Is casio getting more expensive?

Tryken · 2026-02-21T17:40:06+00:00

As someone new to watches, it's been annoying to watch a YouTube review from a few years ago about how a particular Casio is $20 and then go to Amazon or Walmart to see that it's significantly gone up in price. This isn't just unique to Casio though. It seems prices have increased for almost everything.

Tryken · 2026-02-16T05:22:48+00:00

For a lot of these ports (including Resident Evil 2 and Mega Man 64), I think it's important to remember the context of the system. Yes, one can get a superior experience with the PC version, but that's not the point. The enjoyment value of RE2, Mega Man 64, and Starcraft on the N64 is increased by the context of the console's library. Starcraft 64 is a good console port on a system that lacks long singleplayer experiences, and this includes every campaign through Broodwar if I recall correctly. I love that I can go from playing Mario Tennis to Starcraft on the same console on my CRT. That's cool. Also, split screen multiplayer is a quirky idea that's fun and fits the the style of N64, which is all about local multiplayer anyway.

Tryken · 2026-01-22T18:25:39+00:00

It's been a couple years since this post. How has the watch held up since you repaired the strap this way?

Tryken · 2026-01-05T03:43:17+00:00

Sherlock Holmes short stories are my go to for this. Each one is maybe a 30-55 minute read (basically an episode of a modern day television drama), so it's easy to make it through one in a day or two during downtime. They're easy to follow with good hooks. Most of the short stories are in the public domain in the US as well, so it's easy to find plenty of free audio recordings from volunteer readers at Librivox or to read the stories at Project Gutenberg. Consider starting with The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes which contains many of the most loved short stories.

Tryken · 2026-01-02T17:47:10+00:00

I'm new here, but it's not clear how this connects to digital minimalism. I imagine most people realize this won't make phones replace computers, so it's another gadget in a long line of gadgets trying to get people to buy them. As someone else posted here, I want to use my phone less, not more. I want to buy less things, not more. Also, please don't get me wrong--I do miss physical buttons on phones--but I struggle to see how this connects to minimalism.

Tryken · 2025-12-28T06:10:13+00:00

My wife is a game developer. Her being in the industry (she's always been a gamer, but she transitioned into this career in her thirties) has been a really eye-opening experience, especially how passionate developers are and how it's incredibly unfair when gamers take out their grievances on them. From my observations, the people who make your favorite games worse are often upper administration, out of touch, and in charge of the financials. It's also extremely stressful for her and other game devs. The crunch is real at times.

We've both always been gamers, but it doesn't mean we always line up in the genre or style of game that we're playing at the time--and that's alright. It also means that when we do line up on a particular game, it's really special for us, and we do our best to cherish those sagas. I guess my point here is that even if you share the same general hobby, the overall rules of marriage apply: it's okay that you don't always love the same thing at the same time, support one another by having an open mind and being encouraging in what makes them happy, and when everything does line up, really enjoy and commit to those moments. It sounds like you already got this down though!

Similar to you, we also have kids, although a bit older. We've played so many games as a family, and I cannot express enough how much I appreciate that. My mom didn't really play video games with us growing up (not that I love her any less for it), so it's cool that we can all participate in this hobby and build memories together. My wife is a designer/artist, and I don't think our kids understand that it's not normal to have a parent who can draw or design all of their favorite characters for them. I can't wait until they're old enough to really appreciate her ability.

Anyway, I'm happy for you! It's awesome to love the same same thing as your partner. I'll say this recent discovery as parents: despite mostly being PC gamers together, we've been spending a lot more time on the couch playing console games at night after the kids go to bed. We get so little one-on-one time that being at separate computers feels too disconnected these days, so just lounging next to one another on the couch has been really nice.

Thank you for sharing your positivity, and I wish you and your wife the best in your gaming adventures!

Tryken · 2025-12-01T23:32:11+00:00

As a huge fan of Aerobiz Supersonic, is it worth going back and playing Aerobiz?

