, the game consoles made by Nintendo or other companies have been cloned countless times when it comes to the design shell like the game device looking like a Xbox One except that it isn't that game console actually for instance. Not to mention the endless amount of NES-on-a-chip systems which are more or less NES/FC clones and even the unlicensed cartridges for whatever game console offer the similar amount of games. And speaking of products that look like Xbox One or Game Boy Advance in terms of design, it appears that Soulja Boy has been selling those pre-bundled with pirated games. At this rate, Nintendo is ready to go after him if preparations of taking legal actions are done correctly. There's a chance that he may face a long time in prison for copyright and trademark infringement. Not to mention the fraud through inaccurate advertising that is seen from his official website.
Chances are, the emulation may or may not be that great depending on the console made in China you've bought, that is, the consoles that offer emulation stuffs. The same can go for the unlicensed clones of NES or other game consoles. The consoles may be Android-powered, some other embedded devices, or perhaps the NES-on-a-chip systems or some sort. However, in the case of the same Chinese products that are sold by Soulja Boy, the price is even larger than what those products are priced originally. Not to mention that they aren't even branded by him at all when you open the product box containing them inside once you've bought them home. It's a total shame on him in terms of shady business practices. I already had an Android tablet that was said to be a locally branded clone of some Chinese Ipad-Mini-like tablet but from the company's website, that tablet wasn't there whatsoever. I might be wondering if something was amiss after having bought that thing years ago. But even then, this is NOT how you rebrand the existing product like that!
There was an article saying that Soulja Boy may face prison time but it seems that the article was inaccurately written as the lawsuit still has yet to happen. Nintendo was already aware of his actions and yet he still gets away with selling additional Chinese-made consoles as well as announcing that he's going to be involved in other stuffs like eSports for instance but I guess that this is not going to last any longer since he's abruptly ended his career by doing illegal shit like that. It's going way too far for money and somehow, he's going to use that money to establish his new studio or something.
He's fucked up his multimedia career with that shit that attracts negative attention from the gaming people. It's SCAM-ISH AS HELL and I gladly don't see anyone defending this shady practice. He NEEDS to STOP doing that bullshit that extends the trouble he's already in but I guess that it's already too late to say that. There may be Raspberry Pi based game consoles that contain emulators or whatnot but I suppose that they don't contain Roms whatsoever.
Soulja Boy got himself in legal troubles before like the time when he failed to make the payments to the promoter for the rescheduled concert 7 years ago for instance but those are the tales of the other times.
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
King of Fighters XIV Steam Version First Play - Free Weekend
Like Street Fighter V, King of Fighters XIV was free as part of the Free Weekend campaign. However, the time trial was shorter than the one for Street Fighter V whose special reason has something to do with the upcoming Capcom Pro Tour of this year.
Experience-wise, I encountered some choppiness for some of the stages but the game still performed smoothly on my computer as if the game takes lesser resources than Street Fighter V or something. One confusing thing is the usage of traditional UI interactivity with the keyboard but it should take you time to get used to when compared to other fighting games on PC. The game's intro is like a mixture of 30FPS and 60FPS stuffs or something but I could be wrong. The opponent before Verse was like manageable but Verse was one challenging opponent for me and I'm still not good at the fighting game genre. The complex commands are difficult to pull off and this difficulty is going to be the same for other King of Fighters games.
If there are flaws or whatnot, it's something about the way things are rendered graphically due to inferior quality prior to the patch and the Arcade and Steam versions were based on the later update of the console version.
Other than the flaws, this was already a better game than Street Fighter V when it first came out and as time went on, Street Fighter V Arcade Edition was released with sufficient amount of characters and the inclusion of the Arcade Mode which is one of the core features of the fighting games ever since the past times. At the Game Awards of 2016, King of Fighters XIV was nominated for the "Best Fighting Game" award but lost to Street Fighter V. How could an incomplete and mediocre game like Street Fighter V win such an award like that at the time like it's beyond me? Even Pokemon Go was incomplete at the time but then again, it had more features than its initial launch. To defend Street Fighter V's incomplete-ness was like not to care for the main core features of the product that were absent.
Experience-wise, I encountered some choppiness for some of the stages but the game still performed smoothly on my computer as if the game takes lesser resources than Street Fighter V or something. One confusing thing is the usage of traditional UI interactivity with the keyboard but it should take you time to get used to when compared to other fighting games on PC. The game's intro is like a mixture of 30FPS and 60FPS stuffs or something but I could be wrong. The opponent before Verse was like manageable but Verse was one challenging opponent for me and I'm still not good at the fighting game genre. The complex commands are difficult to pull off and this difficulty is going to be the same for other King of Fighters games.
If there are flaws or whatnot, it's something about the way things are rendered graphically due to inferior quality prior to the patch and the Arcade and Steam versions were based on the later update of the console version.
Other than the flaws, this was already a better game than Street Fighter V when it first came out and as time went on, Street Fighter V Arcade Edition was released with sufficient amount of characters and the inclusion of the Arcade Mode which is one of the core features of the fighting games ever since the past times. At the Game Awards of 2016, King of Fighters XIV was nominated for the "Best Fighting Game" award but lost to Street Fighter V. How could an incomplete and mediocre game like Street Fighter V win such an award like that at the time like it's beyond me? Even Pokemon Go was incomplete at the time but then again, it had more features than its initial launch. To defend Street Fighter V's incomplete-ness was like not to care for the main core features of the product that were absent.
Street Fighter V Steam Version First Play - Free Weekend (Updated)
As part of the Free Weekend campaign organized by Valve, the game was free for a limited time and it could be handy for anyone to obtain it for free. However, the game would no longer be playable after the limited time so it has to be purchased. The other was King of Fighters XIV whose time-trial expired earlier.
Unfortunately, there is one minor controversy Capcom had done in which the logos of Capcom Pro Tour were pasted all over the place such as on characters, Versus screen background, some stages and even the pre-match advertisement screen which luckily displays things related to the game such as paid DLCs, not something else. Thankfully, such things can be turned off although you won't receive bonus in-game currency that way. The advertisement screen before the match could be annoying in my opinion. Another controversy is the unnecessary Loot Box feature. Seriously, is that even needed for a game like this? If I don't see anything coming out of Loot Box feature that enhances the characters or whatnot, what's really the point of the Loot Box feature in the first place? Not to mention that you can level up the characters the other ways WITHOUT even needing the Loot Box feature since the game's not like those mobile games I've played. Another problem is the characters that need to be unlocked via DLCs or in-game virtual currency even though they are playable by the AIs as complete characters. Since they're complete as in having all the moves and encountered as AI fighters, they can be unlocked with in-game virtual currency but to unlock them instantly with DLC feature is like buying the unlock code for buying special in-game items as if the code is like the virtual voucher.
Then, there's one extra problem that doesn't count as the actual flaw. The game slows down for no reason at times and rendering isn't perfect for some of the stages. My guess is that the computer's CPU isn't fast enough when comparing its specs to the specs of the Taito Type X3 arcade system. In theory, the computer is able to run Unreal Engine 4 games just fine as it has sufficient amount of RAM to follow the system requirements of Unreal Engine 4 itself.
At the beginning, I had to register, agree to various agreements and even got displayed a bunch of information boxes. *Sigh* This is unnecessary for me and the account registration thingy can be done later, like registering at the site and then logging to the account from somewhere in the Main Menu screen, not the Title Screen. What is this, an MMO game where you have to sign in to the account from the Title Screen and then connect to the server to proceed? The upcoming arcade version doesn't display those things like that although many of the modern arcade games I know of may still display the Information boxes whether you have an account or not. In fact, I don't even know if you can play Street Fighter V offline or some sort and to register an account for first play is ridiculous although you're going to need the Capcom ID for Capcom Fighters Network. Sure, there may be Terms of Use box when playing certain modern arcade games for the first time with the player Smartcard but that depends on the games of course.
Trials Mode seems to be tough for me and I'm not good in fighting games as far as I can realize. Some kinds of characters are not beginner-friendly as their moves are difficult to pull off and the same can go for the complex commands for the super moves in other fighting games but that's a topic for the other time. Not to mention that the game requires 20+GB but the pre-download prediction of the download time taken wasn't bad like it would take me estimated an hour and a half. Lastly, even the standard moves are changed in this game like you have to use both Light Punch and Light Kick for throwing the opponent for instance.
So, it looks like that's 5 flaws in total for Street Fighter V Arcade Edition as of this time and the original Street Fighter V had the lack of Arcade Mode, incomplete character roster as well as the conflicting features like DLCs vs in-game currency to unlock the same characters that are already playable by the AIs and even the performance issues for online matches, making 4 flaws in total. The improvement seemed to be a little for Street Fighter V Arcade Edition way before the bullshit features of this year were added and after playing it for the first time, I had the true realization and to change my opinion of it. It's a shame that Street Fighter V had recently become a mediocre game again ever since the initial launch of the original edition. In fact, I don't know if the upcoming arcade version, Type Arcade is going to carry over the same flaws or not. The nefarious thing about a modern fighting game in the arcades is using virtual currency from the player's portal site or in-game OR FULFILLING OTHER REQUIREMENTS to unlock the fighters provided that you have the player smartcard like the Nesica card for instance but I hope it's just an imagination to you and it should be to me because by default, all fighters including new ones from later updates should be playable in fighting games in the arcades in the first place regardless of whether you have that card or not. Oh, Street Fighter V is a paid-to-play game to begin with. You pay to buy it and enjoy it but the recent inclusion of the in-game ads is going to ruin the experience for everyone and from my average opinion of the game as of this time, the purchase of this game is or isn't going to be regretful.
Unfortunately, there is one minor controversy Capcom had done in which the logos of Capcom Pro Tour were pasted all over the place such as on characters, Versus screen background, some stages and even the pre-match advertisement screen which luckily displays things related to the game such as paid DLCs, not something else. Thankfully, such things can be turned off although you won't receive bonus in-game currency that way. The advertisement screen before the match could be annoying in my opinion. Another controversy is the unnecessary Loot Box feature. Seriously, is that even needed for a game like this? If I don't see anything coming out of Loot Box feature that enhances the characters or whatnot, what's really the point of the Loot Box feature in the first place? Not to mention that you can level up the characters the other ways WITHOUT even needing the Loot Box feature since the game's not like those mobile games I've played. Another problem is the characters that need to be unlocked via DLCs or in-game virtual currency even though they are playable by the AIs as complete characters. Since they're complete as in having all the moves and encountered as AI fighters, they can be unlocked with in-game virtual currency but to unlock them instantly with DLC feature is like buying the unlock code for buying special in-game items as if the code is like the virtual voucher.
Then, there's one extra problem that doesn't count as the actual flaw. The game slows down for no reason at times and rendering isn't perfect for some of the stages. My guess is that the computer's CPU isn't fast enough when comparing its specs to the specs of the Taito Type X3 arcade system. In theory, the computer is able to run Unreal Engine 4 games just fine as it has sufficient amount of RAM to follow the system requirements of Unreal Engine 4 itself.
At the beginning, I had to register, agree to various agreements and even got displayed a bunch of information boxes. *Sigh* This is unnecessary for me and the account registration thingy can be done later, like registering at the site and then logging to the account from somewhere in the Main Menu screen, not the Title Screen. What is this, an MMO game where you have to sign in to the account from the Title Screen and then connect to the server to proceed? The upcoming arcade version doesn't display those things like that although many of the modern arcade games I know of may still display the Information boxes whether you have an account or not. In fact, I don't even know if you can play Street Fighter V offline or some sort and to register an account for first play is ridiculous although you're going to need the Capcom ID for Capcom Fighters Network. Sure, there may be Terms of Use box when playing certain modern arcade games for the first time with the player Smartcard but that depends on the games of course.
Trials Mode seems to be tough for me and I'm not good in fighting games as far as I can realize. Some kinds of characters are not beginner-friendly as their moves are difficult to pull off and the same can go for the complex commands for the super moves in other fighting games but that's a topic for the other time. Not to mention that the game requires 20+GB but the pre-download prediction of the download time taken wasn't bad like it would take me estimated an hour and a half. Lastly, even the standard moves are changed in this game like you have to use both Light Punch and Light Kick for throwing the opponent for instance.
So, it looks like that's 5 flaws in total for Street Fighter V Arcade Edition as of this time and the original Street Fighter V had the lack of Arcade Mode, incomplete character roster as well as the conflicting features like DLCs vs in-game currency to unlock the same characters that are already playable by the AIs and even the performance issues for online matches, making 4 flaws in total. The improvement seemed to be a little for Street Fighter V Arcade Edition way before the bullshit features of this year were added and after playing it for the first time, I had the true realization and to change my opinion of it. It's a shame that Street Fighter V had recently become a mediocre game again ever since the initial launch of the original edition. In fact, I don't know if the upcoming arcade version, Type Arcade is going to carry over the same flaws or not. The nefarious thing about a modern fighting game in the arcades is using virtual currency from the player's portal site or in-game OR FULFILLING OTHER REQUIREMENTS to unlock the fighters provided that you have the player smartcard like the Nesica card for instance but I hope it's just an imagination to you and it should be to me because by default, all fighters including new ones from later updates should be playable in fighting games in the arcades in the first place regardless of whether you have that card or not. Oh, Street Fighter V is a paid-to-play game to begin with. You pay to buy it and enjoy it but the recent inclusion of the in-game ads is going to ruin the experience for everyone and from my average opinion of the game as of this time, the purchase of this game is or isn't going to be regretful.
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Fallout 76 Customer Support System Data Breach
I suppose that you should be fine if you have not bought Fallout 76 as it is plagued with many issues such as performance issues, bugs, low-res textures on some areas, conflicting ideas that defeat the objective of the story from the game's intro, pointless quests, poor execution and even the introduction of microtransactions in it. However, there are more controversies besides the negative opinions from the critics.
The main subject here is about the data breach of the customer support system due to the bug and if the game isn't bad enough, the data breach and the different item included for the Power Armor Special Edition had already pissed off the customers. Users were able to open and close tickets of other customers and view their personal information. It's a total shame on Besthesda that the data breach happened that they could face fines for breaching the GDPR but not all infringements will eventually lead to the fine. Thankfully, they started the investigation of the incident and will provide updates when possible.
The main subject here is about the data breach of the customer support system due to the bug and if the game isn't bad enough, the data breach and the different item included for the Power Armor Special Edition had already pissed off the customers. Users were able to open and close tickets of other customers and view their personal information. It's a total shame on Besthesda that the data breach happened that they could face fines for breaching the GDPR but not all infringements will eventually lead to the fine. Thankfully, they started the investigation of the incident and will provide updates when possible.
Sony's censorship policy in games
In the past, there was a serious controversy regarding the non-kid-friendly contents of the past games released on 16-Bit consoles and it looks like Night Trap and Mortal Kombat had become quite notorious for featuring various mature contents. At the time, Night Trap wouldn't be allowed on the Nintendo system because of that reason but somehow in the present time, it was released on Switch with Teenage rating on ESRB. How did Nintendo reverse this vow and allow Night Trap to be on Switch like it's beyond me? Even better, what's up with those CERO-D-ish Japanese-made games on Switch and Steam recently like Galgun series, Senran Kagura series, etc.?
