As a collector, I carouse different forums online to see what's up. You know, get tips on mods, hacking, etc. One thing I see in common is a thread that focuses on ridiculous sales on eBay by some sellers.
Some will sell "Rare" and "Complete and Sealed" stuff for way more than what the game or console is worth. Some of the links to the auctions that are in those forums reveal these auctions and their ridonkulous pricing ($300 for a Bonk 3 manual? pshh)
I'm feeling under the weather at this time, so let me be brief. If you're in the market for a game or a console, generally anything, join online forums. They usually have a buy and sell thread going where people will often sell things that you're looking for, even cheaper than eBay. But just like any purchase done online, Cavaet Emptor. Most forums will have "rep" ratings on members, or even reseller ratings within their forums. Take the time to carouse those threads, so you know who you might be dealing with.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Boycotting...
Recently, I had the loathsomely luck of dealing with the crappy support of FoundMy.com. I ordered a PS2 mod chip from them since it was cheap. Little did I know, and about 90% of their old client base, their service sucks.
I give it that they were good a while back, getting orders done in a timely manner. However, recently, they just suck.
I don't believe all the positive reviews that are popping up currently. I think it's a "payoff" kind of positive review...you know what I mean.
Because of their slim-to-nil customer service, crappy shipping times, and overall just being jerks trying to get out of giving money back (I got suckered into closing a dispute through PayPal prematurely...lesson learned), I'm gonna boycott ANY console modification manufacturer that lists FoundMy.com as an authorized reseller. I really don't believe that FoundMy should be authorized to be selling ANYTHING. They'll give the manufacturer a bad name since they'll be associated with FoundMy's name.
I highly doubt this would make a slight ripple in the lake that is the console modification world, but I'm taking a stand here. Follow if you want.
I give it that they were good a while back, getting orders done in a timely manner. However, recently, they just suck.
I don't believe all the positive reviews that are popping up currently. I think it's a "payoff" kind of positive review...you know what I mean.
Because of their slim-to-nil customer service, crappy shipping times, and overall just being jerks trying to get out of giving money back (I got suckered into closing a dispute through PayPal prematurely...lesson learned), I'm gonna boycott ANY console modification manufacturer that lists FoundMy.com as an authorized reseller. I really don't believe that FoundMy should be authorized to be selling ANYTHING. They'll give the manufacturer a bad name since they'll be associated with FoundMy's name.
I highly doubt this would make a slight ripple in the lake that is the console modification world, but I'm taking a stand here. Follow if you want.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
RE: Backups...
I seriously DO NOT see any difference between using DVD+R's and DVD-R's. I'm with the +R camp, since my DVD player read them better than the -R's.
If one doesn't work, the other will. I haven't seen any difference whatsoever. All that sh*t about "+R's will burn out your lens faster, use -R's" is a bunch of snake oil.
Bottom line: Use what works in your system. Both cost the same, and some stores have decent return policies. If the first type doesn't work, return it and go with another.
If one doesn't work, the other will. I haven't seen any difference whatsoever. All that sh*t about "+R's will burn out your lens faster, use -R's" is a bunch of snake oil.
Bottom line: Use what works in your system. Both cost the same, and some stores have decent return policies. If the first type doesn't work, return it and go with another.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
I died a little on the inside...
Let's break it down like this: My original SNES's Multi-out port didn't want to display proper video through composite. Even by resoldering the connector, trying to bypass the connector, or trying to get video from RF didn't work. (Getting straight composite video from RF WITHOUT some sort of filter is NEVER recommended...EVAR!)
So, wat do?
I went "digging" at the Goodwill's around the area. After months of searching, I found one for $10.
Now, me being nostalgic and cheap, I did something that I really didn't want to do, but who cares. I swapped the boards from my old SNES to the new one.
I didn't know that there were different revisions on the older style SNES's. I had to modify my old case and the new (old) one so I could swap boards. (FYI, the original board in my SNES had a removable (read: plug-and-play) sound module where the donor didn't)
...me, waxing nostalgic like, feel kinda sad that my original SNES is now gone...but at least now I can use the Multi-out with no problems. Gotta like that.
I'm still digging since I want to add the SNES 2 (SNES jr, the smaller revision) to my collection....maybe. I have both NES revisions, why not the same for the SNES? LOL!
So, wat do?
I went "digging" at the Goodwill's around the area. After months of searching, I found one for $10.
Now, me being nostalgic and cheap, I did something that I really didn't want to do, but who cares. I swapped the boards from my old SNES to the new one.
