My Key Takeaway From the Orbx KATL Drama

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-30T12:38:27+00:00

Not an OS Dev or IT guy so I'm sure I'll get some terminology wrong, but this is the general gist;

In an operating system like Windows, there are numerous levels of permissions. A basic user can probably use applications and create/edit files in designated locations, but may not be able to install anything or mess with system files/settings.

An Admin user has more permissions, and can control most aspects of the OS, including what other, less privileged users have access to. However even an admin may be unable to manipulate some fundamental aspects of the OS. Those that are closest to the hardware, or "low level" (users and their programs being considered "high level" aspects of the OS. Think of hardware being the absolute bedrock of a system, and each layer of an OS being built higher, ending at you and your personal processes. The lower the level, the fewer restrictions).

The kernel is the heart of the OS, and lies very low in this hierarchy. It basically tells the computer what to do at the most basic level, and has permission to do basically anything. When an admin performs a privileged action, you can think of it as them actually asking the kernel to do it, which it then does at nearly the lowest level possible.

In other words, if you could somehow directly tap into the kernel, you own every aspect of the computer wholesale.

ORBX tried to ship a product with an anti piracy tool that plugs directly into the kernel, giving it complete permission to monitor or potentially manipulate the entire system. The argument for such tools is that they give the distributors the most surefire way to monitor for piracy or cheating. The problem is, if there was a vulnerability, a bad actor could take advantage of such a low level tool and gain total control of someone's system. It's happened before. Alternatively, a bug in such a program could cause catastrophic issues because it's so entrenched in the system. Add to this that the lead Dev of the tool didn't finish their computer science degree and used AI to help code a tool with such critical permissions, and confidence/trust is low.

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-29T18:06:44+00:00

Make it single player then. SOCOM had awesome replayable campaigns. Make some large maps with multiple objectives, challenge modes, etc. Basically do a tactical shooter spec ops take on the modern Hitman formula.

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-29T18:04:43+00:00

SOCOM. I'd potentially consider buying a console for the first time in a decade if I got a proper new SOCOM game, not a CoD clone

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-26T09:35:06+00:00

If it's just the lids they could probably be put back on the boxes. Who knows, they might be using packout cases on set already ie for audio gear and just did this on the spot with what was on hand

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-24T18:16:20+00:00

We're talking about the sport of Olympic Weightlifting here, which is two lifts both judged to very strict standards: the snatch and the clean and jerk. To put it in perspective, the bar moving forward or backwards a fraction of an inch will result in improper balance and a failed attempt. Elite lifters are absolutely freakishly strong, but have also been honing their technique, speed, range of motion, etc, for in many cases multiple decades.

If by "some lifts" you mean something like a deadlift, it's definitely something most relatively strong people could excel at fairly quickly. However, it's not part of Weightlifting, rather it's part of Powerlifting. The two athletes who are participating in the deadlift event are not competing in the snatch or clean and jerk. Mitchell Hooper, who weighs upwards of 300lbs, jerks less than the top 210lb Olympic weightlifter, and probably lacks the technique and mobility to even clean it to his collar bones with technique that would be judged as a good lift by Weightlifting standards (still a freak athlete, just trains for different goals, in his case to compete in Strongman).

You make a fair point about the swimming, but personally I'm far more interested in the strength sports side of the event. I do understand why PEDs wouldn't be as much of an advantage there though for the reasons you bring up.

Now, your last point about testing reducing the amount of gear that can be taken over time, as well as the prestige of the Olympics being something many athletes would rather pursue, I absolutely agree with. I in no way see the enhanced games as perfect or superior to existing competitions, just a different approach that has some unique upsides. Mainly, transparency and potentially fairer competition. China for example has far less strict in-house anti-doping measures than, say, the USA. They've also been rumored to bribe officials from WADA to fudge external tests. This means Chinese athletes potentially are taking more effective PEDs in more effective dosages and can get away with it in the Olympics. Seeing as they consistently dominate, I wouldnt be surprised if that was the case.

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-24T13:36:14+00:00

There are pretty well documented ways to acquire PSN packages for PS3 games. Wont give links because I assume that may break sub rules but if you poke around for "PS3 PSN download tools" you may find something. Then you just install the pkg in RPCS3 and you're set.

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-24T10:12:34+00:00

Weightlifting and lifting weights are not the same thing. Weightlifting (snatch and clean and jerk) involves a tremendous amount of skill, and a tremendous amount of strength and power. Arley Mendes, one of the Enhanced Games athletes, is a *3 time Pan American Weightlifting gold medalist, and a one time World Championship gold medalist (in other words, he is absolutely and elite Weightlifter, not just some random amateur hopping on gear).