At the time of the development of the original Galgun for Xbox 360, there were some concerns from Microsoft about those kinds of indecent contents being implemented. There's even the "Mum is here" feature that brings a still screen of the game in Megaman style which is handy for players who are playing such games like that at their parents' house. However, that feature isn't quite enough and it looks like things had the guts to go that far.
I don't know if the video sharing/streaming services may allow those kinds of games but it seems that Sony had the guts to come up with the revised policy that censors those mature stuffs on them.. Unfortunately, it appears that this policy is not going to work for some franchises. Not to mention that people who like this kind of stuff are not going to be pleased either. Also, it is highly questionable about those games released on PC, PS Vita and Switch but it doesn't matter which kind of eastern games those people play, there may or may not be a chance that some of their peers may get ostracized. And to blame the peers who get ostracized over those games is going to be wrong soon. One unacceptable attitude I don't want to see is anyone claiming those kind of games to be art when they are looking quite disturbing to the others. If you find those kind of games like Galgun for instance, disturbing and distasteful, then it's best to avoid them and look for something that is deemed decent enough for you. Sure, the fan-service stuff may have gone too far sometimes but not all game franchises may adhere to this new policy that easily. Even some AAA western games had different controversies that the developers eventually removed what made them controversial so that they could be released in specific countries.
In my opinion, the new policy is questionable. I don't know if this is a good move or not since those kinds of Japanese games had gone too far with higher level of fan-service stuff and Sony stood up too late to it. I also don't know if you have the option of going on a 'Good-person route" in those games or not. However, that doesn't seem to be quite the point for Galgun series for instance like there's one part where you have to increase the heart-beat bar that will allow the other female characters coming towards you in range to feel stunned or some sort. Sorry, but that kind of mature game isn't for you if you're looking for a mature game where you can make sure to do good deeds.
At the time of the development of the original Galgun for Xbox 360, there were some concerns from Microsoft about those kinds of indecent contents being implemented. There's even the "Mum is here" feature that brings a still screen of the game in Megaman style which is handy for players who are playing such games like that at their parents' house. However, that feature isn't quite enough and it looks like things had the guts to go that far.
I don't know if the video sharing/streaming services may allow those kinds of games but it seems that Sony had the guts to come up with the revised policy that censors those mature stuffs on them.. Unfortunately, it appears that this policy is not going to work for some franchises. Not to mention that people who like this kind of stuff are not going to be pleased either. Also, it is highly questionable about those games released on PC, PS Vita and Switch but it doesn't matter which kind of eastern games those people play, there may or may not be a chance that some of their peers may get ostracized. And to blame the peers who get ostracized over those games is going to be wrong soon. One unacceptable attitude I don't want to see is anyone claiming those kind of games to be art when they are looking quite disturbing to the others. If you find those kind of games like Galgun for instance, disturbing and distasteful, then it's best to avoid them and look for something that is deemed decent enough for you. Sure, the fan-service stuff may have gone too far sometimes but not all game franchises may adhere to this new policy that easily. Even some AAA western games had different controversies that the developers eventually removed what made them controversial so that they could be released in specific countries.
In my opinion, the new policy is questionable. I don't know if this is a good move or not since those kinds of Japanese games had gone too far with higher level of fan-service stuff and Sony stood up too late to it. I also don't know if you have the option of going on a 'Good-person route" in those games or not. However, that doesn't seem to be quite the point for Galgun series for instance like there's one part where you have to increase the heart-beat bar that will allow the other female characters coming towards you in range to feel stunned or some sort. Sorry, but that kind of mature game isn't for you if you're looking for a mature game where you can make sure to do good deeds.
Monday, November 26, 2018
SITEX 2018
Like last year's SITEX, this year's has a few differences that are and aren't even IT related such as the retro-gaming area organized by Retro DNA which happens to have tons of retro game collection in their possession including the less popular consoles such as Sega Saturn, Dreamcast and Neo Geo AES which happened to be there by luck. How did they buy those consoles like it's beyond me? Not to mention that Retro DNA is the local gaming community that started 5 years ago and its gaming venue is located somewhere in Bishan Park. Unfortunately, its official website has a joke implementation so many of the links may bring you to the same home page of the site. Strange thing is that, Retro DNA opens doors in Friday and Saturday from 7PM-1AM and 5PM-2AM respectively but it's not open for the other days?
There were other booths like the Google booth, the ones that sold HDDs including the NAS devices, the ones that sold and promote the Android Set-Top-Boxes although I had seen a familiar UI due to the fact that I used one on my Android Set-Top-Box at the time. For desktop PCs, the HDDs are normally 3.5" with laptop PCs having 2.5". Some kind of cables are needed for connection when it comes to internal HDDs for desktop PCs but for the NAS, there are caddies to place the HDDs in and then insert them. Some booths sold the external HDDs while the others sold the internal ones. There were even booths that sold the projectors.
At the Samsung booth, there was a tablet device that has its own Samsung Dex in which having an external monitor isn't needed. It might be a strange move at first but for business use like typing in business documents with the detachable physical keyboard, the feature might make sense as a cost effective alternative to needing the external monitor, external keyboard and mouse for that same technology. There was also a tablet that has its own Game Launcher or something that is like a Game Mode where you can play games on it without any interruption.
There were other booths like the Google booth, the ones that sold HDDs including the NAS devices, the ones that sold and promote the Android Set-Top-Boxes although I had seen a familiar UI due to the fact that I used one on my Android Set-Top-Box at the time. For desktop PCs, the HDDs are normally 3.5" with laptop PCs having 2.5". Some kind of cables are needed for connection when it comes to internal HDDs for desktop PCs but for the NAS, there are caddies to place the HDDs in and then insert them. Some booths sold the external HDDs while the others sold the internal ones. There were even booths that sold the projectors.
At the Samsung booth, there was a tablet device that has its own Samsung Dex in which having an external monitor isn't needed. It might be a strange move at first but for business use like typing in business documents with the detachable physical keyboard, the feature might make sense as a cost effective alternative to needing the external monitor, external keyboard and mouse for that same technology. There was also a tablet that has its own Game Launcher or something that is like a Game Mode where you can play games on it without any interruption.
Friday, November 23, 2018
Beatmania IIDX 26 Rootage First Play
Sure, the Hi-Speed settings are changed in Beatmania IIDX 26 Rootage but it probably meant that I had to get used to this new impression. The good thing about the new Hi-Speed setting is that you get to see how fast or slow the note goes down in the preview pane, similar to the one in Pop'n Music before the music starts. It's quite useful although the songs with multiple BPMs are little challenges to the adjustment plans of the Hi-Speed settings. There's even the Hi-Speed value at the bottom with decimal places and the sufficient speed ever since having played the previous Beatmania IIDX games will take place at higher value. Normally by default, you get the range of numbers to choose from in the Hi-Speed settings and they have decimal values but there's also another way to adjust the speed. This is changed in Beatmania IIDX 26 Rootage where the range of numbers is now 0 to 10 and having selected 2, 3 or 4 doesn't probably mean sufficient note falling speed or the speed of the scrolling chart.
Pressing 0 key at the Game Over will show the legal info related to the QR code implementation. You have 60 seconds to read it and can scroll up and down with the turntable but I suppose that reading it is irrelevant in the first place. You can also press 5 key during the Results screen.
The HD* in the Definition Type is removed in which the machines using this previously to cause the offset increase to +1.0. So, if the machine uses the 42" monitor ever since the introduction of that monitor a few years ago, it will have the offset increased.
There are remixes of the licensed songs ever since Beatmania IIDX Gold although one of them, U.S.A., remixed by Phquase is ruined with the muffled auto-tuned vocal but somehow, some player by the name of DDX had the guts to show off the gameplay videos of him dancing to that song. In theory, it's already quite impossible to play the game and dance at the same time when the song is attempted in higher difficulty. It is possible to do what the original Beatmania player, ITOH, did, when it comes to that song, U.S.A. It is hard enough in Hyper difficulty and it's going to be even harder in Another difficulty. However, I won't do what ITOH or DDX did in the arcades even when attempting songs like U.S.A. or other licensed songs. Speaking of licensed songs for IIDX Rootage, it may seems that Particle Arts and U.S.A. are like my favorites or some sort.
Pressing 0 key at the Game Over will show the legal info related to the QR code implementation. You have 60 seconds to read it and can scroll up and down with the turntable but I suppose that reading it is irrelevant in the first place. You can also press 5 key during the Results screen.
The HD* in the Definition Type is removed in which the machines using this previously to cause the offset increase to +1.0. So, if the machine uses the 42" monitor ever since the introduction of that monitor a few years ago, it will have the offset increased.
There are remixes of the licensed songs ever since Beatmania IIDX Gold although one of them, U.S.A., remixed by Phquase is ruined with the muffled auto-tuned vocal but somehow, some player by the name of DDX had the guts to show off the gameplay videos of him dancing to that song. In theory, it's already quite impossible to play the game and dance at the same time when the song is attempted in higher difficulty. It is possible to do what the original Beatmania player, ITOH, did, when it comes to that song, U.S.A. It is hard enough in Hyper difficulty and it's going to be even harder in Another difficulty. However, I won't do what ITOH or DDX did in the arcades even when attempting songs like U.S.A. or other licensed songs. Speaking of licensed songs for IIDX Rootage, it may seems that Particle Arts and U.S.A. are like my favorites or some sort.
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Neo Geo Mini
Like NES and SNES Classic Editions, there's Neo Geo's equivalent which is actually the mini Neo Geo MVS except that the games inside the system are all Neo Geo AES games. One cool thing about Neo Geo Mini is the mini arcade stick and mini monitor which is 4:3 although the bottom part of the mini cabinet is missing when compared to the actual Neo Geo cabinet which has the door at the bottom for the operators to open and gain access to the interior.
Then, there are flaws of this product. First is the lack of included battery and the micro-switches. Second is that the picture quality is a little bit blurry when hooking up the system to the TV. Micro-switches are useful for probably fighting games but the absence of them may ruin the experience for certain people.
Even the upcoming Christmas Limited Edition doesn't fix the flaws above although it has improved game library or something. Will there be plans for me to buy this thing in the future? I don't know. I may have a mixed opinion about this just like other people have. It may act as a portable console but how do you keep it in whatever you carry on the go when compared to the large tablet or a laptop computer? Perhaps, I may have to answer that myself by buying the Neo Geo Mini and keeping in the bag or something.
Then, there are flaws of this product. First is the lack of included battery and the micro-switches. Second is that the picture quality is a little bit blurry when hooking up the system to the TV. Micro-switches are useful for probably fighting games but the absence of them may ruin the experience for certain people.
Even the upcoming Christmas Limited Edition doesn't fix the flaws above although it has improved game library or something. Will there be plans for me to buy this thing in the future? I don't know. I may have a mixed opinion about this just like other people have. It may act as a portable console but how do you keep it in whatever you carry on the go when compared to the large tablet or a laptop computer? Perhaps, I may have to answer that myself by buying the Neo Geo Mini and keeping in the bag or something.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Activo CT10 Audio Player & Sega Saturn
The Sega Saturn is notorious for having complicated hardware specs that posed high difficulty for game developers but that didn't stop it from being successful in Japan. Tons of 2D games were released for that system in Japan although they likely originated from the arcades of something. Capcom and SNK games on Sega Saturn would probably require the RAM cartridge to work correctly. Not to mention that they are more accurate when compared to their arcade versions. Then, there was a campaign that made the console more successful even though it had been outsold and lagging behind, the Segata Sanshiro campaign, in which he travels around the world as a martial artist and commands people to play Sega Saturn games. The first few commercials were kind of brutal or some sort like they involved him doing judo flip on anyone caught by him before he commands them to play the Sega Saturn. Then, there's the Christmas commercial for Sega Saturn in Japan involving Segata Sanshiro as the Santa who commands those kids to play that console as well. The later commercials were obviously in the right direction although some commercials were kind of ridiculous.
Fast forward to this year when Activo CT10 Audio Players were announced. Don't be fooled by the way they look as they're not mini Sega Saturn consoles but rather, they're skinned to look like that console. Even the Virtual YouTuber, Cyber Girl Siro, promotes this audio player as well with the Segata Sanshiro-style command as if she commands you to play the Sega Saturn even though that console was already discontinued and not doing that well when compared to other Sega consoles.
Fast forward to this year when Activo CT10 Audio Players were announced. Don't be fooled by the way they look as they're not mini Sega Saturn consoles but rather, they're skinned to look like that console. Even the Virtual YouTuber, Cyber Girl Siro, promotes this audio player as well with the Segata Sanshiro-style command as if she commands you to play the Sega Saturn even though that console was already discontinued and not doing that well when compared to other Sega consoles.
Current condition of the Love Live franchise
As mega popular as the franchise is, there are notorious portions of the fanbases including the haters. You can look up the articles about this franchise at Soranews24 in English for instance. There are both good things and bad things about what happened mostly in Japan as Soranews24 is the online news blog regarding what goes on in Japan and Asia.
The performance is good and so is the on-going game, Love Live School Idol Festival on both mobile and the arcades in which the voice actresses replicate the fictional idol performances in the concerts although the live streams are full of random talks that nobody else is interested to take a look at. There were events related to this franchise containing gameplay corners including competitions, celebrity's gameplay challenges and even the giant version of the mobile game which is impossible to do properly even as a group. Even the actual idols in Japan are fans of the franchise and it may be surprising.
Then, there are bad sides. There might be cases where the fans made public disturbance by visiting various places that were used in the cartoon shows and the games themselves as well as the fact that some fans were escorted out of the event for wearing too much merchandises that took up more space than usual or even the haters that ruined the display of the Love Live accessories that were in stores for instance. Other public troubles involved someone throwing rice at the screen during the movie screening at the theater, someone assaulting other fans of the same franchise in public, etc.
What about the pathetic side? The calls and responses (Not during the performance, of course) had successfully conquered some public places in such a level that would turn them to the kindergarden or something. Not to mention that there were other activities going on that would make those events look like some kids shows or some sort. Add those flaws with the giant version of the mobile game where you and other 8 players will have to step on the circle-shaped button in front of you to the rhythm and you get the event that only hardcore fans are interested in. One of the event venues takes place at the fountain+performance area inside Sunshine City shopping mall in Japan. I guesss that the competitive event videos are the only saving graces to watch as they showcase the songs from Love Live School Idol Festival being played in highest difficulty possible to see who can get the highest score. Will there be a similar competition that uses the arcade version besides the mobile one, who knows? Another pathetic thing is the microtransactions mixed with loot boxes in which someone spent too much real money on premium in-game currency and then spent that currency on premium loot boxes. I don't know if this might be an endless cycle or not in which the same process was repeated over and over until the specific set of items was found or something. And any gaming whale trying to defend this practice by scolding the gaming news casting YouTubers is kind of pathetic in my opinion. There will be NO REFUNDS even after the game is discontinued and the money made from microtransaction stuff will be used by the game developers for other games. Indeed, the virtual gacha drawing feature in most of mobile games is considered loot boxes and I should have realized that way earlier on how identical the meaning is. This combined set of actions in mobile games like spending too much real money on microtransactions just for premium loot boxes is considered gambling in my opinion and I don't condone that shit. You could have used that large amount of money on buying something else.
