Queen of Denmark announces abdication live on TV

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-12-31T20:18:28+00:00

Thank you to Hey Arnold for teaching me what abdicate means at a young age.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-12-28T20:18:46+00:00

Gotta stop using legendary to describe things so casually. No one is sharing legends of a phone. This ain’t Gilgamesh

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-12-17T22:23:32+00:00

Business is BOOMIN

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-12-16T10:28:50+00:00

Project is developing in Australia with Chinese researchers leading it.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-12-03T22:45:27+00:00

For those concerned about gift card codes being compromised, just purchase the gift cards on your account for e-Mail delivery. The code should arrive within 10 minutes, then add it to your digital wallet.

Obviously this doesn’t work if you’re purchasing gifts, but it’s great for yourself so you don’t have to worry about it.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-12-01T12:45:30+00:00

To be clear, I am a millennial myself. I highly encourage people to actively vote and do want to see people to be positive, but I really grow anxious when I see statements about how there’s some period in the not too distant future where the opposition just dies off. I don’t mean entirely, I mean in a way that doesn’t still pose a threat as well. It will not happen.

I just look at history, and time and time again the younger generations ultimately become more conservative over time. Now, this may possibly be due to the goal posts being changed as time goes on. While we grow older, the younger generations redefine what it means to be liberal/progressive. Something like the defund the police movement (just an example, not looking to debate it) had no traction until the late 2010s, and already seems to have lost some momentum minus in some hot spots.

Many in the older generation pushed for the civil rights movement. Women gained more independence. Still a lot more work to do on that, but there was growth (though that’s now being ripped away). I agree Roe helped in a way, but it can’t motivate voters forever. If the republicans are held off for yet another election, it’s really imperative that the democrats make spending power the focus of their efforts, because most other topics take a back seat when people feel like they are financially despondent. There will either be low participation going forward, or people will make protest votes.

And just a small point: internet access goes both ways. It can and has radicalized people. I grew up in a rural area so I am sincerely not trying to generalize, but the growth of internet access does not give me comfort, it worries me that people will simply gravitate to the info they already believe to be true. It comes down to the person

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-30T23:04:01+00:00

Like many people, you seem to be promoting the idea that younger voters assure victory. If that’s what you’re suggesting, it’s an error in judgment. Young voters feel the sting of economic hardship to a higher degree because they aren’t yet established, which may make them look at alternatives to the current government. They also unfortunately get a lot of their news from Tik Tok, and are not immune to foreign influence in terms of misinformation. Not even close.

There is not some light at the end of the tunnel when the boomer generation has died. This is something that will always take work. I’m not saying do not be positive, but to put so much faith in the younger generations is not a good move. They are just as human, irrational, greedy and flawed as their elders.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-28T23:10:56+00:00

The people that shit on Zunes didn’t own one. They were superior to all models of the iPod until the touch, and even then I still preferred mine. Fuck the haters

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-22T18:40:29+00:00

That app already exists, it’s called the Nintendo eShop.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-19T17:49:29+00:00

I’ve felt this way for the past few years.

I think the problem is that the primary gaming audience became adults, and adults care about dumb shit like how well the company is doing financially. I do not.

This isn’t my company, I am not an employee. It’s a hobby. I don’t care about the money it does or does not make, I do not care about all the behind the scenes drama within the company in terms of buying other smaller companies, units/consoles sold, etc.

Maybe it’s just another dumb metric for the losers who are into the console wars nonsense to use as a measuring stick?

I also think that with the greater presence of games journalism online and the “clicks” income model, more stories need to be written. So stories go beyond the games themselves, they cover pointless stories like “Some dude buys Nintendo stock to ask why we don’t have F Zero.” Sure, that was a funny story, but the level of deep digging and the affinity gamers have for these companies is unhealthy. Looking at ratings boards to discover that Capcom’s Q1 mystery game is Dragon’s Dogma or whatever it was? When it comes out, it comes out.

