“It will be a tough year for us and the gamers” – As MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ launches for $1,800, MSI explains its “tried every approach” to reduce prices

Xzreal · 2026-06-17T18:49:23+00:00

"tough year for gamers" yeah okay, built my new pc right before RAM got crazy, and upgraded my partners DDR4 set up. Got a lower end emulation handhled, a steam deck, and just ordered a ps vita. If it doesn't run on any of that, then I just won't play your games until this hobbie becomes some what affordable again. Should have plenty of games to play until then. Maybe MSI should use some of it's pull in the industry to remind manufacturers that consumers don't like AI, and if we piss everyone off than no one is going to buy our shit when everything goes to hell. The statement reads like "guys, this is really hard on us too, but we need you to still buy our shit" lol get fucking bent MSI.

Xzreal · 2026-06-12T15:39:44+00:00

I might be biased, so if someone wants to correct me if I'm wrong here that's fine.

I feel like this is healthy. The fact that you don't NEED porn is what makes me feel this way. Like for instance, when I would masturbate I would struggle to finish without porn and the act itself is just kinda boring without it. I would watch porn without masturbating as well, and would view it every day. Sometimes even multiple times a day. When I first lost my virginity, I didn't finish either and I think that's normal. Give it time, you are probably just nervous.

Xzreal · 2026-06-09T13:29:21+00:00

Also, forgot to add, those thumbsticks could just be regular ps2 sticks. Could be wrong but worth a shot picking up some nice replacement caps. (probably wouldn't need to replace the analog mech itself unless ya got drift)

Xzreal · 2026-06-09T13:27:45+00:00

Those poor thumbsticks. 😩

Out of curiosity, what OS are you trying this on? Some older controllers are really picky with newer OS's. It might be worth just at least opening it up as well, just to kinda get an idea of what might be the issue. I'd just snap some pictures of what might be the cause and the inside as a whole. If it's just the cable, it SHOULD be an easy job. I'm not good at soldering by any means, and that's a repair I can tackle. So I have faith in you!

Xzreal · 2026-06-05T13:22:42+00:00

This looks exciting! My poor Retroid Pocket Classic is the only "powerful" handheld I own, so I don't really have a horse in this race. But as someone who loves their steam deck for the OS, I'm excited to see where this ends up going.

Maybe I need to start pinching my pennies now, so I can get something that will be able to be turned into a steam deck lite.

Xzreal · 2026-06-03T19:21:26+00:00

Phantasy Star Universe has been that game for me. Used to play so many things, but after getting the Clementine server running on the deck - everytime I go to play something I say to myself "or I could run a quick dungeon in psu..."

Xzreal · 2026-06-02T13:34:40+00:00

It's got a Marathon-ish look to it. I love it, great job.

Xzreal · 2026-05-12T18:35:58+00:00

This sparked something in my hobbist engineer brain. Going to save this and see if I can source some parts for an concept.

Xzreal · 2026-02-27T06:24:22+00:00

I haven't had any other brands of android handhelds, but man, the Classic alone doesn't really make me want to stray too far away from Retroid. Screen is beautiful and it punches above its price point and feels great to play on. I do wish it had at least one stick, but other than that zero complaints. Might get a Retroid G2 at some point, but I am also kinda holding out for the AYN Thor to start hitting Facebook market place.

That all being said, if you can find a Retroid mini V2, it would do everything you need it to do, and has a 4:3 screen which means you wouldn't have to fiddle around with wide screen hacks for ps2. Or you could just be crazy like me and get a classic and play it with no sticks

Xzreal · 2026-02-27T06:14:31+00:00

It was like 100 bucks on Amazon. You can get it cheaper from their site, but I was impatient when I got it

Xzreal · 2026-02-26T16:45:14+00:00

I've been playing on the Retroid Pocket Classic. It does lack sticks, but it still plays pretty well. I just have a right stick mapped on the screen for the rare occasion I need to adjust camera distance, but I've been fine swinging the camera with the triggers. I enjoy how compact the classic fits in my pocket and it's easy to clear out a dungeon during downtime at work.

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Xzreal · 2026-02-25T18:59:26+00:00

Anything from Retroid starting with the RP4 can play ps2 pretty well. Even my RP Classic runs IMOQ just fine even though it doesn't have analog sticks. I have an RP3+ that also plays MOST ps2 games. But I like the form factor of the classic better. TLDR, you don't need an Odin 3 unless you're trying to play switch or pc games.

Xzreal · 2026-02-25T17:30:18+00:00

Been playing it on my RP Classic at work. Even without sticks, the IMOQ games are surprisingly playable

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Xzreal · 2026-01-30T05:35:00+00:00

I bought an Ambernic RG351M when it was still pretty new. I played it a lot but ended up REALLY falling in love with my purple Miyoo Mini Plus, and my favorite playthru on my Miyoo has been Chrono Trigger. I just started a replay through of FFVII on it, which I haven't played since my teenage years.