You should have something in mind in the present time that light-novels, comic books, movies, dramas, games and even cartoons contain everything that is fictional. Even some of the school teachers are already frowning upon those cartoon-ish contents that if you school assignment contains anything related to those, I guess that to those teachers, things are not going to count and you may have to come up with the alternatives like writing a story about whatever you saw from the OTHER movies you watched in your vacation days for instance but I digress.
The performance is good and so is the on-going game, Love Live School Idol Festival on both mobile and the arcades in which the voice actresses replicate the fictional idol performances in the concerts although the live streams are full of random talks that nobody else is interested to take a look at. There were events related to this franchise containing gameplay corners including competitions, celebrity's gameplay challenges and even the giant version of the mobile game which is impossible to do properly even as a group. Even the actual idols in Japan are fans of the franchise and it may be surprising.
Then, there are bad sides. There might be cases where the fans made public disturbance by visiting various places that were used in the cartoon shows and the games themselves as well as the fact that some fans were escorted out of the event for wearing too much merchandises that took up more space than usual or even the haters that ruined the display of the Love Live accessories that were in stores for instance. Other public troubles involved someone throwing rice at the screen during the movie screening at the theater, someone assaulting other fans of the same franchise in public, etc.
What about the pathetic side? The calls and responses (Not during the performance, of course) had successfully conquered some public places in such a level that would turn them to the kindergarden or something. Not to mention that there were other activities going on that would make those events look like some kids shows or some sort. Add those flaws with the giant version of the mobile game where you and other 8 players will have to step on the circle-shaped button in front of you to the rhythm and you get the event that only hardcore fans are interested in. One of the event venues takes place at the fountain+performance area inside Sunshine City shopping mall in Japan. I guesss that the competitive event videos are the only saving graces to watch as they showcase the songs from Love Live School Idol Festival being played in highest difficulty possible to see who can get the highest score. Will there be a similar competition that uses the arcade version besides the mobile one, who knows? Another pathetic thing is the microtransactions mixed with loot boxes in which someone spent too much real money on premium in-game currency and then spent that currency on premium loot boxes. I don't know if this might be an endless cycle or not in which the same process was repeated over and over until the specific set of items was found or something. And any gaming whale trying to defend this practice by scolding the gaming news casting YouTubers is kind of pathetic in my opinion. There will be NO REFUNDS even after the game is discontinued and the money made from microtransaction stuff will be used by the game developers for other games. Indeed, the virtual gacha drawing feature in most of mobile games is considered loot boxes and I should have realized that way earlier on how identical the meaning is. This combined set of actions in mobile games like spending too much real money on microtransactions just for premium loot boxes is considered gambling in my opinion and I don't condone that shit. You could have used that large amount of money on buying something else.
You should have something in mind in the present time that light-novels, comic books, movies, dramas, games and even cartoons contain everything that is fictional. Even some of the school teachers are already frowning upon those cartoon-ish contents that if you school assignment contains anything related to those, I guess that to those teachers, things are not going to count and you may have to come up with the alternatives like writing a story about whatever you saw from the OTHER movies you watched in your vacation days for instance but I digress.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Wild Animals Racing & Sports Day on Steam
Have you ever seen a game of the 2010s with the lowest graphical fidelity? There was one game on the Switch that came out last year which is like Superman 64 and needless to say, that was one of the worst games of last year due to N64-era graphics, poor translation and scripting, uninteresting gameplay as well as other awful things to begin with. Speaking of N64-like graphics, it seems that Wild Animals Racing and Wild Animals Sports Day on Steam are notorious for that. The UI and presentation may probably make Triangle Service cringe when they see such games like those two as if Triangle Service games have better graphics, presentation and gameplay.
Then, things are getting worse for Wild Animals Sports Day with more flaws than ever. The environmental design, stage design as well as how the stages are made, are poorly done in my opinion. Even certain stages are total insults to the Olympics such as the Gymnastics stage which shouldn't probably exist as I have no idea on how the proper gameplay concept works for Gymnastics stage in Olympics video games. The Tennis stage doesn't have various character animations either. At least, those Olympics-themed games by Konami are fun ever since the past and there's going to be the reboot of Hyper Sports on Switch in the future.
How could people give the positive reviews for Wild Animals Sports Day like it's beyond me? Plus, I had discovered those two games from various Virtual YouTubers. It's even better if Triangle Service have never discovered those two games in the first place.
Then, things are getting worse for Wild Animals Sports Day with more flaws than ever. The environmental design, stage design as well as how the stages are made, are poorly done in my opinion. Even certain stages are total insults to the Olympics such as the Gymnastics stage which shouldn't probably exist as I have no idea on how the proper gameplay concept works for Gymnastics stage in Olympics video games. The Tennis stage doesn't have various character animations either. At least, those Olympics-themed games by Konami are fun ever since the past and there's going to be the reboot of Hyper Sports on Switch in the future.
How could people give the positive reviews for Wild Animals Sports Day like it's beyond me? Plus, I had discovered those two games from various Virtual YouTubers. It's even better if Triangle Service have never discovered those two games in the first place.
ATGames' Bait & Switch
In regards to the Bandai Namco Flashback Blast which recently came out in various stores in the US, there was a controversy surrounding the version differences as well as the emulation issue. Firstly, when the product came out, both store versions had the home console versions of the games with one of the games being different depending on where you've bought that stuff from. What attracted more attention is that two reviewers had reviewed two different versions with one of them being given the product containing the arcade versions of the games as proven in the screenshots. Unfortunately, the one containing arcade versions cannot be found at all as all you get is the one containing home console versions.
John Hancock, the victim who was given the one containing the arcade versions as the review copy, was DECEIVED. It took him a few days for him to realize this after reviewing the product. It appears that ATGames had given reviewers like him the superior quality version that runs smoothly with customers getting an inferior performing one which obviously pissed them off. There are emulation issues plaguing the product that contains the home console versions. Not to mention that the screenshots DO NOT MATCH what's shown on the gaming screen whatsoever. A huge problem is that how shady the business practices are from ATGames as if the reviewers get given the superior performing version of the product while customers are given the inferior one so that it can be mis-reviewed or something. That caused John Hancock to be blamed or lose trust to people over that situation but thankfully, even he was PISSED and warned you NOT to buy that product at all costs.
There has been tons of Namco compilation games you can get but Bandai Namco Flashback Blast is the one you should avoid LIKE A PLAGUE! They surely contain the arcade versions although the 32-bit console versions have screen differences like the vertically-oriented games having shifted things over while retaining everything else from the arcade versions.
The worse thing was that ATGames blocked those who criticized their practices on Twitter as if the company thought the criticizers were trolling or something. If's there are professional criticisms thrown at you, all you have to do is analyze on what goes wrong and see if you can address the criticisms.
John Hancock, the victim who was given the one containing the arcade versions as the review copy, was DECEIVED. It took him a few days for him to realize this after reviewing the product. It appears that ATGames had given reviewers like him the superior quality version that runs smoothly with customers getting an inferior performing one which obviously pissed them off. There are emulation issues plaguing the product that contains the home console versions. Not to mention that the screenshots DO NOT MATCH what's shown on the gaming screen whatsoever. A huge problem is that how shady the business practices are from ATGames as if the reviewers get given the superior performing version of the product while customers are given the inferior one so that it can be mis-reviewed or something. That caused John Hancock to be blamed or lose trust to people over that situation but thankfully, even he was PISSED and warned you NOT to buy that product at all costs.
There has been tons of Namco compilation games you can get but Bandai Namco Flashback Blast is the one you should avoid LIKE A PLAGUE! They surely contain the arcade versions although the 32-bit console versions have screen differences like the vertically-oriented games having shifted things over while retaining everything else from the arcade versions.
The worse thing was that ATGames blocked those who criticized their practices on Twitter as if the company thought the criticizers were trolling or something. If's there are professional criticisms thrown at you, all you have to do is analyze on what goes wrong and see if you can address the criticisms.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Hackadoll franchise
The franchise started with the mobile app and the web where you can browse the news related to whatever contents based on your interests with the characters interacting with you to see how they can help you advance on. It's a news app that contains different types of contents. Whether it's about cartoon shows, games, dramas, movies, comic books, etc. Unfortunately, the animated adaptation is a total mess like it's a polar opposite. The same characters pissed off the client from Episode 1 and stuff, not to mention, made a public mess in various places such as the idol performance being poorly executed, messing up the animation, doing some s***al shit in the vein of a visual novel game or some sort and other chaotic shit. The third episode is unspeakably controversial to me when it comes to a nerd working at the server room who happens to be a J-cartoon nerd or some sense in which he becomes so radicalized enough into making something that causes things to overload and the company building to explode. Another episode is regarding some other cartoon nerd who tries to deliver the present to the voice actress with the Hackadoll characters handling the security guards probably due to the fact that this may be the last live performance the voice actress is going to have which causes many nerds including him to be sad. Even some other episodes are messed up as well.
If you haven't watched the animation adaptation of Hackadoll, don't bother. I find it a complete disaster and this is not how you get helped out as a client. However, there's even a Virtual YouTuber channel of Hackadoll which is even better to watch although it's still missing out the proper background Hackadoll the Animation and other Virtual YouTubers have. Their channel may be average or something but that's a better content to watch instead. It's too bad the app is in Japanese and I don't know if there's a Western equivalent of this app.
If you haven't watched the animation adaptation of Hackadoll, don't bother. I find it a complete disaster and this is not how you get helped out as a client. However, there's even a Virtual YouTuber channel of Hackadoll which is even better to watch although it's still missing out the proper background Hackadoll the Animation and other Virtual YouTubers have. Their channel may be average or something but that's a better content to watch instead. It's too bad the app is in Japanese and I don't know if there's a Western equivalent of this app.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Bad influence over whatever contents?
I still can remember the past news in which various incidents were caused and people put the blame on video games without any knowledge out of their ignorance. What about the other types of contents that had the same kinds of bad influences as well? Apparently, there were also past cases like that like someone forging an identity card with false identity in which that person was named after one of the fictional characters from some franchise, someone assaulting some toxic fans on sight in public or something, someone throwing rice at the screen in the cinema theater, etc. Those were like real examples of mental issues that turned those individuals into some public troublemakers. Sure, certain franchises may have toxic fanbases like you may have seen the immature portions for example, but it doesn't give you any excuse to come up with something that provokes such fanbases like that. Your best bet will be to stay away from the toxic and immature side of the fanbases if you can because once you gain backlash like that, you will be a notorious kind in mature people's opinion like people may end up talking shit about you because you've come up with some statements that offend those fanbases like that.
So, do games, cartoons, dramas, movies, etc. cause such bad influences like that? To put the blame on stuffs like that over such bad influences is kind of stupid in my opinion and the worst thing is that someone wanted a negative change to those kinds of AAA games like Fallout 4 and Doom 4 because she thought that people were applauding and ch***ing loudly over whatever they saw on the game trailers. A negative change would require something political but then, such a complaint like that already drew backlash from tons of gamers alike. What about Resident Evil 7 which is said to scare the shit out of people like it's both an action and horror game, then? Sure, the atmosphere of that game is horrific and dark with mutated beings trying to attack you in a scary way and you'll need some weapons to fight back. At the beginning, you're going to find the supplies and weapons you need for survival but as you progress throughout those AAA games, you get more powerful stuffs along with the armors. Well, that's one example of a western AAA game but I'm sure that there are already those AAA games where you can choose to do good deeds like Metro and Fallout series in which many players probably prefer for good endings. However, those same games can also allow you to do bad things and obviously, there will be in-game consequences like a loss of karma for example.
Lastly, it doesn't matter if the game is rated E, T or even M. There were already past cases of individuals landing themselves in public trouble like someone going to gaming shops and ruining the displays of whatever product out there over unacceptable change or something or perhaps some kid emulated some AAA game by driving his parents' car only to cause a bunch of public damages on the go. It's an extremely questionable topic and the survey results about the most dangerous hobbies were true as I realized.
So, do games, cartoons, dramas, movies, etc. cause such bad influences like that? To put the blame on stuffs like that over such bad influences is kind of stupid in my opinion and the worst thing is that someone wanted a negative change to those kinds of AAA games like Fallout 4 and Doom 4 because she thought that people were applauding and ch***ing loudly over whatever they saw on the game trailers. A negative change would require something political but then, such a complaint like that already drew backlash from tons of gamers alike. What about Resident Evil 7 which is said to scare the shit out of people like it's both an action and horror game, then? Sure, the atmosphere of that game is horrific and dark with mutated beings trying to attack you in a scary way and you'll need some weapons to fight back. At the beginning, you're going to find the supplies and weapons you need for survival but as you progress throughout those AAA games, you get more powerful stuffs along with the armors. Well, that's one example of a western AAA game but I'm sure that there are already those AAA games where you can choose to do good deeds like Metro and Fallout series in which many players probably prefer for good endings. However, those same games can also allow you to do bad things and obviously, there will be in-game consequences like a loss of karma for example.
Lastly, it doesn't matter if the game is rated E, T or even M. There were already past cases of individuals landing themselves in public trouble like someone going to gaming shops and ruining the displays of whatever product out there over unacceptable change or something or perhaps some kid emulated some AAA game by driving his parents' car only to cause a bunch of public damages on the go. It's an extremely questionable topic and the survey results about the most dangerous hobbies were true as I realized.
Linus Torvalds and new controversial Linux Code of Conduct
Well, it seems that there were some bastards trying to mess with Linus Torvalds with the new Code of Conduct for Linux which can cause various legal issues with the developers. Up until the present time, the developers were having a fine time in developing their own Linux distros or other stuffs for Linux OSes until someone implemented the new Code of Conduct. This caused the developers to threaten to pull the 'Kill Switch' as an act of resistance against it. What it means is that, they must pull their code and not contribute to those radical warriors. That's not justice at times and the Linux Community is concerned about it. At that time, the famous man, Linus Torvalds, had left the team for two weeks before making a comeback in developing Linux Kernel 4.19.
One unacceptable thing was that those radical activists had been trying to force the Linux project to join the Contributor Covenant since a few years ago. Its special Code of Conduct is the current Linux CoC as of this present time. The activists behind the new Code of Conduct had the guts to use it to kick out one particular group of developers based on some disturbing motives from its guidelines for no reason.
Another unacceptable behavior is that one of those activists had the guts to blame Ted Tso for not signing off the patch. He was pretty much targeted for resisting the Intel backdoor that would allow the controversial cyber-spying to happen. Who knows if those activists were supporting that spying or not? Not to mention that the same person who accused Ted Tso like that had violated the new CoC as indicated from the amount of backlash replies on social media.
Sure, Linus Torvalds had behaved badly in the past as reflected by him during his temporarily departure but to cause the developers to pull the code and rescind the license is one wrong thing. But the thing is, even Linus Torvalds had signed something for this new Code of Conduct and the defenders had the guts to claim that resisting this new CoC is equal to wanting different groups to be harassed which is obviously not true for us.
There may be a link leading to the news which is not recent anymore as we know of the recent update about Linus Torvalds as seen in the recent Softpedia article regarding Linux Kernel 4.19 here: https://lulz.com/linux-devs-threaten-killswitch-coc-controversy-1252/.
One unacceptable thing was that those radical activists had been trying to force the Linux project to join the Contributor Covenant since a few years ago. Its special Code of Conduct is the current Linux CoC as of this present time. The activists behind the new Code of Conduct had the guts to use it to kick out one particular group of developers based on some disturbing motives from its guidelines for no reason.
