Messages

126

General Chat / Re: Cell phone discussion

« on: March 14, 2020, 08:51:11 AM »

I've never owned a smartphone, because the cost (in Canada) has never justified the value for me.
However, I might be in a position where it needs to happen soon.

Any recommendations about what to get, or what to avoid?

127

Movies & TV / Re: All Things Netflix! Now you can watch on the GO, no mobile data needed.

« on: March 12, 2020, 09:50:30 PM »

I enjoyed it. The main reason I asked, is because I wanted to talk about it, but not spoil it for those that haven't seen it yet.

there's a few moments where beyond questionable choices/actions are made to move the plot forward in the later episodes, but ultimately I enjoyed it and would tune in for a Season 2 whenever that happens.

So I finished off Locke & Key. It's got a few weak moments... but was really fun overall and I think they pulled off exactly what they wanted with the show. Big thumbs up.

Season 2 might end up being good, or not. Second acts for shows like this are often harder to pull off than the first... but I'd tune in to find out. It feels like they've built a bigger world than what was shown the initial conflict.


Also saw Always Be My Maybe - a romcom that I enjoyed so much that I don't feel bad about admitting to watching it alone at home. It's still a romcom and hits the expected notes, but the jokes hit home in a way that rarely happens with these movies.

Not sure if I can recommend it to people, or if they'll find the little things so funny and familiar like I did... but it gets a huge thumbs from me.

128

General Chat / Re: NBA Thread: Season Suspended Due To Pandemic And Gobert Dumbassery

« on: March 12, 2020, 11:50:07 AM »

People need to chill out just a bit. The virus will spread regardless; by the time this happened, COVID-19 has already been spreading rapidly across the US and many other countries. Changing behavior will slow transmission but not stop it. Jazz players blaming Gobert for being careless in the locker room aren't wrong to do so, but it would be very hard to prove that they didn't catch it from other sources (including, possibly, whatever source first spread the virus to Gobert).

Being afraid isn't going to help; people should stay calm and rational. Note that I'm not trying to excuse people for acting stupidly, or making bad jokes out in public about a unfortunate and serious situation... But flying to extreme conclusions (out of the league? really?) is also a bit foolish. A fine and public apology so he serves as a warning for others is probably much more appropriate.

Suspending the league while the pandemic passes was always a likely outcome, maybe the most likely, even though I didn't want to admit that to myself until it actually happened. The odds of nobody in the league coming down with COVID-19 seemed pretty slim from the beginning, and as soon as anyone does have it there isn't much else you can do as a reasonable response (unless you want to just accept that everyone will be exposed to it).

129

General Chat / Re: NBA Thread: Season Suspended Due To Pandemic And Gobert Dumbassery

« on: March 12, 2020, 08:44:12 AM »

The problem with a highly contagious virus like this is that many people will end up catching it. Those who travel often are especially at risk - how many airports has any given NBA player gone through recently? Interacting with fans, working out in different gyms and environments, dealing with all kinds of trainers and support staff on regular basis...

Gobert joking about COVID-19 was stupid, specifically because NBA players are at a relatively high risk of catching the virus - so there was a higher than average chance of his "joke" coming back to bite him (which it did). I won't crucify the guy for his actions, but it's certainly a bad look that he's (reportedly) the first one to be a confirmed case.


I'm bummed that the season is suspended. It's the smart move though. Very curious how long this will last and how they'll continue the season later though.

Surely the suspension will last for at least a full month before green flags are waved and things go back to normal - probably longer, given two-week incubation period followed by needing time to recover for those who do get sick? I wouldn't be surprised to see the league drop most remaining games - maybe give each team a few games after coming back to help players get back into rhythm and even out the number of games played, capping the season somewhere around/under 68-70 games before rolling into an abbreviated playoff series? Switching back to the old "best of 5" series for at least one round also makes sense, even though it's more upset friendly than the seven game slog we are used to seeing.

Stay healthy out there, ladies and gents. And don't lick any microphones.

