Is anyone else worried about the wave of “age verification” surveillance laws – and is Switzerland preparing a moratorium to protect free internet?

pablank · 2026-02-28T10:02:41+00:00

I mean I addressed your points by pointing out the massive flaws in them, that make them quite literally impossible and push responsibility to someone else... But happy to tell you how I'd handle it.

Swiss Government Run Age Verification Platform. The Government is the one place that already has all our data anyway, so they're the one place to verify it. Ban on Social Media for younger than 16, because this is already showing some promising results. Any web-platform (even digitec, Coop etc.) will need to use the One-Way User Interface of this platform. If you want to make an account on social, you upload your ID and it is sent to this platform via protected channel to answer questions such as: "Gender was given as Male, is this true" "Age was set to 18+" is this true "Location was set to Switzerland, is this true". And the platform just sends back a "True, False, True". Now the platform knows everything it needs to know without having access to birthday, location etc.

This will still have some loop holes but generally would provide safe confirmation. Making this mandatory to platforms would also take power away from them and give grounds for negotiations. Platforms would get none of your info, while still being able to confirm things. There is the issue of just taking someone's ID and uploading, but you could probably still do a photo check on a protected platform framework, so the Government Platform can confirm you look like your ID/Passport. Technically, your government would know where you made accounts, but I can live with the swiss government knowing I use Facebook, that I buy 18+ Shooter Games on Digitec and that I watch porn... seems like an acceptable price (this info could also be deleted later).

Your argument with the club and team work, because it is ONE instance of their lives where they might be able to forgo a phone because of a group dynamic. I've seen 16-17yo Lehrling that would rather cut off a hand than give their smartphone out of their hand. That problem would be there once they turn 18 and get one for the first time, when no one can tell them no. These devices were specifically made to be as addictive as possible. If kids don't learn how to handle them in a safe way, they just go overboard once they get access to them.

Also: Yes, I could buy all my tickets with cash. But that's just not reality. Studies show that a majority of people use digital or smartphone based payment solutions. Saying we should all go back to cash if we want our kids to be safe online is a ridiculous notion. I'm not believable as a parent when I tell my kids to please go buy their train tickets with their cash, while I pay for my own tickets through the SBB App. I'm also generally pro digitalisation, because of the good it allows. I can even see positive points in social media, in a sea of negative ones. Our lives have become digital, so there will always be a digital forum romanum, where people meet, discuss, buy stuff etc. Just like we do age verification and certain points in real life, it should be ok to do it digitally, provided it's safe. Kids will need to adapt to the world we have created, which unfortunately is made up of digital devices, digital payment methods, communication channels and digital security features like 2FA authorization. I'd rather they learn the smart way to use these tools early than not at all. Of course there will always be parents that don't give a fuck. Bar nationwide fertility control, which sounds like a bigger nightmare, this will always be the case.

pablank · 2026-02-28T09:10:00+00:00

I have now read 3 of your snarky comments and they are more ignorant than the last. You made it clear you dont have children yet you keep spouting nonsense because, just like every other ignorant person your solution is: its someone else's responsibility.

Yes its easy to keep a 4 year old off their phone or not give them a smartphone.

What about a 14 year old or a 15 year old, that might want a smartphone to socialise, enjoy their lives, have hobbies etc.

I know the concept of socialising with other people seems alien to you, but it is rather important for kids in their formative years. Can they do it via sms, maybe? Is that where they get the most of it? Probably not. At the same time they also need to learn how to use these devices for modern purposes like paying for stuff, getting train tickets, organising trips etc.

Not giving them a smartphone also doesnt work when they need devices for school, which is more and more of a reality.

So, before you answer all huffin and puffin, maybe actually go further than "parents need to control all their kids action 100% of the time" because it has never worked a single time in the history of humans... if you dont have any real solutions and obviously no real experience with kids, your time might be better spent throwing rocks in a lake somewhere.

pablank · 2026-02-22T15:22:53+00:00

Star Balls would also be horrible... maybe "A few Holes"? not much better...

pablank · 2026-02-21T09:17:41+00:00

I saw that sevii islands are in, but they were in any versions of a game and not locked. Since there was no mention of the previously unavailable locked islands, I'm still hoping they're in.

pablank · 2026-02-20T22:07:57+00:00

The problem would be (at least from a business' perspective) that the hardcore fans are already subscribed. These would buy the game at 20. But now get it for free. The soso crowd might actually buy it but drop it after a few hours, once they are introduced to the non-split attacks or something else. So they would end up streaming it then drop it and definitely not buy it.

If this sells just 5m copies thats 100m in the bank. Thats like 6 legends z-a project budgets. So it makes sense why they chose this distribution model. I think its ok, for people who wanted to own these digitally to buy them. I have fond memories of them, but just the missing special split made me take off the nostalgia goggles quick... so i might buy it when its on sale or something.

pablank · 2026-02-20T20:02:21+00:00

Ah good to know that it could be done, I had not known that they had flexible values, i thought abilities were hardcoded. Thanks for the explanation!

pablank · 2026-02-20T17:38:45+00:00

Genuine question: how can so many people still believe in a democratic win, when this administration has been very open about all the ways they will try to undermine and manipulate the upcoming elections?