Another unacceptable behavior is that one of those activists had the guts to blame Ted Tso for not signing off the patch. He was pretty much targeted for resisting the Intel backdoor that would allow the controversial cyber-spying to happen. Who knows if those activists were supporting that spying or not? Not to mention that the same person who accused Ted Tso like that had violated the new CoC as indicated from the amount of backlash replies on social media.
Sure, Linus Torvalds had behaved badly in the past as reflected by him during his temporarily departure but to cause the developers to pull the code and rescind the license is one wrong thing. But the thing is, even Linus Torvalds had signed something for this new Code of Conduct and the defenders had the guts to claim that resisting this new CoC is equal to wanting different groups to be harassed which is obviously not true for us.
There may be a link leading to the news which is not recent anymore as we know of the recent update about Linus Torvalds as seen in the recent Softpedia article regarding Linux Kernel 4.19 here: https://lulz.com/linux-devs-threaten-killswitch-coc-controversy-1252/.
Monday, October 15, 2018
Windows 10 1809 update - A bug that causes data to be removed upon updated
A bug or not, this is an act of development incompetence coming from Microsoft in which the latest major update to Windows 10 caused the personal data to be removed due to a bug. Microsoft was aware of that bug but it was a serious technical offense among users regardless of whichever edition of Windows 10, whether the OS is for home and personal use, work or even school use. Such kind of unexpected data removal is irreversible and who knows if you have time to find the technical culprit that did this to your data.
Backing up data has been an important policy and if things like this happen to you at anytime like the program you use does more than what you instruct it to do for instance, the consequential events are irreversible. I had a past time in which the cleanup program did more than what I instructed it to like it took out my data that was stored on my local account and that was like several years ago. Nowadays, I've been skeptical on what the same programs will do but obviously, the culprit is supposedly something else I don't know of.
Before I wrote this blog post about Windows 10 1809 update, I already did the data backup out of my concern that the same thing from my past may happen again once I update my current computer to this major update. Even the newest Windows Server was affected by this situation that the revised release would be needed and recently went GA stage this month.
In case of some editions of Windows 10 in which Windows Update's update method cannot be made Manual or even Disabled, this update would become a next update without your knowledge in which your computer would be patched even after a series of delays and then all of a sudden, your data was like gone after this patch. Who are you going to blame for this incident, huh? Do you go after a specific individual or group or even Microsoft for that? Also, to make false suspicions that someone from your house had tempered with your stuff EVEN THOUGH NOBODY DID THAT over this update was going to be plain stupid in my opinion and to install the goddamn security camera over the area your computer is situated in is another stupid thing I can imagine of.
As of this time, I'm still at 1803 but things are expected to change in the future provided that future updates DON'T mess things up. What about those saying that there was no such incident as this as if this whole thing is fake news to them? Well, just ignore them. It's like they're trying to deny the serious technical incidents that already happened out of their ignorant defenses. Even the official explanations regarding this incident can be found in Microsoft website as evidences.
Oh, the hybrid synchronization between your devices and the cloud service doesn't fully count as a regular backup to me as indicated from my past time that once I initiated the cleanup, the program did more than what I instructed that even my data was removed. Perhaps, removing the Windows Temp files caused that kind of shit to happen or something. And when that happened, data stored on the folder that is being synchronized to the cloud storage would be gone from both my devices and the cloud service. The only backup left would be on the other computer involved in the same synchronization as well but how do you restore the data from that computer? Firstly, that computer must be completely offline so that no synchronization will happen and then you copy the same data from there to the computer whose same data was removed. Then, you synchronize the data stored on the affected computer again to the cloud. So, if you have Dropbox on both computers, you essentially have the same data on them and the cloud storage but if something like that incident removed the data stored on one of the computers, the same data would be gone from the cloud storage. The other computer still had that data by then but if you make it online with Dropbox active, that same data will be gone from it as well.
If you do have data stored on the other drive in which your account folders would be there as the default location and something like this incident happened, chances were, the data on the main drive where the OS is stored would be gone or something according to some description involving Known Folder Redirection.
As of this present time, the 1809 update was re-released that it may be safe to get and move on. The overall lesson is that, when technical incidents like the Windows 10 1809 update's removal of user data happened, you cannot anyhow put the blame and take disciplinary actions without knowing the culprit behind them.
Backing up data has been an important policy and if things like this happen to you at anytime like the program you use does more than what you instruct it to do for instance, the consequential events are irreversible. I had a past time in which the cleanup program did more than what I instructed it to like it took out my data that was stored on my local account and that was like several years ago. Nowadays, I've been skeptical on what the same programs will do but obviously, the culprit is supposedly something else I don't know of.
Before I wrote this blog post about Windows 10 1809 update, I already did the data backup out of my concern that the same thing from my past may happen again once I update my current computer to this major update. Even the newest Windows Server was affected by this situation that the revised release would be needed and recently went GA stage this month.
In case of some editions of Windows 10 in which Windows Update's update method cannot be made Manual or even Disabled, this update would become a next update without your knowledge in which your computer would be patched even after a series of delays and then all of a sudden, your data was like gone after this patch. Who are you going to blame for this incident, huh? Do you go after a specific individual or group or even Microsoft for that? Also, to make false suspicions that someone from your house had tempered with your stuff EVEN THOUGH NOBODY DID THAT over this update was going to be plain stupid in my opinion and to install the goddamn security camera over the area your computer is situated in is another stupid thing I can imagine of.
As of this time, I'm still at 1803 but things are expected to change in the future provided that future updates DON'T mess things up. What about those saying that there was no such incident as this as if this whole thing is fake news to them? Well, just ignore them. It's like they're trying to deny the serious technical incidents that already happened out of their ignorant defenses. Even the official explanations regarding this incident can be found in Microsoft website as evidences.
Oh, the hybrid synchronization between your devices and the cloud service doesn't fully count as a regular backup to me as indicated from my past time that once I initiated the cleanup, the program did more than what I instructed that even my data was removed. Perhaps, removing the Windows Temp files caused that kind of shit to happen or something. And when that happened, data stored on the folder that is being synchronized to the cloud storage would be gone from both my devices and the cloud service. The only backup left would be on the other computer involved in the same synchronization as well but how do you restore the data from that computer? Firstly, that computer must be completely offline so that no synchronization will happen and then you copy the same data from there to the computer whose same data was removed. Then, you synchronize the data stored on the affected computer again to the cloud. So, if you have Dropbox on both computers, you essentially have the same data on them and the cloud storage but if something like that incident removed the data stored on one of the computers, the same data would be gone from the cloud storage. The other computer still had that data by then but if you make it online with Dropbox active, that same data will be gone from it as well.
If you do have data stored on the other drive in which your account folders would be there as the default location and something like this incident happened, chances were, the data on the main drive where the OS is stored would be gone or something according to some description involving Known Folder Redirection.
As of this present time, the 1809 update was re-released that it may be safe to get and move on. The overall lesson is that, when technical incidents like the Windows 10 1809 update's removal of user data happened, you cannot anyhow put the blame and take disciplinary actions without knowing the culprit behind them.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Intra, Android app to protect against DNS manipulation
The app has the ability to encrypt your Android's connection to the DNS server in which your device is protected from DNS manipulation attacks and you can gain unrestricted access to the internet. It is one of the apps that circumvents censorship and you can use VPN to unrestrict even more stuffs.
However, let me be skeptical here, while you obtain those security tools that protect your devices from cyber-attacks done by cyber criminals, some of the tools are notorious for allowing cyber criminals to use them undetected, not to mention that they are over-protective and make your internet connection unreliable in making competent and smooth connection while those protection stuffs are enabled. The next notorious thing is that not all sites can be accessed smoothly while protection features like Intra are active. There's a concerning question like that from the FAQ section of the app's official web site. Lastly, the usage of VPN to get around the restriction just to access the foreign sites and contents while knowing the fact that you're not from that country.
One thing about DNS manipulation is that as part of the cyber-attack campaign organized by cyber-criminals, there's a chance that you can be led to fake websites masquerading as the real ones which can infect your devices with malware or maybe the fake websites containing information you may not believe while the real sites containing true information are being blocked or something. Who knows what will happen to you next after you've known the true information nobody's supposed to know?
Other answers from the app's FAQ from the official website include:
However, let me be skeptical here, while you obtain those security tools that protect your devices from cyber-attacks done by cyber criminals, some of the tools are notorious for allowing cyber criminals to use them undetected, not to mention that they are over-protective and make your internet connection unreliable in making competent and smooth connection while those protection stuffs are enabled. The next notorious thing is that not all sites can be accessed smoothly while protection features like Intra are active. There's a concerning question like that from the FAQ section of the app's official web site. Lastly, the usage of VPN to get around the restriction just to access the foreign sites and contents while knowing the fact that you're not from that country.
One thing about DNS manipulation is that as part of the cyber-attack campaign organized by cyber-criminals, there's a chance that you can be led to fake websites masquerading as the real ones which can infect your devices with malware or maybe the fake websites containing information you may not believe while the real sites containing true information are being blocked or something. Who knows what will happen to you next after you've known the true information nobody's supposed to know?
Other answers from the app's FAQ from the official website include:
- Using encryption to your Android device to make sure that you're sent to the right place.
- Using Google's public DNS in which data collected will be removed within 48 hours.
- Having a tiny 'split horizon' VPN in which your internet connection won't be slowed down because the app is not the VPN-type.
- Being an alternate to Private DNS setting from Android 9.0 as it is for Android 4.0 and later.
- Excluding apps from Intra's protection so that they can work normally again.
Google+ for consumers to be shut down in the future
The bug that caused the data breach was discovered in March this year by Google which was several months ago but they chose not to disclose it as they found no evidence. It started a few years ago in which it exposed the users' private information until the time Google discovered this year. It was a serious technical offense when it happened that it opened doors to investigation. The bug was discovered while Google is working on Project Strobe, an internal audit of third-party developer access to Google accounts and Android device data.
Luckily, following the discovery of the bug, it was eventally patched but about Google+, it looks like some service nobody cares for and especially for the previous controversies Google caused in the past like the integration of the service with YouTube comments and such. Such controversy allowed the indecent and troll comments to be unreportable but that was the past that the controversy was reversed and even then, people use the more popular social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
The aim of Project Strobe is to improve data privacy for consumers in which things you posted on Google+ will not be collected or even other services, as well as the Third-Party APIs. Not to mention the improvement of the data permission for Android apps.
Luckily, following the discovery of the bug, it was eventally patched but about Google+, it looks like some service nobody cares for and especially for the previous controversies Google caused in the past like the integration of the service with YouTube comments and such. Such controversy allowed the indecent and troll comments to be unreportable but that was the past that the controversy was reversed and even then, people use the more popular social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
The aim of Project Strobe is to improve data privacy for consumers in which things you posted on Google+ will not be collected or even other services, as well as the Third-Party APIs. Not to mention the improvement of the data permission for Android apps.
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Sound Voltex Gameplay Report (September 15)
At the recent time, I already had the policy on trying out the electronic music in Sound Voltex series provided that the tracks are originals or something. The number of remixes of Touhou Project songs has been growing way too quick like it is way too outnumbering and it can be boring trying to listen to endless amounts of remixes of the same song. Not to mention that the tracklist of Sound Voltex IV has been like shoehorned with some weird songs, songs from Tokimeki Idol which obviously fit right in Bemani games, as well as more Touhou related arranges disguised as Sound Voltex Floor tracks and even tracks taken from Beatstream series which was already discontinued in favor of Nostalgia.
Well, I guess that this may be the last time playing Sound Voltex but I still have yet to attempt the remaining songs in Beatmania IIDX and Groove Coaster.
Well, I guess that this may be the last time playing Sound Voltex but I still have yet to attempt the remaining songs in Beatmania IIDX and Groove Coaster.
EA under investigation for not complying with Belgian law that goes against loot-boxes
There are tons of recent controversies and backlashes that EA had caused ever since the inclusion of mobile gaming elements in Star Wars Battlefront as well as other EA games that had the similar elements. Even other console/computer games had the similar elements as well including those released in Japan only like Border Break for Playstation 4 which actually had the microtransactions and loot boxes as to differentiate from the arcade counterpart but that is a topic for the other time. Most smartphone/tablet games have the microtransaction and loot-box elements in which you start the game with the default amount of basic and premium virtual currencies with the premium ones being obtained with real money or other ways. To consume the premium virtual currencies will be to use them to continue the game or perhaps, drawing random items like a pack of 10 random items for instance. You don't know what the actual 10 items are like since everything is randomized plus you're consuming tons of premium virtual currency for that. And I already know on how dangerous the microtransactions and loot-boxes are combined. You're trying to get a specific item that is much rarer than normally rare but this is not easy as it is some kind of luck.
For EA, they've been under criminal investigation for not complying with the Belgian law that goes against loot boxes. The serious consequence for violating that law is a paid fine or even worse, jail time and it looks like EA doesn't seem to learn or something. The worse thing is that the EA CEO tends to defend the loot box feature by saying that it is not gambling. The loot box feature combined with microtransaction is already a different way of gambling to me, that is, if a player spends real money on the microtransaction stuff for premium virtual currency and then using that currency just for the loot box feature like trying to look for something that is extremely rare. If you're going to defend this kind of gambling and tell us that we're missing out something or inferior to the others as if we don't have a complete set of ultra rare items 100% prepared, let me imagine that you're on the same boat as that EA CEO.
In case of a Belgian law that goes against loot-boxes in video games, many modern games are having that feature taken out to comply with that law as if many game developers had already obeyed that law. One dangerous example is the consumption of large premium virtual currency which is obtained with large amount of real money just to obtain a specific item that is extremely rare. Maybe those kind of cases are why is there a law that goes against loot boxes. In my opinion, it's a good move for me and that should prevent tons of real money from being spent on microtransactions, as if you can spend real money on something else like food, water and even rents.
A few famous gaming news YouTubers like SidAlpha, ReviewTechUSA and YongYea for instance, had already made videos about this and the reputation of EA has been quite bad as if the apologies and realizations of mistakes are kind of twisted or something.
For EA, they've been under criminal investigation for not complying with the Belgian law that goes against loot boxes. The serious consequence for violating that law is a paid fine or even worse, jail time and it looks like EA doesn't seem to learn or something. The worse thing is that the EA CEO tends to defend the loot box feature by saying that it is not gambling. The loot box feature combined with microtransaction is already a different way of gambling to me, that is, if a player spends real money on the microtransaction stuff for premium virtual currency and then using that currency just for the loot box feature like trying to look for something that is extremely rare. If you're going to defend this kind of gambling and tell us that we're missing out something or inferior to the others as if we don't have a complete set of ultra rare items 100% prepared, let me imagine that you're on the same boat as that EA CEO.
In case of a Belgian law that goes against loot-boxes in video games, many modern games are having that feature taken out to comply with that law as if many game developers had already obeyed that law. One dangerous example is the consumption of large premium virtual currency which is obtained with large amount of real money just to obtain a specific item that is extremely rare. Maybe those kind of cases are why is there a law that goes against loot boxes. In my opinion, it's a good move for me and that should prevent tons of real money from being spent on microtransactions, as if you can spend real money on something else like food, water and even rents.