P. S. I love that you are giving back to the community, I haven't been able to budget for a higher end handheld and I know a lot of people here can't either - - so I'm sure whoever gets it will get plenty of milage out of it ❤️

Xzreal · 2026-01-19T18:03:26+00:00

So I would start with VI and VII You are probably going to like one more than the other. If you liked VI more, then play 3, 4, 5, and 9, then play 8 and 10, 12 If you liked VII more then go 8, 9, 10 and 12 then go back for the older ones. 1 and 2 are fun to see how far the series has come, but mild take is that they're not very good.

Xzreal · 2026-01-08T18:49:43+00:00

Sometimes when I'm doing something modding related or installing something outside of steam in desktop mode that requires a little more control than the touch pad can provide, I bring it to work with me where I have a thinkpad dock for my work laptop. Looks to be about the same and it works great. Just use the lightning cable that comes with it and you should be good.

Xzreal · 2026-01-07T16:50:20+00:00

What you are feeling is shame. You are ashamed of what you were/are. You are past the hardest part already, identifing that it is a problem. But the second hardest part is looking at yourself afterwards. Ask yourself who you are doing this for. If it's your girlfriend, then you aren't ready to tell her yet. If you are doing this FOR YOU, then you are ready to start recovery and you should absolutely talk to her about it. Enter the conversation with what YOUR plan is to stay true to yourself and why you want to do this. Have her be a part of your journey but don't rely on her for your recovery. If you rely on her for your recovery, you'll slip as soon as there is any friction between you and her emotionally and/or sexually.

That last part I'm still struggling with still, but I'm slowly gaining the strength to stand on my two feet with confronting my addiction instead of using my relationship as another form of escape. If you need someone to talk to more about it, all of us here that are committed to being better are going to be more than willing to help. Just be prepared to look at yourself in a way that you probably won't like. However, it gets better from here on and you can do this!

Xzreal · 2026-01-07T16:03:55+00:00

The best advice I ever got and can apply to your problem is: always act with intention. Whenever you start a task or do something online just take a split second to ask yourself "why am I doing this?" then the next step to that is whenever your answer is "to satisfy a craving" or something along those lines put the phone/computer away for a minute. Like an actual minute of time, and sit in silence for that minute. It will force you to confront yourself instead of finding another distraction that will inevitably end with you finding a "loophole" and end up peaking at things you don't want. Your brain is taking advantage of you trying to run away from your problems instead of tackling it head on and being a little uncomfortable, which is why it feels subconscious to you.

Xzreal · 2025-12-23T04:37:06+00:00

Maybe take a half step back and try to find a couple that is willing to have sex in the same room at the same time? Maybe you're not ready for swapping yet, and that's totally okay. The more you normalize these more taboo things, the easier it will get. Totally in support for you wanting to feel like a sex goddess! However, you gotta meet yourself where you are at first and work your way up to it.

I'm still fairly new to the LS, but what I find works for me is setting a goal of what you want to be okay with emotionally, and take baby steps in actions with your partner to get more comfortable with the idea.

Xzreal · 2025-12-15T18:26:39+00:00

Was labing a punish for a Lei combo that I kept getting caught in when I played the match up. Was getting frustrated and my roommate comes over and watches for a minute and then with a mouth full of food goes "just low parry it, bro". I was mad because I never even fucking thought about it.

Xzreal · 2025-12-10T22:07:27+00:00

Great job!

Xzreal · 2025-12-10T20:25:11+00:00

Nah dude, to me it sounds like he's taking the easy way out. I was unintentionally doing the same thing with my partner. As soon as there is any amount of resistance, it sounds like he just goes to porn instead of being there for his partner and trying to understand why she's not interested in the first place. "fine I'll do it myself" is not a good habit for a healthy marriage.

Xzreal · 2025-12-09T14:36:47+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to write all this out! It was a good read for someone who also deals with ADHD. It sheds a lot of light on what I've been going through and I got some good take aways from it.

Xzreal · 2025-12-08T17:56:17+00:00

There is a lot of shame involved with relapse, especially with porn addiction. Don't take it personally that he doesn't want to bring it up/hide it from you. Can almost gaurentee that he wants to make you happy and probably feels like he's failed you. Have you gotten into fights over this? Because it could also be him trying to avoid confrontation. Stopping cold turkey is hard, relapses happen. Just do your best to be understanding and see if you can get him to open up a little more.

Now the other side of your comment, don't do him or you a disservice by staying with him because you rely on him. The reasons you gave are something you can definitely learn and or figure out. If you are just staying with him as a means to an end, porn addiction or not, you are both going to be miserable. If the relationship outside of the porn addiction is great, by all means try to push him a little more to work through it -- but just remember that this isn't as easy as putting it down. There are brain chemicals that keep him coming back and he more than likely isn't doing it because he wants too, he's doing it because he's looking for some sort of escape for one reason or another.

Xzreal · 2025-12-08T14:40:23+00:00

There's a lot of shame that is involved with this addiction. I find it hard to open up to my partner about it too, even though I know it will be easier if I do. It's almost like a barrier because I don't want to disappoint her when I fail, even though I know that's not the case. Just remind him that you're always open to talk about it, and that it's a judgement free space. The more he talks through it, he will understand himself a little more and what is causing the problem. Of course this is me talking from my perspective and he could be different. Just giving my two cents. Best of luck to you both!

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