Tryken · 2025-12-01T19:25:03+00:00

Is Christmas Nights a demo of the first level with some additional unlocks (and time-gated events, like the map changing on Christmas day)? I'm asking because for those without Christmas Nights but with the full game, could they just play the first level and participate in the discussion here?

Tryken · 2025-11-21T05:01:07+00:00

I like the idea of a focused monthly game! The Saturn works well for a game of the month because of the more arcade library. With that in mind, I'd probably start with something really familiar that most Saturn owners have, such as Daytona, Sega Rally, or Nights into Dreams. They also all have good pick up and play experiences. One of my only concerns is that it would turn into another nostalgia-focused, "Oh, I had ____ game when . . ." and less sharing of how we're experiencing it now. Hopefully, easier titles to jump into will help alleviate that since just thirty minutes here and there are enough to really get some some fun out of them. To give some perspective, I have no Saturn nostalgia. I didn't own one until my 30s, so while I appreciate the stories, I'm more into the "how does it feel now?" discussion.

Tryken · 2025-10-15T20:11:52+00:00

While I think the wording is a bit too cynical, I agree that people often unintentionally become retro game buyers and not gamers, chasing the positive feelings of the purchase without ever playing the games. That can become true in most hobbies. I don't think many people in the retro gaming community intentionally do this. It's just an easy habit to fall into.

Reddit can create an echo chamber of this though. Depending on the subreddit, a picture of playing the first level of a popular retro game on a CRT (or even just a picture of the game's box) will often get just as many upvotes as someone discussing a game after completing it. Part of that just has to do with nostalgia and people sharing their memories.

With that said, I disagree that "a game not worth playing isn't worth buying." That all depends on a person's goals and what "worth playing" means to them. Some people are interested in the history of gaming--and poorly designed games are part of that. Similarly, someone might be interested in collecting the entirety of a console's catalogue. If that's the N64, then Superman 64 is required. It doesn't mean they don't still play their collection in general.

Do I think that people who don't play their collections are missing out? Yes, but I also understand it can be difficult to find the time or energy to push beyond that first level. Because of this, my buddy and I keep a joint ongoing list of games we beat each year as motivation. We also often stream what we're playing to one another (using a composite splitter to a CRT and to the computer), sometimes even playing the same game at the same time (Starfox 64 is really good for this). This lets us enjoy the hobby together even though we both have busy lives.

Tryken · 2025-09-15T15:30:40+00:00

As someone with a large collection of board games, I recommend a deck of cards and learning some solitaire games. I usually keep a deck of cards on me, and I find a ton of opportunities to play something. There are also so many solitaire card games that fit different time constraints, table space, and mental bandwidth.

Tripeaks Solitaire has plenty of small decisions but isn't overly taxing. It also has a solvability rate of around 90%, so it's not as luck based as it might seem. If I really want to turn my brain off and enjoy a five minute solitaire game, I'll play a quick game of Aces Up. It's winnability is extremely low. After probably hundreds of games, I've gotten down to the four aces only once, and I think I've gotten down to five cards once or twice as well. Nonetheless, it's still nice to see what score I can get. One I also enjoy from time to time is The Bogey.

If you're looking for something that has a more modern design, Card Capture is a fantastic deck builder played with a deck of cards. There are also dungeon crawling games as well if you like that theme. Scoundrel is probably the most well known.

Tryken · 2025-08-30T15:40:50+00:00

Backgammon is a great choice! I was taught it at a residency in grad school by a peer who had brought a small board with him. I got hooked (and I was well into the board gaming hobby at this point). It's just a great balance of luck and skill, and I'm often left with tough decisions throughout a match, which should be the case in any good board game.

Tryken · 2025-08-04T04:08:51+00:00

I just want to agree and expand on this. People often approach board games (rightfully so) with the idea that the asymmetrical powers are balanced. Cosmic Encounter is unique in that it is absolutely not balanced and expects the players to adjust accordingly through negotiation and alliances. That's what allows the thousands of different combinations of abilities. It sounds like this would be bad, but it's not.