A few famous gaming news YouTubers like SidAlpha, ReviewTechUSA and YongYea for instance, had already made videos about this and the reputation of EA has been quite bad as if the apologies and realizations of mistakes are kind of twisted or something.
Brave's GDPR breach complaint against Google
Brave the web browser with privacy in mind is made by the Mozilla Project co-founder and according to the complaint from Brave, it appears that Google and other ad-tech companies had breached the GDPR which had gone effective several months ago in EU. That regulation was one important step in protecting individuals' privacy but it was a shame that Google breached such a recent regulation like that.
According to the official article from Brave, each time you visit a website containing 'Behavioral Ad', intimate personal data can be shown to tons of computers. The ad-tech companies broadcast this kind of data to solicit potential advertisers' bids for the sake of the attention of you visiting that website. Under GDPR, this kind of technical action known as 'bid request' to online industries is unlawful as it fails to protect intimate personal data from unauthorized access.
The Brave web browser started two years ago with the ability to block third-party cookies and it is based on Chromium browser. It is one of the lightweight browser with advanced ad-tracking controls but don't expect many common things this browser may have although there was an announcement that they would include the prototype Tor mode with Private Tab Browsing. Speaking of Tor, it is unspeakably notorious for being used by cyber criminals and other kinds of baddies alike in addition to those seeking high privacy. The worse thing is that, the privacy protection has gone too far that many online services you go to regularly falsely complain about your account being compromised.
According to the official article from Brave, each time you visit a website containing 'Behavioral Ad', intimate personal data can be shown to tons of computers. The ad-tech companies broadcast this kind of data to solicit potential advertisers' bids for the sake of the attention of you visiting that website. Under GDPR, this kind of technical action known as 'bid request' to online industries is unlawful as it fails to protect intimate personal data from unauthorized access.
The Brave web browser started two years ago with the ability to block third-party cookies and it is based on Chromium browser. It is one of the lightweight browser with advanced ad-tracking controls but don't expect many common things this browser may have although there was an announcement that they would include the prototype Tor mode with Private Tab Browsing. Speaking of Tor, it is unspeakably notorious for being used by cyber criminals and other kinds of baddies alike in addition to those seeking high privacy. The worse thing is that, the privacy protection has gone too far that many online services you go to regularly falsely complain about your account being compromised.
Controversial Copyright Directive Article changes in EU
A few days ago, the controversial changes to Copyright Directive Articles 11 & 13 were approved which could spell doom to the entire internet as they are becoming the automated censorship and link taxes. For the changed Article 11, the tech companies will have to pay the taxes to the media organizations for direct links to the material published and that can affect the way you shared things from. Not to mention that the way you use information for research, presentation or even educational purposes can be affected as well. For the changed Article 13, it forces the tech companies to create some kind of automatic filter system to filter out the copyright infringing contents. Another case will be related to the Right To Be Forgotten part whose changes were also made controversial in which things will be filtered out in the search engine and that can be a serious disaster. What if the truth about what the corrupt company does is all censored for instance? The worse thing is that, the Right To Be Forgotten concept will be applied globally. I don't know if even the changes to Articles 11 & 13 will also be applied globally or not but this is the proper time to oppose such changes.
The example of the Right To Be Forgotten concept is that someone wants certain things about them to be completely filtered out in the search engine results but what about some other scenario in which some company has done something bad and wants all the information about their actions filtered then? That can be a serious disaster when compared to a service giving you a filtering feature to filter out inappropriate words.
We have limited time till January of next year where the voting process will begin behind the closed-doors.
The example of the Right To Be Forgotten concept is that someone wants certain things about them to be completely filtered out in the search engine results but what about some other scenario in which some company has done something bad and wants all the information about their actions filtered then? That can be a serious disaster when compared to a service giving you a filtering feature to filter out inappropriate words.
We have limited time till January of next year where the voting process will begin behind the closed-doors.
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Nintendo sues various websites that offer ROMs and Emulation
In theory, what the websites have been doing is the Gray-Area stuff in which they share the Roms online and make them available for download. It's to allow people to relieve their nostalgic moments about having played those retro games on retro game consoles in their past provided that they own the games but what stinks about this scene is that sites like those are also used for piracy stuff despite the disclaimers that tell you to remove the roms you've downloaded for the games you don't own within 24 hours. Another challenge is that the assets of the older games are probably ripped with the tools related ot the emulators or something when compared to assets ripped out of the modern games which are obviously bought from whatever stores. That includes the fanmade original characters and assets based on the ripped assets posted in various asset reource websites like The Spriters Resource for instance.
In the recent time, Nintendo had filed lawsuits against those websites that offer those Roms like Emuparadise, Cool Roms, etc. It's going to be an endless fight against piracy that way but other companies already had the workarounds like Sega offering paid roms that can be bought through Megadrive Classics Hub on Steam legally, Hamster Corporation offering classic arcade games via Arcade Archives on 8th generation consoles or even other consoles like NES and SNES Classic Edition consoles and of course Neo Geo Mini. Even better, Megadrive Classics Hub on Steam offers the modding opportunity as if you can mod whatever Megadrive game you've bought and then make it available for other Steam players. One confusing concern though, games you've bought for Megadrive Classics Hub can be played on other emulators and there's no way for others to tell on where you've obtained the roms from.
You know what went worse in terms of piracy scene? An event booth that consisted of a computer running the emulators in which you can't tell where the roms are taken from or even the simulator of some official game in action like there's no way you can tell on where the tracks are taken from. One legal suggestion for example will be to bring the computer running Megadrive Classics Hub on Steam and there you go, provided that the roms are actually bought for that, not obtained elsewhere.
In the recent time, Nintendo had filed lawsuits against those websites that offer those Roms like Emuparadise, Cool Roms, etc. It's going to be an endless fight against piracy that way but other companies already had the workarounds like Sega offering paid roms that can be bought through Megadrive Classics Hub on Steam legally, Hamster Corporation offering classic arcade games via Arcade Archives on 8th generation consoles or even other consoles like NES and SNES Classic Edition consoles and of course Neo Geo Mini. Even better, Megadrive Classics Hub on Steam offers the modding opportunity as if you can mod whatever Megadrive game you've bought and then make it available for other Steam players. One confusing concern though, games you've bought for Megadrive Classics Hub can be played on other emulators and there's no way for others to tell on where you've obtained the roms from.
You know what went worse in terms of piracy scene? An event booth that consisted of a computer running the emulators in which you can't tell where the roms are taken from or even the simulator of some official game in action like there's no way you can tell on where the tracks are taken from. One legal suggestion for example will be to bring the computer running Megadrive Classics Hub on Steam and there you go, provided that the roms are actually bought for that, not obtained elsewhere.
Monday, September 3, 2018
Aho/Idiot Girl
Another franchise with the worst academical character who's notorious for having scored 0 marks on tests and the worse thing is that she's socially awkward enough that she gets the male character who's the polar opposite of her irritated. She surely likes eating bananas or whatnot but the interesting thing about this cartoon show is due to the same voice actors for some of the characters.
The opening is kind of lazily done with the title in the background with characters around the title scene and that's that. Normally, there should be scenes of characters in action but this is one blank scene in the opening that doesn't count as a proper scene.
I sort of look like the kind of adult nowadays who doesn't like the worst kind of characters for being too terrible in academics as in the characters who score 0 marks on tests and exams like always. Perhaps, I find the Doraemon cartoon franchise to be a serious mistake due to the similar character who scores 0 like always on tests but this cartoon takes place in the characters' high school days and no protagonists of the games/movies/dramas/other cartoons that take place in high school want that sort of score. It may look like I should have discovered better stuffs where characters always pass the tests instead although it may be optional to discover those where some characters score that high in tests/exams.
I wonder if Aho/Idiot Girl and Doraemon cartoon franchises may bring bad influence on students or something but I digress. Perhaps, this is one cartoon franchise I'm already avoiding like a plague and I won't bother knowing what the rest of the episodes are like. I don't know what kind of ideas the author came up with to produce the hell out of the comic book of the same name before it got animation adapted.
Unlike the blog post I wrote about High Score Girl which has important reminders of the past actions which are still on-going nowadays generation by generation, there won't be a finalized opinion about Aho/Idiot Girl since I'm already avoiding it. Even if I know more things about it, there's no point in giving it whatever opinion score I may come up with as there's no way to tell if this cartoon show is bad or not in my opinion.
The opening is kind of lazily done with the title in the background with characters around the title scene and that's that. Normally, there should be scenes of characters in action but this is one blank scene in the opening that doesn't count as a proper scene.
I sort of look like the kind of adult nowadays who doesn't like the worst kind of characters for being too terrible in academics as in the characters who score 0 marks on tests and exams like always. Perhaps, I find the Doraemon cartoon franchise to be a serious mistake due to the similar character who scores 0 like always on tests but this cartoon takes place in the characters' high school days and no protagonists of the games/movies/dramas/other cartoons that take place in high school want that sort of score. It may look like I should have discovered better stuffs where characters always pass the tests instead although it may be optional to discover those where some characters score that high in tests/exams.
I wonder if Aho/Idiot Girl and Doraemon cartoon franchises may bring bad influence on students or something but I digress. Perhaps, this is one cartoon franchise I'm already avoiding like a plague and I won't bother knowing what the rest of the episodes are like. I don't know what kind of ideas the author came up with to produce the hell out of the comic book of the same name before it got animation adapted.
Unlike the blog post I wrote about High Score Girl which has important reminders of the past actions which are still on-going nowadays generation by generation, there won't be a finalized opinion about Aho/Idiot Girl since I'm already avoiding it. Even if I know more things about it, there's no point in giving it whatever opinion score I may come up with as there's no way to tell if this cartoon show is bad or not in my opinion.
Saturday, September 1, 2018
High Score Girl
Perhaps, there are tons of important things to blog about here as well as various things that will make us realize our past mistakes. The comic book series started 8 years ago and it takes place in the 1990s where the gaming scene had become bigger than ever and it's even larger today. It's about the male protagonist who has video gaming as the only dedication but keep in mind that the beginning takes place in his elementary school days and his test grades are too horrendous at the time due to too much gaming. It is when the gaming scene has been going too far for people at young age and that poses a serious problem for parents and schools alike. The solution will be disciplinary actions like children getting grounded over gaming or something for instance. Talk about a guilty experience we feel from similar past actions of ours.
The next notorious thing in the comic book series is going to the arcade centers as getting away from classes at a young age. That never happened to me in the past although I went to the local arcade centers like during the school holidays. In some chapters of the comic book or some episodes of the animated adaption which was supposed to happen a few years ago but instead, it happened this year after the lawsuit was cleared between SNK Playmore and Square Enix, there are scenes where some delinquents freak out and start a fight in the arcades. It's obviously worse than raging over games at home because there's a chance that you may get kicked out or even worse, banned from going to that arcade center again for causing such trouble. There might be cases of some players raging at the arcades or LAN gaming centers no matter which kind/types of games they played.
It's basically a fictionalized version of real cases of gaming addiction in the 1990s as if blaming parents or schools over this is one act of stupidity and playing victims. There are even news articles of some kids imitating some AAA games of the 2000s or even 2010s and even causing public trouble trying to do that. There are also criminal cases of the modern times over whatever modern video games but right now, we don't see anything like that in the cartoon show of High Score Girl. Plus, it's still on-going with additional episodes to come in the future.
Then, there are other things that ruin the High Score Girl franchise, like bringing game consoles to the school trip, taking fictional characters for brides, smashing the arcade machine, a Pachinko addict who can make Konami proud in the Konami haters' opinion.
There are interesting things like implementation of copyrighted material with permissions as well as the official collaboration between SNK Playmore and Square Enix in which the titular character is the Assist character in Million Arthur Arcana Blood where she kicks the arcade cabinet at the opponent, Iori from KOF playable in Million Arthur Arcana Blood and the Thief Arthur playable in SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy.
So what are the flaws of High Score Girl:
The next notorious thing in the comic book series is going to the arcade centers as getting away from classes at a young age. That never happened to me in the past although I went to the local arcade centers like during the school holidays. In some chapters of the comic book or some episodes of the animated adaption which was supposed to happen a few years ago but instead, it happened this year after the lawsuit was cleared between SNK Playmore and Square Enix, there are scenes where some delinquents freak out and start a fight in the arcades. It's obviously worse than raging over games at home because there's a chance that you may get kicked out or even worse, banned from going to that arcade center again for causing such trouble. There might be cases of some players raging at the arcades or LAN gaming centers no matter which kind/types of games they played.
It's basically a fictionalized version of real cases of gaming addiction in the 1990s as if blaming parents or schools over this is one act of stupidity and playing victims. There are even news articles of some kids imitating some AAA games of the 2000s or even 2010s and even causing public trouble trying to do that. There are also criminal cases of the modern times over whatever modern video games but right now, we don't see anything like that in the cartoon show of High Score Girl. Plus, it's still on-going with additional episodes to come in the future.
Then, there are other things that ruin the High Score Girl franchise, like bringing game consoles to the school trip, taking fictional characters for brides, smashing the arcade machine, a Pachinko addict who can make Konami proud in the Konami haters' opinion.
There are interesting things like implementation of copyrighted material with permissions as well as the official collaboration between SNK Playmore and Square Enix in which the titular character is the Assist character in Million Arthur Arcana Blood where she kicks the arcade cabinet at the opponent, Iori from KOF playable in Million Arthur Arcana Blood and the Thief Arthur playable in SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy.
So what are the flaws of High Score Girl:
- Male protagonist getting 0 marks over games in his elementary school days.
- The immature tantrum-throwing delinquent smashing the machine, taking the fictional character for his bride which is something I do not condone and getting into fights at the arcades.
- A Pachinko addict who's actually the Chauffeur of the titular character.
- Bringing the home game console to the school trip.
Groove Coaster on Steam
As a celebration to Space Invaders 40th Anniversary, the Steam version of Groove Coaster is based on Groove Coaster 3 in the arcades in terms of the interface and stuff. You get Linka/Linker the only navigator so far ever since her debut in Groove Coaster 3 in the arcades as well as the initial songlist which is quite good with paid DLCs songs to follow in a similar vein to Groove Coaster Zero and 2 on mobile.
There are tons of differences between the Steam and arcade versions. Firstly, the game supports multiple aspect ratios in addition to the aspect ratio that matches the arcade version although this is one game that isn't anything intensive whatsoever since it's arcade version runs on the machine with 1-cored Intel Atom CPU with the NVIDIA branded modern graphics card with 1GB of system RAM. Not to mention that the game uses simple graphics and even the FMV for some Groove Coaster games in the arcades runs smoothly as well. Indeed, there is an FMV video for Groove Coaster EX which is processed without any lag. The second thing is, the theme music is changed for Steam version along with the Credits music which still uses the original Groove Coaster credits music, not the one from Groove Coaster 3 since that song is counted as one of the songs from the initial song list. The third difference is the interface design difference as well as the fact that you can turn off/on the navigator and switch the navigator voice if you'll like.
One thing to take note is that the English version of Groove Coaster 3 and later for arcades has the English voice acting for one of the characters only. The other characters don't have the English voice acting whatsoever.