I didn't know that there were different revisions on the older style SNES's. I had to modify my old case and the new (old) one so I could swap boards. (FYI, the original board in my SNES had a removable (read: plug-and-play) sound module where the donor didn't)
...me, waxing nostalgic like, feel kinda sad that my original SNES is now gone...but at least now I can use the Multi-out with no problems. Gotta like that.
I'm still digging since I want to add the SNES 2 (SNES jr, the smaller revision) to my collection....maybe. I have both NES revisions, why not the same for the SNES? LOL!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
How to speak FPS AI...
Could new FPS games get any MORE frustrating? Even when it's on the easiest, "OMG, My cat could finish this game like this" level. No, not the online multiplayer, the f**king campaign! So I comprised a list of how to translate what the AI tells you opposed to what it actually does. Take in to account that in most campaign modes on any FPS game usually has you with a team.
AI: Take out those RPGs on the rooftops! We can't afford to lose our High-end war machine!
Translation: We'll leave it to you to take out 10+ guys with RPGs that's aiming and both you and the scavenged tank-like vehicle while we shoot at the same dead body another teammate took out a while ago that took him 4 clips to finally fall.
AI: Run and get that beacon on the truck! We'll cover you from up here!
Translation: We'll shoot randomly in the air while you run a fire-laden gauntlet full of enemies. Then proceed to sprint at unlikely odds to place one beacon on a fast moving truck.
AI: I need more ammo here! Cover while I reload!
Translation: Although I have not picked up one single clip from a falled enemy, I seemingly need more ammunition for my weapon, even though I have already spent 5 clips to kill an enemy that took you only 5 bullets to take out. Watch my back while I take even more of a ridiculous time reloading than you usually do.
AI: EVERYONE! Concentrate your fire at that autonomous sentry!
Translation: HEY YOU! Fire off every round you got at the sentry that seeming only locks on to you! We'll pop 5 shots every 3 minutes and stay in cover.
AI: HELP! I'm taking hits here!
Translation: HELP! Kill this guy that has already emptied 5 clips from his sub machine gun into me that's standing within knife/melee point from me!
I'll get more when I progress through some of the FPSs that I have already.
AI: Take out those RPGs on the rooftops! We can't afford to lose our High-end war machine!
Translation: We'll leave it to you to take out 10+ guys with RPGs that's aiming and both you and the scavenged tank-like vehicle while we shoot at the same dead body another teammate took out a while ago that took him 4 clips to finally fall.
AI: Run and get that beacon on the truck! We'll cover you from up here!
Translation: We'll shoot randomly in the air while you run a fire-laden gauntlet full of enemies. Then proceed to sprint at unlikely odds to place one beacon on a fast moving truck.
AI: I need more ammo here! Cover while I reload!
Translation: Although I have not picked up one single clip from a falled enemy, I seemingly need more ammunition for my weapon, even though I have already spent 5 clips to kill an enemy that took you only 5 bullets to take out. Watch my back while I take even more of a ridiculous time reloading than you usually do.
AI: EVERYONE! Concentrate your fire at that autonomous sentry!
Translation: HEY YOU! Fire off every round you got at the sentry that seeming only locks on to you! We'll pop 5 shots every 3 minutes and stay in cover.
AI: HELP! I'm taking hits here!
Translation: HELP! Kill this guy that has already emptied 5 clips from his sub machine gun into me that's standing within knife/melee point from me!
I'll get more when I progress through some of the FPSs that I have already.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
About emulation...
CONSOLE EMULATION HAS NO SOUL!
There, I said it. Arcade emulation, however, is just fine. You don't expect to have a full sized game cab in your home. But as it goes for console emulation, you can pick one up cheap at...pretty much anywhere.
That is all...
There, I said it. Arcade emulation, however, is just fine. You don't expect to have a full sized game cab in your home. But as it goes for console emulation, you can pick one up cheap at...pretty much anywhere.
That is all...
Saturday, March 5, 2011
HD-DVD's Death...
As soon as I found out that the first, live action Transformers movie was gonna be released on HD-DVD and not Blu-ray, I loathed HD-DVD. I would have given it a chance, but I didn't see a need to get another disc player that eventually would have died out.
So why did it die? How did Blu-ray surpass HD-DVD?
Simple answer: Gaming.
Sony, the main backer of Blu-ray, implemented the use of BR discs in their games. Seeing that it'll hold more than a DVD9 would (8.5GB, to be exact, on a DVD9 as opposed to 30GB on Double sided HD-DVD and 50GB on double sided BR), more data could be placed on one disc, including uncompressed audio and video. So no need for multiple discs which would call for annoying disc changes during a cliffhanger in a story.