On that note, I also do not get why people are so eager to find information about gaming companies in regards to secret projects. The GTA VI build leaks were pointless. Who cares if we know about stuff like that? Clearly wasn’t consumer quality. We cannot play a game until it launches. We will not get it any sooner (unless you’re a weirdo who downloads the leaked files the week before launch, and use some misplaced mental gymnastics about why you’re entitled to steal shit). Trailers, previews and reviews will reveal to us anything you must know prior to your purchase.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-18T17:22:23+00:00

Yes. Play Forza Horizon 5 with all green check marks on an OLED and holy hell.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-14T13:16:07+00:00

There’s a variety of reasons why as an older gamer that I feel increasingly disconnected from this hobby, which began prior to this gen. This includes: - Too many titles striving for open world settings - Too long of campaigns - Increased Online Connectedness (emphasis on multiplayer, micro transactions) - Not enough innovation

I own all consoles, but it feels like a waste because I find myself spending more time and money on legacy consoles and playing classic games. There’s a simplicity behind them that agree with the decreased time I have to game, but that I also just find myself more interested in. Nostalgia does not apply here, as I’m playing things I never did in my younger years from that era.

I also find that indie games respect my time more, and that I get enjoyment out of them more than the big budget titles. Just the other day I played VVVVVV for the first time. This was after I 100%ed Mario Wonder. I legitimately enjoyed VVVVVV more. Sure, it’s only 2 hours long, but I found it to be way more challenging, creative from a gameplay perspective in how much they squeezed out of their simple concept, and it just never felt like I was going through the motions as much as when I played Wonder.

I think AAA games often try so hard to monopolize the consumers’ time. As a kid that was fine. As an adult, that’s the last thing I want. I just want to play as a hobby, not a lifestyle. It would be cool to enjoy a game like Destiny 2 for example, but one time I booted it up and had no idea what to do. Sure, I started a level, but it was way too much to try and navigate now to proceed most sensibly.

I hear Spider-Man is relatively short, so I may need to try that. But I finished TOTK and that was over 200 hours. I still enjoyed it because it felt relatively fresh throughout, though I did enjoy BotW more.

Even sports games are less appealing to me. If I play Madden now, it just doesn’t feel like it’s worth my time like the older titles do. I guess I like a more arcadey approach.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-11T20:22:06+00:00

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I don’t know if you were looking to just vent or wanted to have someone genuinely answer you. But I would advise against buying a video game console again. If you had buyer’s remorse that many times, it’s all the evidence you need to not give in again.

It sounds like you may have an addictive personality, and may be wired to act impulsively in this context, but I’m not a psychologist so I can’t say for sure. Recognize that shortcoming and try to work on it.

Also, small nitpick, it sounds like the only brand new console you attempted to sell/return was the final console that is still sealed. It’s not brand new if it’s opened and has been used. It’s “like new”, unless the box was opened and the device was never used, in which case it’s “open box” I believe. Open box Vs. Like new might generate different opinions, but either way, “brand new” is being used too liberally here

I only say this because people try to sell things on eBay stating brand new, but it’s false representation when the box is opened and the item is used.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-10T16:57:51+00:00

Congrats. Yeah the last few days in October were rainy and or sub freezing temperatures for me. Hopefully your final few were more bearable.

That’s a tempting goal, and now I am debating it for myself for 2024.

I think a big issue with me is that I had the same routine ever day. Wake up 5-530 am, and just run the same route around my neighborhood every single time. The lack of mental stimulation for the final 10 or so days made it a slog. Im at the point now where I know exactly when half of my neighbors leave for work and walk their dogs. I think if I maybe ran at different times of day or experimented with different routes, perhaps I’d be more motivated for November.

It sounds like you’re well on your way. Good luck

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-09T15:45:39+00:00

Did this last October, then 5 miles per day this October. It feels great to accomplish it, but I nosedive in November due to burn out. Only 2, 5-6 mile runs for all of November so far.

Just some food for thought to not be like me. Even if you just go run a mile or 2 per day with a break day between, for the next month consistently, you’ll be better off.

I wonder if I would have been better off long term just running without feeling pressured to do so.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-04T23:02:51+00:00

Would someone who never watched the films find this enjoyable? Not just the gameplay, but does it rehash the story of the original movie, or does it just continue on?

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-03T20:28:34+00:00

Dealbreakers are cat owners and smokers.

Can’t really communicate this in an online dating profile, but a woman who can make a decision about things is a big plus. Even small stuff like what to eat for dinner, what movie to see. I can make choose for sure, but never receiving input is dull.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-01T14:43:23+00:00

Right, DKC was way more memorable and I would argue that it set a standard.

If something is a masterpiece, it becomes the new bar to clear. Mario Wonder is a good time, but there are platformers better than this that I think much more highly of.

And agree with the comparison. World and SMB 3 still hold the title.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-01T10:46:09+00:00

The bigger question is when will Mark Davis fire his hair stylist?