Like some other rhythm games that were ported to PC from the arcades like Beatmania IIDX Infinitas and Sound Voltex III with the former being the spinoff, not from the arcades although it has the elements from the arcade version of Beatmania IIDX series, Groove Coaster on Steam has both controller and keyboard support although the Steam controller is used for reference when it comes to controller tutorial dialog box, not the gameplay tutorial. As of this time, it appears that Sound Voltex III E-Amusement Cloud is linkable to Sound Voltex IV in the arcades but not Groove Coaster Steam Edition for whatever reason. To offer Nesica support for Groove Coaster on Steam and mobile so that it can be linked to Groove Coaster in the arcades is one silly idea as the control method of playing it is already different in the first place even if there's an unofficial Groove Coaster arcade-style controller.
In a sea of Groove Coaster games on consumer systems in the series, this is more or less Groove Coaster 3 on consumer systems after Groove Coaster 0, 1 and 2 on mobile and the game's interface is based on Groove Coaster 3 in the arcades.
There are tons of differences between the Steam and arcade versions. Firstly, the game supports multiple aspect ratios in addition to the aspect ratio that matches the arcade version although this is one game that isn't anything intensive whatsoever since it's arcade version runs on the machine with 1-cored Intel Atom CPU with the NVIDIA branded modern graphics card with 1GB of system RAM. Not to mention that the game uses simple graphics and even the FMV for some Groove Coaster games in the arcades runs smoothly as well. Indeed, there is an FMV video for Groove Coaster EX which is processed without any lag. The second thing is, the theme music is changed for Steam version along with the Credits music which still uses the original Groove Coaster credits music, not the one from Groove Coaster 3 since that song is counted as one of the songs from the initial song list. The third difference is the interface design difference as well as the fact that you can turn off/on the navigator and switch the navigator voice if you'll like.
One thing to take note is that the English version of Groove Coaster 3 and later for arcades has the English voice acting for one of the characters only. The other characters don't have the English voice acting whatsoever.
Like some other rhythm games that were ported to PC from the arcades like Beatmania IIDX Infinitas and Sound Voltex III with the former being the spinoff, not from the arcades although it has the elements from the arcade version of Beatmania IIDX series, Groove Coaster on Steam has both controller and keyboard support although the Steam controller is used for reference when it comes to controller tutorial dialog box, not the gameplay tutorial. As of this time, it appears that Sound Voltex III E-Amusement Cloud is linkable to Sound Voltex IV in the arcades but not Groove Coaster Steam Edition for whatever reason. To offer Nesica support for Groove Coaster on Steam and mobile so that it can be linked to Groove Coaster in the arcades is one silly idea as the control method of playing it is already different in the first place even if there's an unofficial Groove Coaster arcade-style controller.
In a sea of Groove Coaster games on consumer systems in the series, this is more or less Groove Coaster 3 on consumer systems after Groove Coaster 0, 1 and 2 on mobile and the game's interface is based on Groove Coaster 3 in the arcades.
In regards to Filip Miucin
Well, the former IGN editor, Filip Miucin, has been the definition of disgraceful reviewer as he had been plagiarizing others' reviews of the games he had been assigned to review. I'm sure that the internet personalities who review games as the individuals had bought and played them before coming up with a script to say out in front of the audience based on their experience. Certain reviews may contain other contents that occur before, during and after them like an imaginary scene of the reviewers enacting whatever that is going on from the games they review. However, this is the professional game review company like IGN we're talking about here since the professional critics are assigned the games to review in a professional way as well as to give the scores based on their professional experience although they're obviously given the review copy of the games so perhaps, the game quality may or may not be great enough.
When mentioning reviewing products based on experience, it looks like Filip Miucin had been stealing other reviewers' experiences and then claiming their reviews as his and this had been going on during his employment at IGN but nobody is paid to plagiarize others' reviews like that. The worse thing is, he even had the guts to deny his admittance that he plagiarized the others' reviews in his twisted apology video and then the gaming news YouTubers came up with the new videos regarding his update. It's an epic shame on him and there would be lawsuits against him for plagiarism if job termination wasn't enough of a serious consequence.
I had seen the previous cases of plagiarism in professional game development like there's one mobile game whose theme song was a plagiarism of Claris' Connect, the other mobile game that contains stolen assets from other contents like the ones from DDLC/Heart Thumping Literature Club as if the plagiarism had been going on for years or even the on-going plagiarism of Nintendo content-like assets with Fla**y B**d and its clones with the original being discontinued not because of lawsuit from Nintendo or some sort but rather, the sole developer realized that it ruined his life that he decided to take it down although he's rather pissed over the endless clones of his creation. But in case of Filip Miucin, formerly from IGN, it's an epic DISGRACE to the company themselves. In fact, it's also already disgraceful to everyone else as well.
One past thought, I had the imagination of what the fictional cartoon character reviewing the game standing in front of the viewers with the screen behind them was like but then, to today's standards, they would probably fall under Virtual YouTuber category with that character being known as the Virtual Reviewer. I don't know who's going to come up with that but at least, it's a very different kind of Virtual YouTuber character I thought of to differentiate from the real life independent game reviewers. Another original idea to make a difference will be to have the same character review a different kind of games.
The reputation of IGN had become a little bit worse than before probably because of Filip Miucin but you can hope that the other professional critics come up in their own words and experience in a honest way.
When mentioning reviewing products based on experience, it looks like Filip Miucin had been stealing other reviewers' experiences and then claiming their reviews as his and this had been going on during his employment at IGN but nobody is paid to plagiarize others' reviews like that. The worse thing is, he even had the guts to deny his admittance that he plagiarized the others' reviews in his twisted apology video and then the gaming news YouTubers came up with the new videos regarding his update. It's an epic shame on him and there would be lawsuits against him for plagiarism if job termination wasn't enough of a serious consequence.
I had seen the previous cases of plagiarism in professional game development like there's one mobile game whose theme song was a plagiarism of Claris' Connect, the other mobile game that contains stolen assets from other contents like the ones from DDLC/Heart Thumping Literature Club as if the plagiarism had been going on for years or even the on-going plagiarism of Nintendo content-like assets with Fla**y B**d and its clones with the original being discontinued not because of lawsuit from Nintendo or some sort but rather, the sole developer realized that it ruined his life that he decided to take it down although he's rather pissed over the endless clones of his creation. But in case of Filip Miucin, formerly from IGN, it's an epic DISGRACE to the company themselves. In fact, it's also already disgraceful to everyone else as well.
One past thought, I had the imagination of what the fictional cartoon character reviewing the game standing in front of the viewers with the screen behind them was like but then, to today's standards, they would probably fall under Virtual YouTuber category with that character being known as the Virtual Reviewer. I don't know who's going to come up with that but at least, it's a very different kind of Virtual YouTuber character I thought of to differentiate from the real life independent game reviewers. Another original idea to make a difference will be to have the same character review a different kind of games.
The reputation of IGN had become a little bit worse than before probably because of Filip Miucin but you can hope that the other professional critics come up in their own words and experience in a honest way.
Friday, August 31, 2018
Steel Empire for PC
The developers had plans to release Steel Empire on PC which the PC release ACTUALLY happened last year in Japan via physical copy that can be obtained in retail stores. Most of modern PC game releases are probably on Steam but that's not the only PC release out there. You may be surprised to find physical copies of those PC games in the retail gaming stores and you may expect like a few DVD-ROM discs or something. Other PC games also have the GOG releases along with other Steam alternatives but then, the Steam service is already a better choice for digital purchases of PC games there.
Steel Empire is originally released on Megadrive/Genesis before getting remade on Game Boy Advanced and 3DS. It's a shooter game where you can shoot down enemies in left or right direction and you don't lose your ship in one hit. The game gives you multiple lives and the Vital Bar at its start and has various powerup items and other items for you to collect, including the item that gives you an extra life/ship.
The Steam version of Steel Empire is expected to come out in September this year in which people outside of Japan are able to enjoy it if they're interested. The PC version is based on 3DS version with HD interface and pixellated graphics which I find it as a strange move to me. It's not the only 3DS game to be ported to other game platforms but then, there shouldn't be any sign of pixellation whatsoever.
One development problem from the developers, the source code for the Megadrive and cancelled arcade versions was lost so it posed them a challenge when remaking the game for the Game Boy Advance.
Steel Empire is originally released on Megadrive/Genesis before getting remade on Game Boy Advanced and 3DS. It's a shooter game where you can shoot down enemies in left or right direction and you don't lose your ship in one hit. The game gives you multiple lives and the Vital Bar at its start and has various powerup items and other items for you to collect, including the item that gives you an extra life/ship.
The Steam version of Steel Empire is expected to come out in September this year in which people outside of Japan are able to enjoy it if they're interested. The PC version is based on 3DS version with HD interface and pixellated graphics which I find it as a strange move to me. It's not the only 3DS game to be ported to other game platforms but then, there shouldn't be any sign of pixellation whatsoever.
One development problem from the developers, the source code for the Megadrive and cancelled arcade versions was lost so it posed them a challenge when remaking the game for the Game Boy Advance.
Blade Strangers
Another crossover kind of fighting game that was recently released this month. It stars the characters from various Nicalis and Studio Saizensen games although I already recognize some of the characters like the one from Umihara Kawase series which is the platformer game with the elastic fishing rod that is the main part of her. It may be the latest entry in All.NET P-Ras Multi service for the arcades but then, the graphical style is already one generation behind the Switch and Playstation 4 as if the game fits right in the arcades and Playstation Vita but then, it's the same story that goes way back to the late 1990s/early 2000s when the 128-Bit consoles were around and yet there were still old-looking games released for them, usually the ones originating in CPS-2 or Neo Geo MVS in the early 2000s for instance. That's because the previous generation consoles were already discontinued like the arcade game developers wouldn't have a choice but to release those games for newer generation consoles which were made current at that time.
Blade Strangers is one fighting game that uses the similar gameplay concept to Super Smash Bros series in which you make one directional input and press one of the four attack buttons to do special moves. There's also the Heat Up feature that increases the character's attack speed while preventing your opponent from interrupting your attacks. Speaking of character casts, the characters mostly originate from other Nicalis or Studio Saizensen games along with the game's original characters. It's basically an indie fighting game with additional requests from Nicalis during the time of game development by Studio Saizensen and it's said to be beginner-friendly. During the fight, you get to see the character cut-in with the character saying something which looks kind of comical.
One cool fact about Nicalis is that it is a game company founded by the one who formerly worked at IGN as the editor. It is a famous company for various games like Cave Story and such in which characters from those games are made playable.
While many of the sites mentioned the release of the game for consoles and PC via Switch, Playstation 4 and Steam, the arcade version was already out this month weeks before the consumer system releases. To commemorate the console and Steam releases, the arcade version was patched to make things on par with them. Not to mention that there were Day-1 patches for those releases as well.
Blade Strangers is one fighting game that uses the similar gameplay concept to Super Smash Bros series in which you make one directional input and press one of the four attack buttons to do special moves. There's also the Heat Up feature that increases the character's attack speed while preventing your opponent from interrupting your attacks. Speaking of character casts, the characters mostly originate from other Nicalis or Studio Saizensen games along with the game's original characters. It's basically an indie fighting game with additional requests from Nicalis during the time of game development by Studio Saizensen and it's said to be beginner-friendly. During the fight, you get to see the character cut-in with the character saying something which looks kind of comical.
One cool fact about Nicalis is that it is a game company founded by the one who formerly worked at IGN as the editor. It is a famous company for various games like Cave Story and such in which characters from those games are made playable.
While many of the sites mentioned the release of the game for consoles and PC via Switch, Playstation 4 and Steam, the arcade version was already out this month weeks before the consumer system releases. To commemorate the console and Steam releases, the arcade version was patched to make things on par with them. Not to mention that there were Day-1 patches for those releases as well.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
King of Fighters All Stars for mobile
Turns out that the game was released in Japan only as of this time and I have a feeling that it will be compatible with later IOS & Android devices as it uses 3D graphics. The character cast ranges from KOF 94 to KOF XIII. Some of the recognized tracks from previous KOF games are rearranged for this game and they are quite good. Needless to say, the gameplay is so much of the same as KOF 97 OL which I found it to be mediocre in my opinion so I'm not sure if KOF All Stars is a better game or not.
You do get to draw character cards and battle cards for gameplay use and there are tons of characters to choose from. The game has some of the new original characters who are unplayable. The one who's seen in most parts of the game is Noah. She may be nerdy in my opinion like she knows things about KOF tournament although there will be issues for proper decent communications between her and various KOF characters like you shouldn't dare to mess with them or they'll do something to you for getting in their way or some sort. I guess that she may be a manager, announcer, reporter or tournament host in this game but like KOF games, things are not going to end smoothly and the winners will have to deal with the evil opponents. Plus, the game has its own original boss characters to deal with.
One cool promotion, Athena, from the KOF series, had a role of Virtual YouTuber. A Virtual YouTuber is different than the standard YouTuber and it has been a hit since last year. Things to criticize about Virtual Youtubers:
You do get to draw character cards and battle cards for gameplay use and there are tons of characters to choose from. The game has some of the new original characters who are unplayable. The one who's seen in most parts of the game is Noah. She may be nerdy in my opinion like she knows things about KOF tournament although there will be issues for proper decent communications between her and various KOF characters like you shouldn't dare to mess with them or they'll do something to you for getting in their way or some sort. I guess that she may be a manager, announcer, reporter or tournament host in this game but like KOF games, things are not going to end smoothly and the winners will have to deal with the evil opponents. Plus, the game has its own original boss characters to deal with.
One cool promotion, Athena, from the KOF series, had a role of Virtual YouTuber. A Virtual YouTuber is different than the standard YouTuber and it has been a hit since last year. Things to criticize about Virtual Youtubers:
- Interactivity with invisible objects.
- Not all VTubers have proper backgrounds.
- Model clipping issues - A flaw that looks impossible to fix.
- Certain kinds of contents are interesting while the others aren't. It may be true for other YouTubers' channels, virtual or not.
Sega's Ongeki for arcade
Well, it is the latest Sega rhythm game in the arcades next to Maimai, Chunithm and Project Diva Arcade which are still on-going ever since. Ongeki is released on the latest Sega arcade hardware named Amusement Linkage Live System, the FIRST Sega arcade system to use Unreal Engine 4. Namco and Taito's arcade systems are already compatible with that engine but that is the story for other arcade games using that engine. Ringedge 2 is Unreal Engine compatible but it uses UE3 if you know the system specs of that hardware and the system requirements of Unreal Engine 4.
Another interesting information is that you can use the unified IC card called Amusement IC. It is a plan by multiple companies like Namco, Konami and Sega in which you can use the same card for those games published by them. Unfortunately, is there a reason to exclude the Nesica one out of Amusement IC card? The deployment of those cards to the arcade centers began this summer so players can buy them if they want to.
The gameplay consists of 6 keys, two sensors for Wall Notes and the stick for moving the characters left and right. There are note patterns that use any side of 3 keys but there are also those patterns that make use of both sides. One difference between this and other rhythm games is that you fail the song if you take too much damage from enemy bullets but I know that this is not the only game where you can actually fail that way. There are some other rhythm games where you fail that way like Muse Dash or Rudymical for instance in which running into enemies, spikes or other projectiles can cost life points. To gain life points will be to collect those yellow bells in Ongeki. Certain songs in high difficulties will have laser beams to dodge in addition to enemy bullets.
