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I actually do like it a little more than the previous theme. I think the previous theme, although decent, felt a little outdated.

yeah... this one is growing me.   The last one was the standard SMF theme.  It was a little outdated... however works well.   Unless you mean the last theme that we were using before the issues hit.  That one did feel a bit outdated as well and had a few formatting issues.

I'd like to find one that's better than a little better though.  I am thinking we will start here and start to grow as this theme works 100% - no tertiary issues right now.

I like all that stuff on that side bar.

This theme is growing on me more for sure... I've been working with several items today.  I plan to keep moving forward on a few pieces.

I may play around with different colors as well as other features.

@retro junkie - not that I'm aware of!  I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

@retro junkie - it's not in the standard settings. Your settings look just like mine. Once you have a WiFi enabled game, you are able to access these settings. The settings are directly IN Tetris DS. But once set, it appears to be system wide. There are a few other WiFi enabled games as well.

Side bar added - testing that as well... please continue to use and let me know your thoughts

Happy 4th of July - 2025!  I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday weekend.

Stop by, say hi... and Post up a bit!  We would love to hear from you!

@CreepinDeth --> Thank you for your feedback!  If you had to vote, would you vote to keep it for another week or revert to the old theme?   I'm looking for another theme as I'm not sure we will be able to return to the older theme unless it's updated... OR if I have the time to create something like it from scratch, OR create something newer from scratch

thanks guys!

Its been so long I cant remember what games I got!

LOL... I already apologized for the late Happy Birthday.  Don't rub it in 

@Mai Valentine  --> you were right.  Stock was not hard to find.  I went 2 for 2 in finding Switch 2's at 2 different stores.  Our local Best Buy received something like 80 of them last Wednesday.  I ended up purchasing a Switch 2. 

It probably helps that there are no games other than Mario Kart that I want to play... and this might be the same as others as well.  Donkey Kong is coming pretty soon... so that will be a welcomed edition... but for $70...   

The other part I'm having somewhat of an issues with is the upgrade packs to make games "better playable" on the Switch 2. I will create a separate topic on this.

The system looks cool. Transferring is pretty easy.  The screen looks really good, HDR where HDR works!  Part of me still wants to return mine LOL    but the other part... wants to break it out and run.

So... Who has one?  Who is getting one or will get one in the near future?  What are your thoughts on the Switch 2?  It's not THAT hard to get them if you want one.   Post it up!

It's a waste of plastic first off. If the data is going to be entirely dependent on servers, then don't put out a "physical" version. Second, it's a waste of storage space. The cart having all of the data means I don't have to eat up my internal SSD

@CreepinDeth --> YES AND YES!!  You can sell the Game Key Cards still? I guess maybe I misunderstood that part, I didn't think they were transferrable.  If that's the case, well... there are only 3 strikes against this, not more. 

Express cards are pretty cool!  And you're right... they're pretty expensive right now.  They will drop in price, but it will take awhile. Look how long it took the old 1TB cards for the old Nintendo Switch to drop.    We will see though.  There is a Lexar 1TB Express SD card for $183.  That's still pretty salty.

The "original DS" did not have any feature that would enable it to be connected to the internet. Neither did the DS Lite. The DSi was the first model that featured internet access. Now they did have the ability to connect with another DS in the same area for gameplay, or using the picochat.

Yes - to connect the internet.  HOWEVER, prepare to have your mind blown @retro junkie
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This is my original Nintendo DS    I used to play Tetris DS online!  You can see that I cannot connect right now... the servers are down.  I never took the time to set up the WiFi to my new Wifi because of this.

Mind Blown?!  Limitation... it was WEP Wifi.  Also, these settings are accessible IN THE GAME. I could not find these settings outside the game, however, they are system wide settings once set.

ould be that your router is just too modern. I remember my PSP wouldn't connect unless I downgraded the password security to one of the older, less secure types. My current router doesn't support this anymore.

@CreepinDeth  --> That generally was the older WEP that you needed.   What you can do... you can chain an older wep router to your more secure setup via LAN cable... and just feed your WEP devices that way.  I wouldn't keep it on if you're in a populated area.  However, that's how I used to do things.  I believe it's still achievable these days.

@retro junkie  - I have a few thoughts.  How are the contacts on the system?  Could it be a corrosion issue or something else with the physical cart? Maybe it's a physical damage of some sort.

Outside that, I'm not sure it would be an update issue.  I guess it could be, but the only way to know is to try to update your 3DS and to see if it works.