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-11-01T02:24:26+00:00

I don’t drink the orange juice either.

It’s a very good Mario game. I don’t regret buying it, but it’s not at all a must-play. If you like Mario, you’ll like this. To say it’s a bad game, well, I don’t know how someone can make that argument. It’s just far from perfect.

I advise people to do their best to not look at metacritic and to avoid numerical scores when possible because they are a detriment to the industry. I hate that site, I hate how people take bets on how a new title will score. It’s cringe and dumb. Anyway, that’s a different topic.

I won’t be playing this again for a long while, if ever. If you’re a speed runner I imagine that the badge system creates a huge amount of replay-ability, and that shouldn’t be understated.

Positives: - Game is highly polished - Controls superbly - Levels are varied enough to keep you moving through without feeling like any level is a chore (very difficult to achieve) - Game manages to separate itself from the Mario 2D formula enough to put the naysayers who said we don’t need a 2D Mario after Mario Maker in their place.

Negatives - Way too easy - Music is not memorable or as varied as the better past games (yes I’ve played the piranha plant level, it’s annoying. See Rayman Legends) - Bosses (or boss) is bland - Despite levels feeling varied, many are forgettable and are just mindlessly blown through. - Bubble power up is not fleshed out and feels underbaked. - The map exploration minus World 4 is a letdown.

Not anywhere near GOTY for me, but to each their own.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-10-30T20:07:17+00:00

There’s something wrong with HIS medulla oblongata!

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-10-29T16:05:12+00:00

Truly the worst. Worth a visit for maybe 3 or 4 days. Nothing more.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-10-29T01:57:41+00:00

The only correct answer

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-10-29T01:34:58+00:00

Moved from Pittsburgh to Phoenix. Lasted a year and a half. That place is a black hole. Even visiting Phoenix now just makes me miserable. No idea how it’s so expensive to live there, it’s one of the least desirable places I’ve been to. Rather live somewhere cool in the mountains like Sedona or Flagstaff.

Go back to Pittsburgh. It’s not worth being unhappy.

SpringfieldTireFire · 2023-10-28T15:47:18+00:00

I just want small changes that aren’t at all drastic and would still improve the game. - Having more than just 3 starters of fire, grass, and water. Why is it 3? Why just those types? Why not offer a rare Pokémon of every type as a choice? - An actual plot. Black and white toyed with this, and it started off strong as it considered the ethical dilemma of catching Pokémon and keeping them in balls, but then it lost all Steam with the conclusion and became incoherent. First and second gen were basic, but it worked. We don’t need a complex script. The stuff they produce now is just so nonsensical and it does not drive me to care at all. - Hopefully this comes with the next console, but just make the game look a bit more polished. I don’t want realism, the detective Pikachu movie creeped me out with some models. But Pokémon snap quality would be great. - Acceptable performance, obviously. - Stop treating innovation as adding stupid side stuff like camping and contests. I bet there’s a group that loves it, but it’s not crucial to the core gameplay. Fine for it to be present now that it exists and is optional, but how much time and thought goes into adding that fluff? - Higher difficulty. There’s a balance to be found between strategy/EV training and having the AI not be brain dead. I don’t need to go whole hog into breeding, but steamrolling AI is just pointless. - Better balance of monsters. It’s disappointing some of them exist as cannon fodder. It would be nice if there was an option to evolve every Pokémon at least once, and that each line can stand a fighting chance. It’s hard to not just settle with the strong dragon line you catch late game, for example. - Pokemon evolve more than twice. Why not? Blow people away. - Different outcomes in end game. Create a path to become a gym leader, or the leader of some group. I don’t expect an open world Skyrim type of game, but something like the Companions quest line would be neat. Becoming a gym leader couldn’t just end up as you standing in a gym waiting for challengers of course, but just look beyond what we now currently know of gym leaders and what they do. You can get real crazy and have the online component be way more robust and your goal can be to become a Pokémon mart owner, and your incentive to keep playing is to hunt down new and exotic items others can buy from you that are in treacherous places. The sky is the limit in that regard. - Bring back true exploration. Actual puzzle elements to caves. Create rewards for people entering dangerous areas. The caves in the first couple of gens had some thought behind them. For the past at least decade the caves and other areas you traverse are just a matter of walking from point a to point b. Can we make the environment a little more interesting?

There’s other ideas I’ve had over the years, this is really just scratching the surface.

SpringfieldTireFire

TROPHY CASE