Of course, as a modern arcade game, it has controversial coin-sucking features such as the inclusion of the card management taken from Japanese mobile games as well as to charge players a credit for drawing 10 cards. While things are like less expensive than in mobile games in terms of microtransactions, it is still money-sucking that way like you're buying for additional coins just for bullshit like this in the arcades. Sound Voltex series has the similar feature but that is for player identity. Plus, it takes place at the end of the game so it's not charging you additional credits. What is useless however is the card management feature for Story Mode of Sound Voltex III as it doesn't do anything to the gameplay. Museca has you need random cards representing Graficas for gameplay enhancement but I'm not sure if it has the same controversy as Ongeki or not as I don't play it.
So, are you going to spend those arcade coins on those rhythm games just for songs or something else? If it's for attempting tons of songs, that's the good thing like you're trying to demonstrate your skills to yourself and that's the first step and purpose when it comes to rhythm games. As of this writing, I'm familiar with some tracks in Ongeki like Perfect Shining, No Remorse from Ketsui, various Bang Dream Girls Band Party songs and others. Before the game came out, there was a collaboration between it and Bang Dream Girls Band Party and there are character cards from that other game as well.
The gameplay concept seems to be fun from what I saw and I can imagine a S***c rhythm game that is like this. Problem is, the playfield is all in 3D and implementing something like this is quite difficult for when it comes to someone making a fanmade game like that.
Another interesting information is that you can use the unified IC card called Amusement IC. It is a plan by multiple companies like Namco, Konami and Sega in which you can use the same card for those games published by them. Unfortunately, is there a reason to exclude the Nesica one out of Amusement IC card? The deployment of those cards to the arcade centers began this summer so players can buy them if they want to.
The gameplay consists of 6 keys, two sensors for Wall Notes and the stick for moving the characters left and right. There are note patterns that use any side of 3 keys but there are also those patterns that make use of both sides. One difference between this and other rhythm games is that you fail the song if you take too much damage from enemy bullets but I know that this is not the only game where you can actually fail that way. There are some other rhythm games where you fail that way like Muse Dash or Rudymical for instance in which running into enemies, spikes or other projectiles can cost life points. To gain life points will be to collect those yellow bells in Ongeki. Certain songs in high difficulties will have laser beams to dodge in addition to enemy bullets.
Of course, as a modern arcade game, it has controversial coin-sucking features such as the inclusion of the card management taken from Japanese mobile games as well as to charge players a credit for drawing 10 cards. While things are like less expensive than in mobile games in terms of microtransactions, it is still money-sucking that way like you're buying for additional coins just for bullshit like this in the arcades. Sound Voltex series has the similar feature but that is for player identity. Plus, it takes place at the end of the game so it's not charging you additional credits. What is useless however is the card management feature for Story Mode of Sound Voltex III as it doesn't do anything to the gameplay. Museca has you need random cards representing Graficas for gameplay enhancement but I'm not sure if it has the same controversy as Ongeki or not as I don't play it.
So, are you going to spend those arcade coins on those rhythm games just for songs or something else? If it's for attempting tons of songs, that's the good thing like you're trying to demonstrate your skills to yourself and that's the first step and purpose when it comes to rhythm games. As of this writing, I'm familiar with some tracks in Ongeki like Perfect Shining, No Remorse from Ketsui, various Bang Dream Girls Band Party songs and others. Before the game came out, there was a collaboration between it and Bang Dream Girls Band Party and there are character cards from that other game as well.
The gameplay concept seems to be fun from what I saw and I can imagine a S***c rhythm game that is like this. Problem is, the playfield is all in 3D and implementing something like this is quite difficult for when it comes to someone making a fanmade game like that.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Progress of Blazing Mobian Masters
A fanmade S***c game I've been developing ever since two years ago with Game Maker Studio. It was originally planned to be a remake of S**** Runners which was discontinued two years ago but in the end, it is a whole lot different. The only thing that fulfilled that original plan was the Endless Mode but that's not the only game modes I implemented so far. The other modes include Arcade Mode and Course Mode.
There are super attacks that do or do not involve Wi**s at all depending on the characters and the Instant Kill attacks require the maximum of 200 Wi** points. There's also the Overdrive feature. To increase the W**p points, simply collect sufficient amount of r**gs and to increase the Overdrive points, simply hit the enemies.
Supposedly, the mode is planned to be like the Endless Mode but then, I didn't have sufficient ideas. Maybe, this is one of the game modes that may flop or something in people's opinion.
Note that many of the stuffs I put in are mostly unoriginal so citing references is a must. As of this time, I still have yet to complete Act 3 for Arcade Mode, make two additional characters playable and make a complete stage background set. Development still continues.
Arcade Mode
Formerly known as the Intensive Mode, the mode is said to be as intensive as possible while making things not too difficult. Each Episodic Act is planned to have 8 bosses so the mode is more like the Boss Rush Mode than the Arcade Mode. The proper Arcade Mode for this is to have those enemies and r***s approaching before the boss appears after a period of time but this implementation is done on Endless and Course Modes.There are super attacks that do or do not involve Wi**s at all depending on the characters and the Instant Kill attacks require the maximum of 200 Wi** points. There's also the Overdrive feature. To increase the W**p points, simply collect sufficient amount of r**gs and to increase the Overdrive points, simply hit the enemies.
Course Mode
An experimental game mode that mashes things up according to the sources.Endless Mode
This is one difficult feat for me but I did manage to find some game for reference although the implementation isn't that good. The patterns of r***s are implemented in proper ways and so are the patterns of enemies but to implement the platforming is a total pain. Instead, I went for Jetpack Joyride style concept for Endless Mode gameplay in which there's no platforming whatsoever. You just need to collect the items and take out the enemies while avoiding enemy attacks and other enemy obstacles. Needless to say, other things like the Large Passthrough R***s, Spikes and even Springs are not implemented at all. Bosses appear after a period of time and after defeating them, things return to normal again but what I didn't implement is the speed increase of the objects and backgrounds just like in the S**** Runners. Unlike the other modes, the W**p attacks are not available.Versus Mode
Game session check and implementation were new challenges for me. It's to see if there are two players entering the game session which make something equal to 2. If the number of players is 1 for starting the game session, it's essentially the Single Player session but anyone joining in will activate the Versus Mode session. At the end of the match, if one of the player wins and the session knows that they have not gone to whatever game mode, they will be in Mode Select screen. Otherwise, they will go back to whichever mode they come from. I might have tested the former condition but not the other as of this writing.Supposedly, the mode is planned to be like the Endless Mode but then, I didn't have sufficient ideas. Maybe, this is one of the game modes that may flop or something in people's opinion.
Cast
So far, there are six playable characters with additional two planned but I couldn't find the portraits for the additional two characters. Plus, the characters' names are planned to be deconstructed as I've had enough of the laughing stock and toxic state of the S**** franchise. What made it a laughing stock was the fact that it was notorious for having the games with most negative reception according to the Wikipedia list and it looks like there were two games from this franchise in that list so far, one that is S**** 06 and the other is S**** B*** for Wii U. There may be people that tend to defend the abomination but there's no way to know if the defense is real or not. Also, we had already moved on to other things but somehow, we even had the guts to come back to this franchise for whatever reason we had. In fact, there was even a criminal case that occurred back in December 4 years ago over S**** B***, probably because of the fact that the titular character's arms were blue although that game was more or less a spinoff kind or something and its sequel for 3DS only was okay enough. The cartoon show of the same name is said to be good or something. Well, just because of one particular fact that someone didn't like, it didn't mean that he could go out to various stores and ruin the product displays like that. As a result, he was already banned for causing public troubles there but again, he denied the fact and then played victim like he pushed the blame to the store employees and manager like an immature person. This is how things became too toxic and that's not the state of the S***c franchise I wanted but I found the S***c franchise to be a serious mistake. To find the mature portion of the fanbase is a bigger challenge but some of the fans had become the professional indie game developers like Stealth, Taxman, Tee Lopes, etc.Assets
It consists of the ones I did using Inkscape as well as the resources taken from The Spriters Resource & The Sounds Resource websites. It's okay to use the resources from those sites for whatever project of yours as long as you don't profit it whatsoever. Plus, I think it cannot be commercialized and published to the app stores. For whatever content you've taken from those two sites, crediting is mostly required. There are other sound effect sources I used as well like those from freesfx.co.uk & various Japanese sound effect sources. Indeed, there are non-Japanese indie game developers who use those music and sound effects from various Japanese sources like Dova Syndrome, Musmus, etc. and Muse Dash is one of those games made by the non-Japanese indie game developers. Lastly, the music consists of my arrangements while the Game Over track is taken from Pocket-Se website.Note that many of the stuffs I put in are mostly unoriginal so citing references is a must. As of this time, I still have yet to complete Act 3 for Arcade Mode, make two additional characters playable and make a complete stage background set. Development still continues.
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Bishi Bashi Channel 2nd Play
Perhaps, I felt satisfied in learning the button-mashing method from one of the gameplay videos in which you use your finger to button-mash just like you would on the game controller button maybe for playing games like Star Soldier for instance but here in Bishi Bashi series, this is challenging as you will need to button-mash all the buttons when possible and to use that method in Bishi Bashi Channel is even more challenging as the green rotator button has different feel and shape in design as recycled from Museca.
Unfortunately, I need to figure out other mini-games in Bishi Bashi Channel like how to hide in a box from zombies for instance. I guess that stopping button-mashing isn't going to help and doing something to the green button like I did doesn't help as it did worse for me like the character got caught jumping or something. Sure, other mini-games should be manageable like the one that's like the Javelin Throw from Track & Field but with throwing the mascot character from Gitadora, the one where you feed the rabbit while spinning the green button if it's a wrong snack to feed and the one where you're supposed to bash the door by button-mashing. I still have difficulty in doing other mini-games without making too much mistakes. Somehow, I got a Perfect in that Sound Voltex-like mini game although Bishi Bashi series is the mini game set type of a game so it can be challenging to hear what's from the machine with your ears while getting to the rhythm. However, I had made some mistakes in the Laser Note thingy like I was too late or something. Getting off the Laser Note in Sound Voltex will decrease the groove gauge and the last part of that mini-game is important for the final score.
Unfortunately, I need to figure out other mini-games in Bishi Bashi Channel like how to hide in a box from zombies for instance. I guess that stopping button-mashing isn't going to help and doing something to the green button like I did doesn't help as it did worse for me like the character got caught jumping or something. Sure, other mini-games should be manageable like the one that's like the Javelin Throw from Track & Field but with throwing the mascot character from Gitadora, the one where you feed the rabbit while spinning the green button if it's a wrong snack to feed and the one where you're supposed to bash the door by button-mashing. I still have difficulty in doing other mini-games without making too much mistakes. Somehow, I got a Perfect in that Sound Voltex-like mini game although Bishi Bashi series is the mini game set type of a game so it can be challenging to hear what's from the machine with your ears while getting to the rhythm. However, I had made some mistakes in the Laser Note thingy like I was too late or something. Getting off the Laser Note in Sound Voltex will decrease the groove gauge and the last part of that mini-game is important for the final score.
On-Stage Laptop Stand obtained
Perhaps, having bought a DJ-controller from Valentine's Music Centre wasn't enough as it would not be how the bedroom DJs would show off their mixing on camera. To show off your mix on camera would require the proper speakers, DJ-controller/CDJ+Mixer and of course a laptop and a stand if you're going digital. For traditional kind of DJing would consist of the mixer and the two vinyl turntables as well as the external recording hardware for recording a demo mix. If you're using the DJ software on the computer hooked up to your DJ set, it already has the recording function when it comes to planning to make a mixtape or something. It is essential if you want to submit your demo mix to those who are looking for new DJs.
When I set up this DJ laptop stand in the bedroom, it seemed that I did it inaccurately like the right side being out of balance or something. I don't know what did I do wrong in setting this thing up but even then, the overall setup is still messy with tons of audio and USB cables and other gadgets on the table. Well, obviously, I need a better and more appropriate table for that bedroom but this is one expensive plan if you plan to show off your mix via a video.
The bigger problem is that the AC adapter for my Acer laptop was already more defective last year than before and the computer's original one didn't do quite well. A replacement is needed ASAP but for now, I do have a current laptop computer which is the ASUS branded one and it's more powerful than that laptop.
When I set up this DJ laptop stand in the bedroom, it seemed that I did it inaccurately like the right side being out of balance or something. I don't know what did I do wrong in setting this thing up but even then, the overall setup is still messy with tons of audio and USB cables and other gadgets on the table. Well, obviously, I need a better and more appropriate table for that bedroom but this is one expensive plan if you plan to show off your mix via a video.
The bigger problem is that the AC adapter for my Acer laptop was already more defective last year than before and the computer's original one didn't do quite well. A replacement is needed ASAP but for now, I do have a current laptop computer which is the ASUS branded one and it's more powerful than that laptop.
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked
Taking place a few hours after the National Day Parade that took place on the same day, Samsung has additional devices announced such as Galaxy Note 9, S9 Plus as well as the new smartwatch which is Galaxy Watch. They are said to have better battery life which may last all day or something with the Galaxy Watch having the battery life that lasts a week. There's also a charger where you can charge your phone and the Galaxy Watch at the same time and the new pen has the ability to act as a remote control for your phone. That pen can be quite useful for presenting things at work as well as issuing remote commands to your phone like the event that demonstrated the remote photo-taking with it. Perhaps, a voice command to the phone for taking photo or video should be extra handy although the new pen is already useful in more ways.
Even Epic Games was involved in this event in which the Android version of Fortnite was announced on the same day. At that time, the limited beta version was available on select Samsung Android devices with full Android release being available on the later date. Fornite is one of next-gen games by Epic Games and you can probably guess that it uses Unreal Engine. To me, it is more or less the Unreal Engine's first-party game as it is made by Epic Games using that engine. There may be tons of third-party developers using that engine as well like it's a popular game engine for all kinds of game developers. Interestingly enough, both Unity and Unreal Engine are supported on IOS & Android so a more powerful IOS/Android device is needed to run those games. I don't know if the recent IOS & Android devices have superseded the 7th Generation consoles or not when it comes to Unreal Engine games.
The Galaxy Watch has the better wellness tracking like it is your wellness assistant or something. As seen from the reveal video of Galaxy Watch, you can turn the outer edge of the screen to select whichever fitness activity you want. It's a different way of interface interactivity. Plus, the device can monitor your sleep pattern, tell you to take a deep breath in case of stress like you need to relax or something. With LTE, you should be able to respond to messages, phone calls and to keep track of GPS on the go although having phone calls using the smartwatch is sort of weird in my opinion like when your phone rings and you're reminded of this with your smartwatch, it's best to use your phone to answer the call.
There's also the Galaxy Home device along with Bixby which is the virtual assistant for select Samsung Galaxy devices. Even the Galaxy Note 9 is supported by Samsung Dex as well although I already saw Samsung Dex in action through the previous IT roadshows.
Projection-wise, there seemed to be multiple screens involved and everything for the floor part has to be in different angle or something. Not to mention that the camera was positioned well as if things on the floor are on the same angle to match the default angle of the main center screen.