How would this matter for HD-DVD? The max capacity of a HD-DVD disc is 30GB (double sided). Even with compressed audio and video, games that would take 3 or 4 discs could be simply placed on one or two of them. Case in point; Lost Odyssey for the Xbox 360. The game shipped with 4 discs, each which popped out of their disc holder and caused major scratching of discs, making them unplayable. Even with standard one disc games like Halo: Reach, a lot more data could have been placed on the disc; uncompressed audio and video, more levels for campaign and maps for multiplayer.
And before I go on, yes, I am blaming Microsoft for the death of HD-DVD.
If you're familiar with the movie "Dogma", the story mentions the Angel/Archangel, Azrael, who stood on the sidelines during a war in heaven between heaven and hell, and would join the winning side (it's been a while, but I remember that the movie mentioned something like that). Anyway, Microsoft did the same thing. They offered an HD-DVD attachment to the 360, but never made it built in to the 360 itself. They basically waited until the format war was done with to decide what to do with HD-DVD.
Why is that important? Integrated HD-DVD means more capabilities for the 360 which could lead to even more sales. Even with the add-on, they should have capitalized on the opportunity to release some games on HD-DVD, or at least offered games on different formats. HD-DVD would have made the Lost Odyssey scratched disc debacle never come to life.
Many movie studios backed HD-DVD. At a point, Microsoft could have been a deciding factor if the format should have stayed alive. Since they stayed on the sidelines during the format war, they never really stood behind the format. They just went with the opposite of their competition, Sony.
Would it be any different if Blu-ray died instead of HD-DVD? Nope. Sony, with the PS3, would have still utilized the disc to release their games out. Movies would also still have a place, giving anyone on either disc camp to choose. The PS3 remains the sole factor in the triumph of the Blu-ray format.
I'm sure the file format would have been the same if creating a game on HD-DVD as opposed to DVD, which makes no sense that Microsoft or any of the gaming companies took advantage of it.
This, of course, it just my opinion on the matter. It is never brought up, at least to my knowledge, anywhere. So maybe this might start a thought train going.
So why did it die? How did Blu-ray surpass HD-DVD?
Simple answer: Gaming.
Sony, the main backer of Blu-ray, implemented the use of BR discs in their games. Seeing that it'll hold more than a DVD9 would (8.5GB, to be exact, on a DVD9 as opposed to 30GB on Double sided HD-DVD and 50GB on double sided BR), more data could be placed on one disc, including uncompressed audio and video. So no need for multiple discs which would call for annoying disc changes during a cliffhanger in a story.
How would this matter for HD-DVD? The max capacity of a HD-DVD disc is 30GB (double sided). Even with compressed audio and video, games that would take 3 or 4 discs could be simply placed on one or two of them. Case in point; Lost Odyssey for the Xbox 360. The game shipped with 4 discs, each which popped out of their disc holder and caused major scratching of discs, making them unplayable. Even with standard one disc games like Halo: Reach, a lot more data could have been placed on the disc; uncompressed audio and video, more levels for campaign and maps for multiplayer.
And before I go on, yes, I am blaming Microsoft for the death of HD-DVD.
If you're familiar with the movie "Dogma", the story mentions the Angel/Archangel, Azrael, who stood on the sidelines during a war in heaven between heaven and hell, and would join the winning side (it's been a while, but I remember that the movie mentioned something like that). Anyway, Microsoft did the same thing. They offered an HD-DVD attachment to the 360, but never made it built in to the 360 itself. They basically waited until the format war was done with to decide what to do with HD-DVD.
Why is that important? Integrated HD-DVD means more capabilities for the 360 which could lead to even more sales. Even with the add-on, they should have capitalized on the opportunity to release some games on HD-DVD, or at least offered games on different formats. HD-DVD would have made the Lost Odyssey scratched disc debacle never come to life.
Many movie studios backed HD-DVD. At a point, Microsoft could have been a deciding factor if the format should have stayed alive. Since they stayed on the sidelines during the format war, they never really stood behind the format. They just went with the opposite of their competition, Sony.
Would it be any different if Blu-ray died instead of HD-DVD? Nope. Sony, with the PS3, would have still utilized the disc to release their games out. Movies would also still have a place, giving anyone on either disc camp to choose. The PS3 remains the sole factor in the triumph of the Blu-ray format.
I'm sure the file format would have been the same if creating a game on HD-DVD as opposed to DVD, which makes no sense that Microsoft or any of the gaming companies took advantage of it.
This, of course, it just my opinion on the matter. It is never brought up, at least to my knowledge, anywhere. So maybe this might start a thought train going.
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