130

General Chat / Re: NBA Thread: Kobe Bryant (1978-2020)

« on: March 11, 2020, 07:28:00 AM »

That was embarrassing.

Yep.   Full team versus the Nets without Kyrie.  I knew something like this might happen but it is still disappointing to lose.  On the last two shots no less. One to take it into OT and one to win it.

Kyrie being out might be a good thing for the Nets though? He's an incredible talent but seems to be a disruptive and problematic teammate. (Maybe that's just media spin, maybe not. There's too much smoke behind this particular fire to be ignored though.)

As we are closing in on the end of season, this kind of lackadaisical effort isn't shocking though. Lakers are 5.5 games up on the Clippers, with enough distanced from both Bucks/Raptors that they probably feel pretty comfortable about maintaining their playoff position.

Disappointing? Sure... but as long as they stay healthy at this point you shouldn't get too upset.

I've gone from a doubter prior to the season to a believer in the Lakers. The team composition isn't perfect, but is much better than I had expected it would be. Hard to imagine them losing 4 games to the same team.

I'm not nearly as bullish on the Clippers after watching them play a few game lately. I just don't like the way their offense flows, or the chemistry on that team right now. They still have enough superstar power to win, but more and more it looks like Kawhi leaving Toronto was a bad basketball decision.

131

TalkBack / Re: La-Mulana (Switch) Review

« on: March 10, 2020, 08:01:23 PM »

I disagree with Darth Asterix, only to the point that the first two or three levels are difficult but not what I would call "violently obtuse".  However... maybe that's because I saw just how crazy the game gets in later stages and am grading on a scale? The opening stages certainly aren't easy.

My advice to anyone who starts playing: You are probably best off to explore parts of several different areas, going back and forth whenever you get stuck instead of trying to brute force your way through a section that stumps you. That will often let you get some power-ups or help teach you new tricks about the ruins that can be useful in other areas.

However, after you get deep enough in the game does become "violently obtuse". There are some puzzles I never would have solved without looking up the answer online. Still, I enjoyed the game immensely and found it extremely rewarding whenever I could solve a puzzle instead of relying on walkthroughs. My biggest complaint is probably that a few of the bosses were just too challenging for my liking... I enjoyed the puzzles and exploration more than the combat most of the time.

132

General Chat / Re: NBA Thread: Kobe Bryant (1978-2020)

« on: March 09, 2020, 09:44:06 PM »

Son of a...

Opening quarter for the Raptors vs Jazz, and they are so close to being healthy again for the first time since... before Christmas?  Something like that. Of course Norm Powell would go down with an injured ankle after a nasty collision with OG Anunoby. But hey, at least he was healthy long enough to earn Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors first. Oh well. The team was only missing two starters coming in, so how much difference will it make to lose another of their top 7.

(If I sound bitter... well, that's pretty accurate.)


This game (most likely) just went from a competitive match to an easy Jazz victory.
--

Spoke too soon.

Without trying to discredit the Raptors for fighting through a tough game, this is why people don't take Utah seriously. There is no reason that a team as talented as Utah can't put together a better performance and win against a depleted opponent coming into their home court. Doesn't bode well for the playoffs.

Apologies if that offends Utah fans, but I'm assuming you also feel frustrated after that mess of a game.

133

TalkBack / Re: Nintendo World Report's 20 Top Games Of The 2010s

« on: March 09, 2020, 07:57:05 PM »

Ghost Trick surprised me in how well the game has held up over time - still looks beautiful, and the story beats are great even after you've played through (assuming you give some time so that you don't remember all of the details). Not the kind of game that I would normally expect on these "best of" lists, but definitely deserving.

Overall, I like the list. It's not the same as my list would be, with a few games added that I didn't care for and a few missing that I rather enjoyed... but it's a solid list of games and none stick out to me as obviously being sub-par.