What are you thinking of for 1st steps?  If it's a cheap game, you might be able to buy a 2nd one in and see if there is an issue with that one as well.  That would or should fail if it was an update scenario (though not 100% fallible).

BTW - My original DS did play online... I played Tetris online with it... and it was a lot of fun.

Whew... Sniper Elite 4 took a long time.  @targetrasp and I chipped away at it for... 6 or 7 years, I Think.  This game has several trophies that 0.1-0.3% of people have accomplished.  It took replay after replay... grind after grind, but we both finally 100% platinum trophied the game a short time ago.

Sniper Elite 4 was made really well... with many well executed mechanics.  There were some buggy and frustrating aspects, however, it played really well.

For me, this was one of those impossible to platinum games due to the time investment.  However, it is 100% done and complete!   Woot woot 

I believe this game is platinum trophy number 16 for me.   

How do you pay with your palm?

@retro junkie  --> LATE REPLY!!  But... this is how it's done:
https://amazonone.aws.com

Not sure how widely adopted this service REALLY is... but it looks like it is a thing

Outside the new theme, I upgraded the forums to a new version! If you run into any issues, please let me know so I may fix.  I appreciate your help!

[UPDATE]

For the next 4-7 days... or unless it gets annoying.  It has light and dark features (top left by CHICKEN DINNER GAMING COMMUNITY). 

Please let me know what you think.  I DO notice the smiley set doesn't look totally right as you can see the white around the images.  I probably will revert to the procurve theme again until I find something "right."

Thoughts? Comments? Post it up!

UPDATE - added sidebar

At some point super early this year, I ended up receiving and using a MacBook Pro 2024... and have been using it as my daily driver since January.  I was asked to write a bit of a review by @CreepinDeth and @retro junkie .  I can now say that I can use Windows, Linux AND MacBook (MacOS) as my daily driver without issues.

It has the Apply M4 chip - 10 Cores CPU and GPU (4 performance, 6 efficiency), 16GB memory, and 512 SSD.  I am running MacOS... no changes.

It really runs many processes well.  I have at least 4-5 Safari windows open with 15 (at least) tabs each and several applications.  If I run something like Starcraft 2 or a game on top of the processes while on Discord, the system still works but chugs a little bit.

Overall... it handles everything well and the Apple apps (Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Notes, TextEdit..etc) are good enough to get by with most everything you need to do except some power applications.  You can do resumes and about everything else you need to do on the standard day... within good reason.

Gaming - I haven't done a ton of gaming, but it the MacBook handles games like StarCraft, Starcraft 2, Diablo 2 and Diablo 3.  Diablo 4, However, is still not Mac compatible.

Where the MacBook really shines... is audio.  The MacBook has amazing sound for a Laptop.  I was truly blown away.  Nothing will beat awesome studio monitors or other dedicated sound systems, but the audio on the MacBook is absolutely better than all other Laptops I've heard (not saying others do not exist out there).

Most of my automation, infrastructure and testing utilities are setup and works as standard... Such as AWS Cli, VS Code, Amazon Q, Terraform, GitHub and many other integrations I use for my certifications and projects (and keeping up on cloud/automation skills).

Peripherals are a little odd... but I'm working through that.  Such as, I have a decent Dell docking station with thunderbolt.. and the Logitech peripherals do not work exactly like the Native Keyboard and trackpad.  I didn't install software and am still working through some of those things.

If you have questions, please let me know.  Thoughts... comments, Post it up!

It's deep in the back log at this point.

LOL come on @targetrasp ... that's my statement. Do it... Do it naoow!

I get digital games... I do.  There is a time and place for them... and many find them convenient.  I like physical games for many reasons, for which you can see in many other topics on Chicken Dinner Gaming

However, the cases for sale with no games inside and only codes?!  Unacceptable!  The case state "Game Key Card Inside."  There is no game card inside... just in case you didn't get that lol.  How annoying is this?!

I know @SpartanEvolved has comments on this one!

Thoughts?  Comments?  Post it up!

Just a heads up... Switch 2 designator has been added to the Nintendo section:

https://www.chickendinnergaming.com/forum/index.php/board,9.0.html

Time for new Switch 2 Posts!  Let's GOOOOO

We are now in 2025... it's been 2 years since Google Stadia died and other cloud gaming platforms rolled up.  I believe we have the following left:

Xbox Cloud, Amazon Luna, Playstation Plus Premium and Nvidia Gforce Now.  To date, I have not tried any of these platforms.  I was going to try Amazon Luna, but was distracted with a massive gaming backlog (massive is an understatement) and ... life.