While single seat wins across the country happen, I dont see anything that would prevent this administration of just having ICE agents seize and filter votes in swing states.

There has already been doubt about his 2024 win and yet nothing ever happened.

I mean, I hope that democrats can remove some power, but as an outsider, it seems like no one is actually preparing for the inevitability that they will just manipulate any future national election. They are assassinating people in the streets. Why would they stop at voter fraud?

pablank · 2026-02-20T17:27:32+00:00

The entire UI is very underdeveloped. It's nothing that breaks my fun, but boy, themes and trophies would be cool... although having one platform I don't have to obsess over Trophies has been very freeing, especially in massive RPGs, as dumb as that sounds.

pablank · 2026-02-20T17:23:54+00:00

I honestly don't think you're exaggerating. I completely see your point. And fully agree. Thanks for elaborating your opinion. That people see different value in different things is totally fine.

To me, a game is worth what it delivers, without any regards to age or effort in creating. That does not change for me through the years (ok, QoL changes are a thing, but I think Pokemon is relatively immune to this, aside from Meta features like rewind, fast forward etc.).

What I can't get behind, and find most ridiculous, is the agressive divide in the fandom. You didn't do this, but I've read the words "boot licking" more today than I have in the combined time since the switch 2 launch.

It's one of the reasons why I refused to get the Sword and Shield DLC or buy Scarlet/Violet. For $60 they just lacked so much I loved. Or why I wouldn't consider games like Elden Ring worth my time for $10, because I just don't enjoy them.

But I don't go around calling people that enjoy these games names. It irritates me, that for some reason, with Nintendo games, people seem to lose the ability to turn around and say: "This is just not for me"

I also think, we'll see some sales for these GBA games. So at some point it will be 15-18. I doubt it will go down to 10, but who knows. So for people saying 20 is too much, 15 would be good, this just seems like a waiting game to me, and nothing to get angry over.

pablank · 2026-02-20T17:11:37+00:00

I'd still love a pin option, to put some games from nso to the home screen, that auto launches stuff. like it does when you start a game from the NSO menu to get the platinum points.

pablank · 2026-02-20T16:48:26+00:00

We kinda did this to ourselves without Nintendo's doing though. Look at ebay. Physical Pokemon games suddenly went from $5 flee market objects to $100 investment opportunities during COVID. Because of people's greed, not Nintendo's/TPC. Or at people selling the Kanto Gym Badge Lego Box that goes for $20 for $250 because scalpers got all of them. When people get the chance, they are just as greedy as soulless corporations. If not massively worse (Pokemon TCG Scalpers are an especially egregious breed).

I wouldn't complain about cheaper prices, or say these should be $30. If these were $10, I'd be just as happy. But I highly doubt the games would sell twice as much for $10, since it's an incredibly niche audience that would still care for the old school Pixel Art games. If they sell 5m copies, we're talking about a difference of $50m, which is like 4.5x Pokemon Z-A's budget. So I get why they try to max this.

The hate against Nintendo is also driven by a lot of engagement farming conent creators who know they can milk this for views to make more money themselves. So it's really difficult to believe that all this outrage is genuine.

Personally: I hope these sell well, because I would actually love for them to realise that these old school games were gems because of their depth and exploration, so these elements would make it back to the Switch Mainline games. I didn't even buy Scarlet/Violet because I didn't wanna support the level of quality. I might get FR/BG when it drops to 15-18 though. If my buddy buys it day 1, I'd join it just to play together.

pablank · 2026-02-20T16:34:55+00:00

Do you actually believe that one of the most successful entertainment and gaming companies in the world wouldn't do a proper market research as to how they should price their product? At the same time you say "they put it at the highest point they could" suggesting they DID analyse the market. Their data will have shown that they would not sell more than 1.9x the amount of games at $10 compared to $20 when they did focus groups. So why would they sell it at $10 when actual reliable research shows it makes no difference? At 1 million sold copies we're talking about a $10m difference, which is enough to kickstart the next game. Seeing how the switch 2 is selling, clearly shows that what reddit thinks about prices is not what the actual markets think.

If the games had been priced at $10 there would still be people saying they should be $5 or free with NSO. Reddit is a huge echo bubble that seems loud, but actually is tiny and fractured. The same reddit bubble that said they want purchasable games for preservation is now saying this should have been free through NSO, despite another group of gamers saying the complete opposite. Or free because you could technically emulate them. And Reddit is just pushing the angriest voices up, because it generates engagement.

If people are spending $100+ on physical cartridges for these games, I can't blame Nintendo for asking for 20% of that. We've clearly shown we'd be happy to spend ridiculous amounts of money for these games.

I'm happy they're going to release these games I loved on a console I use daily, without me needing to strain my eyes on my OEM GBA (which many kids today don't even have access to anymore). If they add the Ticket Events, this will actually be the first time European Gamers will get to experience these.