134

Movies & TV / Re: The IMDb Top 250

« on: March 09, 2020, 09:33:41 AM »

Glad I'm not the only one who hasn't seen all of these films.
I've never seen #5: 12 Angry Men, so apparently didn't do very well.

135

General Gaming / Re: Board Game Discussion!

« on: March 08, 2020, 02:32:45 PM »

... I am a huge fan of Forbidden Island/Forbidden Desert, ...

Ha - we just got Forbidden Desert in trade a week ago, and my kids LOVE it. There have been a couple of close calls, but so far no escapes from the desert. That said, some of the decision making hasn't exactly been optimized; my kids are getting better though and it won't be long before we break through that barrier.

Another older game we just got into is Agricola. Showed my kids how to play yesterday, and they insisted on playing three times. The whole idea of building a farm intrigues them, and between plays my daughter went off to play some Minecraft and used that game to plan out what kind of ideal farm she hoped to build in our next session.

So yeah, not a bad March Break even though travel plans were cancelled and we ended up mostly just staying home and (for the adults) working.


By the way, I'll also put in a plug for the game being designed by NWR forum member decoyman. Play as animals competing to gather resources in preparation for the winter, and see who is best prepared to make it through to spring. Cute, and sounds like a fun theme. Not sure why he's not pushing it more, but I don't mind throwing it in everyone's face multiple times... hahaha.

More info here: http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=60088.0

136

General Gaming / Re: Google Stadia

« on: March 08, 2020, 02:27:38 PM »

What's the update?  Is Stadia still a thing?  And if so, is it a good thing?  The ads have died down and I haven't heard anything about it for a long while... so guessing the uptake isn't really buzz-worthy?

137

General Chat / Re: What are you backing on KickStarter/Indiegogo/etc?

« on: March 08, 2020, 02:20:04 PM »

I'm pretty much done with crowdfunding platforms at this point. Mighty No. 9, Indivisible, and Shenmue 3 did a pretty good job of proving the value of game publishers.
...

Yeah, I don't feel like the platform is at all a good idea for video games. Development cycles usually take too long and the attached risk tends to be very high.

Comics/graphic novels and board games, on the other hand, are both pretty solid items to support via crowd-funding. I've done a bit of both, and typically have been happy with the results.

Right now I'm backing two active projects on KickStarter:
* Hunker (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paperwilds/hunker-a-game-of-woodland-friendship-under-the-falling-snow) is a board game about animals hunkering down winter, and competing for the resources they'll need to make it through safely. The art design here is super cute, the concept is interesting, and it's designed by a NWR forum member... so supporting this project was a pretty easy choice for me.
* Pyramid Quartet (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/looneylabs/pyramid-quartet) is a series of four portable games that use colorful stacking pyramids. We have a pretty big set of these pyramids at home already and enjoy playing different games with them; some are super luck-heavy and don't appeal to me at all, but others are more strategic. Having a dedicated box for one or two of my favorites is very appealing, especially since we already know what we're buying into.

I really only back comic books
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-expendables-go-to-hell-graphic-novel/x/15764170#/

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/offworlder-by-mike-baron-and-jordi-armengol/x/15764170#/

Which are you more excited for? I never watched The Expendables, and find the concept there maybe a bridge too far for my interests... but the Offworlder comic looks interesting.

What are some of your favorite comics that have been crowd-funded in the past? I don't back a lot of the, but have rather enjoyed the Moonshot series so far.

138

General Chat / Re: What are you KickStarting?

« on: March 08, 2020, 10:14:00 AM »

I more of an Indiegogo man myself.

Somehow, I never got into checking Indiegogo - any cool projects there lately worth talking about?

139

General Chat / What are you backing on KickStarter/Indiegogo/etc?

« on: March 07, 2020, 11:22:08 PM »

KickStarter is a weird beast.

Frankly, I don't really like what the platform has (mostly) become, and it feels like a lot of the successful projects coming out of it don't really match the spirit of why the site was first created... however, there is still cool, independent stuff getting released there if you look around, including stuff that convinces a skeptic like me to pony up some cash in advance to see the idea come to fruition.