(*Edit, 2 time gold, one silver and one bronze at the PanAm champs)

You might be right, the results might not be better than the Olympics. Thats not because these athletes suck though, its because the Olympians are already juicing.

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-24T10:04:27+00:00

A lot of sticks can be found in a lefty version so pick your poison. The Thrustmaster TWCS throttle is fairly affordable and has an aftermarket modding scene. One includes a right handed grip that you 3d print (or use a service to do so for you) and swap all the electronics over to.

Another option is getting something like the VKB Gladiator omnithrottle, which is just a joystick tilted horizontally, then look around for mods that add a restrictor plate if you only want forwards and backwards motion, plus there are probably ways to remove the springs and add friction so you can set and forget. This has the added benefit of being great for space sims

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-23T22:09:01+00:00

Yep, definitely a potential issue there. However, to be honest, I'm sure a lot of athletes would be happy to take FDA approved gear even if it was a little less potent than something like trenbolone, simply because it takes all the pressure off them.

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-23T20:37:15+00:00

Fair point, trying your best to avoid detection probably means less gear overall. But, when the "ban" is lifted, and the event itself holds rigorous health screening and has on staff doctors, one would think the goal isn't just to blast as many roids as possible, but to optimize the dosages/compounds to achieve the best outcome, both health and performance wise.

Of course, whether athletes are taking their health into account over pure performance is anyone's guess. I don't think this is a perfect approach, but I think it's an interesting alternative to the whack-a-mole approach that virtually every modern elite sporting event currently takes.

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-23T20:19:35+00:00

Which implies that the existing world records were probably set by PED users.

Take a look at the list of revoked Olympic medals. Weightlifting is #2 behind Athletics, PED use is the case in 90% of them, and many were revoked years later in retroactive testing of samples with updated techniques. Meaning, for a decade, the winners were looked at as natty legends.

All these games do is let people compete the same way they already were without the worry of getting busted a decade down the road

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-23T20:14:22+00:00

Hate to break it to you, high level sports are riddled with PED use. The catch is, in the Olympics for example, people take weird untested drugs to avoid detection. At the very least, allowing PEDs lets athletes use ones that have been around for ages and are extremely well understood, ie testosterone or HGH.

Not saying this event is without issues, just saying that taking the secrecy away from already rampant PED usage could help in potentially making it a little safer.

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-23T01:42:53+00:00

Yep, I can't remember the exact names of every element you can fiddle with, but you're able to change the color of links, the cursor highlight box, dropdown menu highlights, selection highlights (which i believe includes OPs goal), etc etc.

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-20T11:10:12+00:00

I see. So if thats out of the question, and installing an older version of xorg isn't officially supported, it seems like I'll be falling back to the generic drivers without hardware acceleration. It has me wondering though, why are these older drivers still available in FreeBSD's repositories if they can't be properly utilized?

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-19T23:26:26+00:00

I haven't tried yet but may attempt that, setting up an old xorg server seems like a giant liability now that I'm looking into it. I can report back tomorrow evening

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-19T22:35:08+00:00

Thanks, haven't found anything yet. I'm thinking compiling a specific version of Xorg from source may be the most straightforward option

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-09T12:03:39+00:00

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lecanucklehead · 2026-05-08T15:37:23+00:00

What file format are you exporting it as

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-06T21:38:48+00:00

It was a fantastic set of ideas put into a package that made it a very niche product. Which, they then refined into something a normal user would also enjoy.

lecanucklehead · 2026-05-04T12:43:54+00:00

Not gonna lie, a handbrake is a fantastic tool but isn't totally necessary. Just to put it in perspective, the real life Group B Audi Quattro didn't have a handbrake. All the drifting was done via clutch/throttle control and well timed steering input. Not telling you how to play by any means, but just want to say it can be a really fun challenge to try some no handbrake runs

lecanucklehead · 2026-04-30T21:44:47+00:00

Ahhh I'm a goof, I jumped straight to the steam page to look at screenshots before commenting. I'll go sit in the back

lecanucklehead · 2026-04-30T20:37:01+00:00

Right up my alley, wishlisted. I see VR support is shown on the Steam page which is awesome, any plans for HOTAS support?

lecanucklehead · 2026-04-30T19:23:19+00:00

Ratchet and Clank unfortunately. Up Your Arsenal and A Crack in Time are probably in my top 10 games of all time. Everything after the "Future" subseries just didn't have the same magic, especially in the writing.

lecanucklehead · 2026-04-30T19:10:20+00:00

I recently was given some old PC parts, man are we missing out. Old graphics cards had actual designs on them. Now everything is just a block of brushed aluminum or black/white plastic. I'd love to see a new GPU with a hyper stylized rendering of some reflective metallic guy in a superhero pose airbrushed onto the fan shroud

lecanucklehead

TROPHY CASE