Where are you at?  Are you playing any of these services?  Any other services I didn't list that you are enjoying?  Post it up!

The actor who plays Red Guardian also escaped from Russian Prison in the Stranger Things series. It seems to be a trend with that actor! 

LOL... you know... I didn't think about that @Grindspine!  Way to tie that together.   You are 100% right... I completely forgot about that.  It's been awhile since we watched Stranger Things.  ROFL... that's hilarious.   

You know... I get some of that @retro junkie .  For me, I feel they brought out the Red Hulk at the right now.  It really looked like Ross was trying to change... in fact, that part was true. It was cool to see that and that he was trying to be better (considering his reputation before).  That's part of why Red Hulk was the climax of the movie... Ross was containing it until someone finally tipped him over the edge.  That alone was pretty crazy considering he was being turned into a rage monster Hulk.  The Incredible Hulk would never have been able to contain like that.

I ended up seeing it twice.  I thought it was a pretty good view.  It wasn't perfect, but overall, they did a pretty good job with this movie.  I get some of the points you mention, and while not perfect, it was a pretty solid entry into the Marvel films.

So... lately I have been extremely pre-occupied with certain life events that happened this year.  So... some of my birthday messages are coming late.  I swear I sent this... but ... I looked and I DID NOT.

Without Further... anything else lol... HAPPY BIRTHDAY @targetrasp   I hope you ENJOYED your digital cake. 

If you received the gift of gaming, you need to post it up... even a happy "birthday to me" type gift. 

We started watching Psych a bit again... watched movie 1 of Psych (again) as well ;lol. 

He kept saying "unLinked". Did he lose his Zelda hero character? 

LOL booo @Grindspine

I don't know, but what got me was that he immediately did this so close to when he purchased the unit.

@retro junkie -- man... that SUCKS lol... I didn't watch his follow up video, but I take it that it was borked so bad that he couldn't wipe and get it working  Man... this is insane lol. 

I've had the Switch 2 now since the 10th. Didn't open it for a week, lol. Finally booted up Mario Kart last weekend and it was fun. It's Mario Kart, so not much new other than prettier tracks and being able to drive around the world. That part is actually really cool.

@CreepinDeth -- thank you for the review ... I'd love to get one of these in the next couple months.  So far, I haven't been able to score any of them... but due to some circumstances right now, I haven't really been trying hard either.  Hoping the LG C1 OLED will be good enough of HDR.  It is for everything else right now.  I haven't researched it yet

There have been recent increases in game prices.  IE many Nintendo, Xbox and Playstation games are jumping to $79.99.  Not all manufacturers are following this structure... IE Sega.   However, certain games (Such as Switch 2 games) can or will charge for upgrades from the Switch 1 games to make them Switch 2 compatible.

What are your thoughts on the whole pricing strategy at this time?

I grew up on NES and Super NES games... where the game prices started getting VERY high.  Adjusted for inflation, many of the company arguments revolve around "it's cheaper than it was in the 90's... so it's time for an increase."   Do you agree with these sentiments?  I remember those days and the amount of games per person were MUCH less.  Plus, they had some value to the resale if they needed to sell a game.  Not digging on digital distribution, but there is 0 recoup value on digital distribution games... a big difference between the on-going analyses in price differentials.

What are your thoughts?  Post it up!

@retro junkie --> Dude... It has been forever since I've been to a peddler's mall.  There was one in town here I went to as a kid.  There were also Baseball card shows ... some at local fire stations... these are things kids and others just don't experience anymore.  A world that has gone by.

I remember the old "Play it loud" tagline... but I don't remember this Game Boy.  I had the original Game Boy, and I was able to see the screen pretty ok in most scenarios.  Although, I've heard of others not having the exact same experience I had.

This is a cool looking Game Boy... I just don't remember the case you show.  Awesome mod!  The screen looks great!  I wish I had the time to do this stuff.  Work and work activities consume... and it's awesome to see you doing projects like this.   Another great post, Retro!

@Mai Valentine - That's pretty crazy! I can't believe they aren't flying faster off the shelves.

I've been seeing many restock notices, but haven't seen any local stock.  I've called around a few places... and keep getting the same answer "heh... nope." 

Have you witnessed many restocks?

@Mai Valentine nothing like a Happy Birthday - a bit late.  Sorry for the late Birthday message!  Never-the-less, Happy Birthday!

If you received the gift of gaming, please post up your spoils!