Presumably, I'm not the only one here who has backed a few things that are currently active on KickStarter - if there is something that left you excited, whether related to gaming or art or music or some other media, take a minute and spread the word about it!

(I'll post again tomorrow talking about what I've got backed and am excited about.)

140

General Chat / Re: NBA Thread: Kobe Bryant (1978-2020)

« on: March 07, 2020, 10:58:18 PM »

The Lakers can’t beat elite teams.

Is this a thing for the Lakers too?  I hadn't heard that, and don't believe it.

It's a thing people say about the Raptors. They might be right there. Toronto plays hard, has good depth, and consistently takes care of their business against lesser teams... but there are some very real questions about whether they can complete against the top-tier teams once playoffs start. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that they'll be healthy for the playoffs.

And that's really the only thing that worries me when it comes to the Lakers: banking heavily on the healthy of their two superstars. As long as the team is healthy, they have the ability to take down pretty much anyone in a seven game series.

Playoffs should be a lot of fun this year - moreso in the West than the East, though. Eastern Conference teams look a bit top-heavy when it comes to talent.

141

Movies & TV / Re: All Things Netflix! Now you can watch on the GO, no mobile data needed.

« on: March 07, 2020, 10:47:29 PM »

I am not ok with this is only about 3.5hrs worth of content. you can burn through it on a Saturday afternoon.

You were right - short, and pretty good. I Am Not OK With This gets a thumbs-up in my book.


Another Life, on the other hand doesn't. In fact, it gets a flat out "avoid at all costs" rating.  The show seems to have a decent budget, but the writing is Terrible... dialog is weird and stilted most of the time, characters are horribly underdeveloper cliches that continually make nonsensical choices, and the plot is an illogical mess.

That kind of hurts to write. There was potential here, and a good original sci-fi series would've been awesome. Sadly, this show has almost no redeeming value. Take a hard pass.


On the upside, next show up is Locke & Key... which from all accounts should be a pleasant way to wash out the bad taste of Another Life.

Sidenote: Is anyone watching the Castlevania animated series? I rather enjoyed the earlier seasons, so am keen to check out the third season that just got released.

142

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: 2012 Releases (Part 3)

« on: March 07, 2020, 02:23:56 PM »

I own and would generally recommend:
* Liberation Maiden - weird concept, and somewhat repetitive gameplay... but it's short and inexpensive enough that the game never outlives its welcome; this is a pretty good title and worth trying if you enjoy fast-paced shoot'em ups
* Crimson Shroud - this game has some significant flaws, probably the worst being that you need a semi-random drop from a specific room quite early on to make progress... but it's got a great sense of style and story, and there is a surprising amount of content unlocked on repeat playthroughs; maybe worth checking the retroactive that RFN did a while back on this title? it won't work for everyone, but was a great deal for me
* escapeVektor - it's been a long time since playing, but I recall enjoying this game; it's got a Pac-Man feel where you are avoiding enemies and trying to cross all paths on a maze-like surface, with time targets to beat along the way; the one thing that bugged me back on the day was that many time targets are impossible until you get quite deep in the game and unlock some power-ups
* Fluidity: Spin Cycle - I much preferred the WiiWare original, where you had large stages filled with all kinds of paths and puzzles, instead of this sequel that has ultra-focused, bite-sized levels... but some people feel the other way; it's motion-based though, so if you don't enjoy tilting and rotating your 3DS console all the time maybe take a pass?

I haven't played Crashmo, but strongly suspect it's worth owning. Pushmo was pretty much fantastic, and this is the 3DS sequel, right? The only reason I haven't bought it yet is because of too many games already downloaded on my system.

143

General Chat / Re: NBA Thread: Kobe Bryant (1978-2020)

« on: March 06, 2020, 02:19:21 PM »

..., I feel we might've won that one...