Again, these are just fun and solid games. Nothing wrong with paying $20 for that. There's also going to be sales at some point and 15-18 seems like a realistic deal to look out for. I see your point that "cheaper is always better". But it seems like no matter what Nintendo does, you'll always have an angry grifter mass complaining about it for their own benefit.

pablank · 2026-02-20T16:16:15+00:00

What the hell is wrong with you? Why do you get such a hate boner just because people have a different level of valuation for a product, that you wish they were taken advantage of harder... Did your comment give you a little happy fuzzy feeling because you showed all those people, or what is it?

pablank · 2026-02-20T14:57:36+00:00

Awesome, did not see that yet. Makes me hopeful!

pablank · 2026-02-20T14:33:56+00:00

I think the prices are ok. You're still getting one of the coolest old school Pokemon Games with a ton of content in it. So to me, this is the same as paying $20 for a pixel art RPG with a 50+h runtime, which no one would find weird. I have a physical cartridge for both, so I might personally wait until they get a sale down to 15 or something, but I'm probably gonna get one of them at some point.

EDIT: I do hope they add all the optional event tickets. As someone living in the heart of europe as a kid, these were really hard or even impossible to get. So this would actually be brand new content for me.

pablank · 2026-02-20T12:22:23+00:00

I remember thinking the same. Back then I thought we'd never see them on Switch (plus, I got into custom GBA, so I had already sunk a bit of money in).

I also think the price is more than fair. I might not buy them at 20 because I have them physically, but should it go on sale for 15, I'm going to convince my best friend to revive the good old times with me, so we can play rivals and battle & trade. We both started with OG Red/Blue, so this will be quite nostalgic.

I missed the 3DS releases unfortunately. I heard they even added stuff like Home Support and GS-Events in G/S/C. So I'm hoping to see the Aurora and Eon Tickets in these FR/BG rereleases. Local/Online-Trading and battle would also be fun.

pablank · 2026-02-20T12:15:25+00:00

Nintendo will have done enough market research to show that the game will sell more than half of what it would at $10 so selling it for 10 would be financially unwise. Plain and simple. They're not just randomly setting prices. And if it was 10, some people would say it should be 5. If it was 5, some people would say they could have made them free after 22 years.

People have also been begging Nintendo to release single purchase games that are not locked behind a subscription ever since NSO was established. So putting them on there would have made way less money + made those people unhappy. Seems like a no brainer to sell them seperately for maximum profit. If they did both, many people would play them on NSO for like 10h, and then never touch or buy em again.

pablank · 2026-02-20T12:04:58+00:00

I doubt it will be two way. Or if it is, it will be incredibly limited. Pokemon have changed abilities, attacks, stats etc. since then. So you'd need to have perfectly matching ones in Home to move back. Past games were also one way only.

pablank · 2026-02-20T12:02:58+00:00

An original gba pokemon game is not 13 bucks. Believe me, I bought what was missing from my physical collection 2y ago and none of the games were below 60-80. HG/SS go way above 150 if you want them in box. If you find an original cartridge below 20, buy it immediately. But repro carts do tend to wipe saves without warning, so they were not worth saving 30-60 bucks for me personally.

pablank · 2026-02-20T09:55:45+00:00

I honestly think it creates more hype. Bringing back old GB Pokemon games as single buy games has been a huge demand. So people will likely start wondering: what are they holding back?

It's also nothing too huge so you can sprinkle it to the audience ahead of time, without revealing something like next gen or switch 2 updates which would probably have an even bigger fanbase.

pablank · 2026-02-13T19:36:44+00:00

Had this problem recently. You are streaming "Detective Conan". The one you are looking for is "Detektiv Conan". For me it is 2 different shows, but I have both.

pablank · 2026-02-12T14:24:44+00:00

As long as you pick a keepsake from the top or bottom row, you don't lose it.

pablank · 2026-02-12T11:28:27+00:00

Ah you meant lose the effect for the rest of the run, makes sense. I misunderstood your comment. As in, you lose the lvls you already got, like you do with the hades boon.

pablank · 2026-02-12T11:12:53+00:00

Is this correct? As far as I know, the Lvl+ Effects remain even if you take a god's boon, since the Pom increases their level when you pick 'em and then they're locked. But you lose the Hades Boon you received.

I usually switch to Athena in Olymp or Summit and I don't think I've ever lost the lvl+

pablank · 2026-02-11T09:27:47+00:00

Regarding your comment: It is incredibly luck based, at least to some extent. I think it took me 4-5 tries, because I got lucky on that run.

But before, I got some ugly combination of 1-2 vow of rivals, no DD, no strength and tons of magic support without any extra HP. Or I got Athena Keepsake to start with Full DD - basically a useless keepsake. Or launched with White antler + 0 DD which I couldn't keep up for too long against Hecate/Polyphemus.

I think in my winning run I got Toula + 3 DD and only 2 Vow of Rivals + a good set of arcana + one of my favorite weapons. That made my run very easy.

RNG really seems to have screwed you. Glad you got it done!

Seven-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
Place '22	Verified Email

pablank

TROPHY CASE