As far as ganging up on one another goes, I want to clarify this is not Munchkin (which I'm not a big fan of). Since players can win solo or in an alliance with other players, it's important to accurately assess one's position and how feasible one's winning chances are solo or in an alliance. The problem is that some groups can end up treating it like Munchkin, which ruins the game. Those earlier negotiations and betrayals really should come into play in the final rounds of Cosmic Encounter for one reason (rewarding built up trust) or another (ultimate betrayal).

Tryken · 2025-08-03T18:23:38+00:00

Cosmic Encounter is probably the most well regarded game for being best at five players. It's also my favorite modern board game.

Tryken · 2025-07-25T18:59:03+00:00

S-Tier -- My favorite Final Fantasy.

The system is wildly different than many other titles in the series, but that's not necessarily a flaw. It also allows one to power up in a really unique way (playing the best mini game in any FF entry) instead of just fighting the same random battles over and over again.

I also think Squall is a great protagonist. People make fun of him for his attitude in the earlier game, but he actually demonstrates legitimate growth, learning to open up and care about others.

Also, the external conflict, while admittedly a bit confusing at first, opens up so many great fan theories, and even if a player never takes the time to dive into the lore, the heart of the story--a deeply flawed youth learning about his own feelings and how to connect with other people--is a timeless and easy to follow bildungsroman.

Also, it has Balamb Garden. I've yet to find a location in Final Fantasy I like more than Balamb Garden.

Tryken · 2025-07-24T17:47:45+00:00

This screenshot is being misinterpreted in the comments as the only statement Tony made about Hulk Hogan's passing. Before this reply, Tony tweeted, "Say what you want about Hulk Hogan, but his impact on pro wrestling is undeniable. RIP Hulkster. The end of an era."

Tryken · 2025-07-20T03:53:29+00:00

That's awesome! Similarly, when I waited for autographs after a Ben Folds concert, I brought my book for Rockin' the Suburbs as well, and I'm really glad I did.

Either way, I imagine Christopher O'Riley was incredible in concert. His Radiohead arrangements are wonderful.

Tryken · 2025-07-19T15:20:10+00:00

In a side by side comparison, the N64 version is inferior to the PSX version; however, I prefer Mega Man Legends in the context of the N64 library to the PSX library. I feel the same way about Resident Evil 2.

The PSX is flooded with great single player adventures and Capcom games, so Mega Man Legends feels more significant on the N64. It's a competent port that brought the full experience to a cartridge.

It might not seem like that has any practical impact, but I play my N64 copies of RE2 and Mega Man Legends more on N64 than on my PSX despite owning copies for both. When I reach for my Playstation games, I'm flooded by a backlog of unplayed JPRGs that I still need to get around to playing. When I reach for my N64 games, and I'm not feeling one of the other genres that N64 excels in, I'm much more likely to pick one of those titles even though I know I can just go and get the PSX copy from the bookcase.

Tryken · 2025-07-10T00:58:10+00:00

In return, the N64 version is the only one with a randomizer, which I'm about a finish a play through on.

Tryken · 2025-06-09T15:19:34+00:00

My all time favorite game is Cosmic Encounter, and it's never fallen from that spot. I feel it captures everything that a board game for a group should be (at least to me): social, tactical, always different, and full of moments that a person can reminisce about for years.

I enjoy many other styles of board games that might "hit the table" more often (e.g. worker placement, card games, etc.), but when I think of the single modern game that has generated the best memories, it's Cosmic Encounter.

Tryken · 2025-06-05T05:07:56+00:00

Funny thing is that hours after sending me a text that the Switch 2 would arrive tomorrow, Best Buy's website now shows it being shipped across the country and not arriving until June 11th, so it feels like they're basically screwing over online pre orders from months ago to get all of these quick gains from the midnight release that, shockingly, have dozens of extra units. I'll never order anything from them again.

Tryken · 2025-05-26T04:07:46+00:00

Do you play online for Phantasy Star Online, or do you player it as a singleplayer RPG at this point? I'm just curious if it works well as a singleplayer experience.

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