At the beginning of the livestream, you could see a commercial-like preview detailing the current technical situation like running out of battery, storage space or even taking phone calls with a tablet which was kind of awkward. Besides the USB Flash Drives, SD Cards and SSDs having hundreds of GBs, even the internal storage will have that amount as well with the introduction of Galaxy Note 9 which has 128GB/512GB of internal storage. Such situation had become real like you had tons of work or personal data on your phone and especially for games and other apps that grow in size with additional contents. The solutions from that video would be to remove stuffs you didn't need to save storage space like I already uninstalled certain apps from my tablet as well as to remove the old screenshots. The videos on your devices are bigger culprits as they take up tons of storage space but it depends on the quality and resolution. Other solutions included disabling automatic updates as well as to switch your device to Wi-Fi or something to save power but mostly, the Power Saving option is there but I feel that it's not enough as the battery still decreases over time.
The livestream took about an hour and some of the new things had impressed me like things on the floor part in different angle to look like things were extended from the main screen in terms of projection, the introduction of the new pen called S-Pen which acts like a remote control using Bluetooth and of course, the new Galaxy Watch.
Even Epic Games was involved in this event in which the Android version of Fortnite was announced on the same day. At that time, the limited beta version was available on select Samsung Android devices with full Android release being available on the later date. Fornite is one of next-gen games by Epic Games and you can probably guess that it uses Unreal Engine. To me, it is more or less the Unreal Engine's first-party game as it is made by Epic Games using that engine. There may be tons of third-party developers using that engine as well like it's a popular game engine for all kinds of game developers. Interestingly enough, both Unity and Unreal Engine are supported on IOS & Android so a more powerful IOS/Android device is needed to run those games. I don't know if the recent IOS & Android devices have superseded the 7th Generation consoles or not when it comes to Unreal Engine games.
The Galaxy Watch has the better wellness tracking like it is your wellness assistant or something. As seen from the reveal video of Galaxy Watch, you can turn the outer edge of the screen to select whichever fitness activity you want. It's a different way of interface interactivity. Plus, the device can monitor your sleep pattern, tell you to take a deep breath in case of stress like you need to relax or something. With LTE, you should be able to respond to messages, phone calls and to keep track of GPS on the go although having phone calls using the smartwatch is sort of weird in my opinion like when your phone rings and you're reminded of this with your smartwatch, it's best to use your phone to answer the call.
There's also the Galaxy Home device along with Bixby which is the virtual assistant for select Samsung Galaxy devices. Even the Galaxy Note 9 is supported by Samsung Dex as well although I already saw Samsung Dex in action through the previous IT roadshows.
Projection-wise, there seemed to be multiple screens involved and everything for the floor part has to be in different angle or something. Not to mention that the camera was positioned well as if things on the floor are on the same angle to match the default angle of the main center screen.
At the beginning of the livestream, you could see a commercial-like preview detailing the current technical situation like running out of battery, storage space or even taking phone calls with a tablet which was kind of awkward. Besides the USB Flash Drives, SD Cards and SSDs having hundreds of GBs, even the internal storage will have that amount as well with the introduction of Galaxy Note 9 which has 128GB/512GB of internal storage. Such situation had become real like you had tons of work or personal data on your phone and especially for games and other apps that grow in size with additional contents. The solutions from that video would be to remove stuffs you didn't need to save storage space like I already uninstalled certain apps from my tablet as well as to remove the old screenshots. The videos on your devices are bigger culprits as they take up tons of storage space but it depends on the quality and resolution. Other solutions included disabling automatic updates as well as to switch your device to Wi-Fi or something to save power but mostly, the Power Saving option is there but I feel that it's not enough as the battery still decreases over time.
The livestream took about an hour and some of the new things had impressed me like things on the floor part in different angle to look like things were extended from the main screen in terms of projection, the introduction of the new pen called S-Pen which acts like a remote control using Bluetooth and of course, the new Galaxy Watch.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Arcade Love on Steam
For whatever reason, the Steam version of Arcade Love Plus Pengo doesn't have Pengo in the compilation and that makes the game less fun or something. I figure that it's due to licensing issues or something from Sega that Pengo has to be excluded in this compilation. The Xbox 360 version has Pengo although it lacks online Multiplayer support for a complete 8-Player experience in Pengo. There may be online leaderboards in other games Triangle Service had made as well as achievements which are synchronized online since your Steam/Xbox account is hybird-ish or some sort. The bigger problem with the arcade version of Arcade Love Plus Pengo is the lack of Aime support. You just start the game and realize that there isn't any prompt for starting the game with Aime card. The other ALL.NET Plus Multi games have that perhaps for saving player data or some kind but the cabinet-to-cabinet local linkage is one essential for 4-Player Pengo experience.
At the time the compilation game was developed, there was news saying that Sega was planning on remaking Pengo with HD widescreen for the arcades but then, that wouldn't be enough was the game would be too short and mini anyway so additional stuffs would be needed. Then came the familiar sound effects when completing the bonus stage in Single Player mode. It seemed that the game was being developed by Triangle Service as if Pengo is the only popular reason to play this compilation game once it came out in the arcades. Unfortunately, the game isn't that great when compared to other ALL.NET Plus Multi games in the arcades. The beat-em-up segment of Action Skills Test is kind of a mixed bag and so is the graphics throughout the entire compilation game although there are some graphical improvements in Shmups Skills Test. CombatZeal is one major disappointment to anyone's who played Trizeal and Exzeal and expected CombatZeal to be a new sequel and the compilation game is quite fun in Multiplayer as if the game's developed with that fun in mind.
The game is alright in the arcades but it's a little bit worse on consumer systems like it's lacking the online Multiplayer support and the Steam version has made things worse with the absence of Pengo that it's NOT even WORTH playing whatsoever! You're better off playing Arcade Love Plus Pengo in the arcades if that's the case.
At the time the compilation game was developed, there was news saying that Sega was planning on remaking Pengo with HD widescreen for the arcades but then, that wouldn't be enough was the game would be too short and mini anyway so additional stuffs would be needed. Then came the familiar sound effects when completing the bonus stage in Single Player mode. It seemed that the game was being developed by Triangle Service as if Pengo is the only popular reason to play this compilation game once it came out in the arcades. Unfortunately, the game isn't that great when compared to other ALL.NET Plus Multi games in the arcades. The beat-em-up segment of Action Skills Test is kind of a mixed bag and so is the graphics throughout the entire compilation game although there are some graphical improvements in Shmups Skills Test. CombatZeal is one major disappointment to anyone's who played Trizeal and Exzeal and expected CombatZeal to be a new sequel and the compilation game is quite fun in Multiplayer as if the game's developed with that fun in mind.
The game is alright in the arcades but it's a little bit worse on consumer systems like it's lacking the online Multiplayer support and the Steam version has made things worse with the absence of Pengo that it's NOT even WORTH playing whatsoever! You're better off playing Arcade Love Plus Pengo in the arcades if that's the case.
Gyroshooter for Windows 10 and Steam
It's unbelievable that Triangle Service had been going on both common and non-common routes and it might be the same for Treasure in which certain games were released for the less popular gaming platforms at the time like Sega Saturn and Dreamcast although they have sufficient amount of games. It's just the major difference between them and their rivals and certain games released on them were quite popular enough that they would get ported to rival and modern systems as well like Radiant Silvergun on Xbox 360 as the modern release with Ikaruga on rival console, Gamecube and other modern gaming platforms. This is the same case for Triangle Service starting with Trizeal although not all Dreamcast shmup games are sufficient momentum when compared to some of the best Dreamcast shmup games like Ikaruga. Needless to say, Triangle Service was already on the verge of going under unless Trizeal on Dreamcast was sold well.
Then came the Xbox 360 releases of tons of shmup games. Many of them originated from the arcades and certain of them were also released on Dreamcast in addition to Xbox 360. The Playstation 3 still had yet to catch up but the bigger problem was the least amount of popularity of Xbox series of consoles in Japan. The Xbox 360 did better than its predecessor due to sufficient amount of Japanese games released for it there. Like those popular Dreamcast games, certain Japanese games on Xbox 360 were also released on rival systems at the time like Namco's Idolmaster for instance with future Idolmaster games being on Playstation 3 and 4.
Next is the Windows Phone platform which is less popular and somehow, one of Cave's shmup games was released for it before getting an IOS release. At future points, Cave's already managing the modern mobile games on IOS & Android with sufficient success with Gothic is Magical Maidens/Gothic wa Mahou Otome, followed by Steam releases of their games in which even Triangle Service was going on that same route.
Recently, it looked like Triangle Service made a new gaming experiment in game development which was basically a shooter game that uses gyroscope technology. There's a Galaga game on 3DS that does the same thing although it may remind you more of Starblade and Galaxian 3 than Galaga since that game is a rail shooter. Speaking of rail shooter, Gyroshooter uses the gyroscope technology which is way before VR gaming became popular recently. Sure, you can also use the mouse, keyboard and gamepad for this but I still recommend that you use the gyroscope feature. Needless to say, the game is aimed towards Windows tablets and Windows 10 Mobile is still not popular. At this rate, it looks like nobody cares for Windows Phone or Windows 10 Mobile stuff nowadays when you're more interested in new stuffs to use for IOS/Android or both.
Gyroshooter is the rail shooter game consisting of three modes, Arcade, Planet and Minus Zero. The Arcade Mode is more or less an experimental Time Attack Mode and it's kind of short if you ask me although Minus Zero may last longer if you're good enough at it. The Planet Mode is like a VR version of Space Harrier but I highly doubt that it is made without Sega's knowledge. You just tilt your tablet and turn your head and body around as if this whole thing is like an earlier VR gaming experience. How do you shoot at things in this game since you're using the tablet? Well, the only button is the Reset button on the top-right and the game does the instant shooting for you when you aim at the target with the crosshair.
It's a recent shame that Triangle Service made such a game like this with Windows 10 tablets in mind when they could make one for the VR platforms like HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Playstation VR, etc. instead. Plus, the VR gaming may or may not have superseded the gyroscope gaming or some sort when it comes to rail shooters, FPS and even action games that use first-person/third-person or both perspectives. At least the last good opportunity for the arcade platform was Arcade Love Plus Pengo which is still not that great in my opinion. There may be graphical improvements in Shmups Skills Test a little bit but the graphics are still one era behind at the time if you ask me. Some parts of Action Skills Test are like hit or miss in terms of gameplay and the game's quite fun with Multiplayer although it is lacking the online Multiplayer feature which is essential for full 8-Player support.
So, what are the flaws of Gyroshooter? Hmm, I guess the game may seem to be quite short overall after you try out all three modes but I'm not sure about the length of Planet Mode to be honest as I tried out the demo version on Steam which consists of Arcade Mode as the only playable mode. Sure, there's enough momentum for previous Triangle Service games but that surely took time for them to gain sufficiency. Gyroshooter, well, I don't know as it was made with gyroscope in mind. Plus, not all IOS & Android devices support gyroscope and that is one thing to keep in mind of.
To tell you the truth, the graphics have new textures, explosions and particles or whatnot for both Arcade and Planet Mode although the Planet Mode has like low-poly objects and Minus Zero improves a little graphically. Man, talk about asset flipping but then, Triangle Service should learn to get additional resources while ensuring that those resources can be used commercially.
For system requirements, the minimum is probably the Intel Atom-based CPUs and it seems that Windows 10 is required. The same requirements can be found on Steam version as well and indeed, there are also videos of Triangle Service testing their games on devices with such CPUs.
Then came the Xbox 360 releases of tons of shmup games. Many of them originated from the arcades and certain of them were also released on Dreamcast in addition to Xbox 360. The Playstation 3 still had yet to catch up but the bigger problem was the least amount of popularity of Xbox series of consoles in Japan. The Xbox 360 did better than its predecessor due to sufficient amount of Japanese games released for it there. Like those popular Dreamcast games, certain Japanese games on Xbox 360 were also released on rival systems at the time like Namco's Idolmaster for instance with future Idolmaster games being on Playstation 3 and 4.
Next is the Windows Phone platform which is less popular and somehow, one of Cave's shmup games was released for it before getting an IOS release. At future points, Cave's already managing the modern mobile games on IOS & Android with sufficient success with Gothic is Magical Maidens/Gothic wa Mahou Otome, followed by Steam releases of their games in which even Triangle Service was going on that same route.
Recently, it looked like Triangle Service made a new gaming experiment in game development which was basically a shooter game that uses gyroscope technology. There's a Galaga game on 3DS that does the same thing although it may remind you more of Starblade and Galaxian 3 than Galaga since that game is a rail shooter. Speaking of rail shooter, Gyroshooter uses the gyroscope technology which is way before VR gaming became popular recently. Sure, you can also use the mouse, keyboard and gamepad for this but I still recommend that you use the gyroscope feature. Needless to say, the game is aimed towards Windows tablets and Windows 10 Mobile is still not popular. At this rate, it looks like nobody cares for Windows Phone or Windows 10 Mobile stuff nowadays when you're more interested in new stuffs to use for IOS/Android or both.
Gyroshooter is the rail shooter game consisting of three modes, Arcade, Planet and Minus Zero. The Arcade Mode is more or less an experimental Time Attack Mode and it's kind of short if you ask me although Minus Zero may last longer if you're good enough at it. The Planet Mode is like a VR version of Space Harrier but I highly doubt that it is made without Sega's knowledge. You just tilt your tablet and turn your head and body around as if this whole thing is like an earlier VR gaming experience. How do you shoot at things in this game since you're using the tablet? Well, the only button is the Reset button on the top-right and the game does the instant shooting for you when you aim at the target with the crosshair.
It's a recent shame that Triangle Service made such a game like this with Windows 10 tablets in mind when they could make one for the VR platforms like HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Playstation VR, etc. instead. Plus, the VR gaming may or may not have superseded the gyroscope gaming or some sort when it comes to rail shooters, FPS and even action games that use first-person/third-person or both perspectives. At least the last good opportunity for the arcade platform was Arcade Love Plus Pengo which is still not that great in my opinion. There may be graphical improvements in Shmups Skills Test a little bit but the graphics are still one era behind at the time if you ask me. Some parts of Action Skills Test are like hit or miss in terms of gameplay and the game's quite fun with Multiplayer although it is lacking the online Multiplayer feature which is essential for full 8-Player support.
So, what are the flaws of Gyroshooter? Hmm, I guess the game may seem to be quite short overall after you try out all three modes but I'm not sure about the length of Planet Mode to be honest as I tried out the demo version on Steam which consists of Arcade Mode as the only playable mode. Sure, there's enough momentum for previous Triangle Service games but that surely took time for them to gain sufficiency. Gyroshooter, well, I don't know as it was made with gyroscope in mind. Plus, not all IOS & Android devices support gyroscope and that is one thing to keep in mind of.
To tell you the truth, the graphics have new textures, explosions and particles or whatnot for both Arcade and Planet Mode although the Planet Mode has like low-poly objects and Minus Zero improves a little graphically. Man, talk about asset flipping but then, Triangle Service should learn to get additional resources while ensuring that those resources can be used commercially.
For system requirements, the minimum is probably the Intel Atom-based CPUs and it seems that Windows 10 is required. The same requirements can be found on Steam version as well and indeed, there are also videos of Triangle Service testing their games on devices with such CPUs.
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