Even if the Warriors don't win games, the difference with Curry is that you always feel like it's possible - and some fun to boot. That's a big shift in the right direction. Gosh, he's a fun player to watch.

Back when Curry was getting drafted, the Raptors were picking 2 spots after Golden State, and I was just hoping and praying that he'd somehow slip through the cracks. Granted, his whole career could've been different if that happened... but even back in college it was just a joy to watch him play with all the crazy gimmick defenses thrown around to slow him down.

144

General Chat / Re: NBA Thread: Kobe Bryant (1978-2020)

« on: March 06, 2020, 08:22:24 AM »

Really good to see Curry back on a court. He's always electric, and his insane gravity will make everything easier for his Golden State teammates.

Also good to see the Raptors secure a playoff spot. They still have a lot of work to do, with a fantastic young Celtics team sitting just a game-and-a-half out of the second seed. Hard to believe that the Raptors have twice as many losses as the team immediate ahead of them though.

145

General Chat / Re: I'm making a game!

« on: March 04, 2020, 08:40:58 PM »

Some really good projects don't make the funding cut their first time on KickStarter. KickStarter has a weird "rich get richer" vibe where the increased visibility of projects that are successful early (or vice versa) can sometimes snowball and exacerbate those early results.

So if the numbers don't look good as you get closer to the end, don't get stressed out or feel down. There is a good chance you'll retain a lot of the existing backers if a re-launch is necessary, so focus on ideas about how to draw attention prior to the campaign and increase early backers.

Again, hopefully that is all moot. Keeping my eyes on the project and excited to see how it goes!

146

General Chat / Re: I'm making a game!

« on: March 04, 2020, 06:46:45 PM »

Oh yay - thanks for letting us know. I'm keen to go check out the campaign.

You should have let us know earlier to help get early pledges.
http://www.kicktraq.com/projects/paperwilds/875450608/


Edit: Backed. Seems like you have some positive, active supporters in the comment section too.

147

Movies & TV / Re: All Things Netflix! Now you can watch on the GO, no mobile data needed.

« on: March 04, 2020, 08:44:19 AM »

Haunting of Hill House ended with a whimper instead of a bang, which was disappointing.  The last half of the series was still good, but not quite the type of experience I had hoped for...  still, the highs were good enough to justify the whole series anyway.

There is apparently a second season (focused on a different haunted house) coming out later this year.
I'll watch when it arrives.


Next up is either Locke & Key or I Am Not Ok With This...  Haven't quite decided which yet.

148

TalkBack / Re: Why Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a Failure to the Zelda Franchise

« on: March 03, 2020, 10:56:16 PM »

I liked most of the voice acting though.

149

TalkBack / Re: Why Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a Failure to the Zelda Franchise

« on: March 03, 2020, 12:51:03 PM »

As much as I love Breath of the Wild, some of these points are fair.

My biggest complaint against the article is holding up Skyward Sword - another Zelda game that has great moments mixed in with missteps - as the "polar opposite", suggesting that game is significantly better. How much other people enjoy either game (or don't, as the case might be) depends on what they are hoping to find in the experience.

For me, Breath of the Wild is the best Zelda game we've played in years, and my hope is that they use a sequel to expand on the elements that were lacking. Better, more cohesive dungeons in particular would be my request because Breath of the Wild had small, discrete challenges from temples and Divine Beasts that (frankly) looked cooler from a distance than they ended being when you entered the dungeon. Approaching and exploring the castle in the end almost made up for those short-comings... but I'd love to see several larger, rich environments like that included in a sequel.

That said, games are so big now it feels greedy to expect everything to be perfect. Accepting the good and trying to understand why certain design choices were made is usually good enough for me.

150

General Gaming / Re: Anyone got some new years gaming resolutions going on?

« on: March 03, 2020, 09:06:16 AM »

Is it the paragliding mini-game that sapped your will?

It seems like getting to the Eiffel Tower should feel rewarding, not punishing.
R30 sucked. R31 was the final tipping point. The story hadn't done enough to make it worth fighting through.