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I watched this a couple of weeks ago. I give it a 7/10.

Overall it was a decent Superman movie. I do like David Corenswet as Superman and I think he fits the role better than Henry Canvill. I also liked Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane. I thought the chemistry was believable. I also liked the fact that other characters were already known in this universe. Lex Luthor was fine. I think Michael Rosenbaum from Smallville still has the best take of Lex this century.


However, there were definitely things I didn't like. Not a big fan of a lot of the dialogue. It felt like a Marvel movie in terms of the jokes. It was just too much sometimes. I'm starting to wonder if Gunn is the main reason for how Marvel films are written. The more I think about it, the more I realize there is definitely a tone shift from movies before Guardians of the Galaxy to everything else after. Even though Joss Whedon had a similar writing style in the first Avengers, Gunn might've established it more with his films. Some of it was even predictable, like when

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Lois and Mr. Terrific stood in front of the garage door. Immediately knew that it was going to open slow. It was so obvious.

Krypto was cool but I do think they inserted him into too many scenes. Some worked and some definitely didn't. For example,

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was not a fan of how he got involved in the final scene with Lex Luthor. Felt way too campy.

There's probably other stuff I can nitpick but I think I'll leave it there for now.

I've only done GamePass and that's only because I haven't had to pay for it for the last 4 years. I've been doing the Microsoft Rewards thing where I can redeem the points for monthly subscriptions. However, I think I'm done with it. My GamePass is through the end of January and I think that's enough for me. Don't feel like going through their Rewards system anymore.

In general though, game subscriptions are only as good as the price and for me they're all too expensive.

I forgot that Rocky Linux is enterprise level. For some reason I thought it was like Fedora. I'll look into it. I'm really used to debian/ubuntu distros, so my familiarity might make me lean towards ubuntu server, but I'll check out Rocky Linux. It's not happening anytime soon so I have time to research and install it on a spare PC to check it out.

Installing stuff... especially Mac and Linux, I'm using the command line and other utilities a lot.  I'm just used to it from an enterprise perspective.  I got away from that a bit with the MacBook Pro... but with Linux, it's just too easy and convenient.  The same goes for Windows... once you powershell and cli... you continue to do a lot that way (not necessarily install software though).

I think once I get my own personal Home Lab/Home Server going, I'll be using the CLI mostly. I think I'm going to use Ubuntu Server for it. Going to have to read up on it and get some practice in.

I don't really use the CLI unless I absolutely have to. I have no qualms with CLI. I just prefer installing stuff from the app store (preferably FlatPacks.) I think if Linux is going to be a true alternative to Windows, then it needs to be able to handle apps and general functionality with the desktop environment. That's just my personal opinion.

As for GNOME, I don't like that the app launcher has this icon on the top left of the screen to bring up the apps. It's clear that they want you to use the Super Key on your keyboard. I also don't like that it's not a traditional desktop. Feels more like a plain Window Manager instead. It's too simple of a desktop for me I guess. It also seems like they're trying to have a MacOS aesthetic. Which is cool I guess but since the functionality differs quite a bit, feels off.

I also already like KDE. It's the default DE for Steam Deck and I liked it out of the box. KDE seems to be making their own distro which I'm kind of interested in. I'll give Fedora with KDE a proper try and I'll let you know what I think.

Necrobump! 

I've started to slowly move away from Windows at this point. I have converted another machine to Zorin OS. This machine was only for ripping CDs and playing Spotify/Youtube music, so there's really no reason why I would keep Windows on it. Especially since it's losing support in October. This PC is perfectly fine and shouldn't be e-wasted just because it can't run the latest Windows OS.

I do still have machines with Windows. I'm keeping a laptop around with it in case I absolutely need it, plus my work PC and Gaming PC . Which I will most likely move away from there as well. Planning on picking up an AMD 9060XT/16GB and then running Bazzite on it for gaming. If there are any older titles that don't work with Linux then I might just keep an old machine running Windows for those. Not sure yet.

First on the list is to install Fedora and then give it a proper test drive to see if I like it.

I tried Fedora 41 and although seemed solid, was not a fan of pure, vanilla GNOME desktop. It seemed to get in my way more than it helped. I guess I'm just used to classic desktops with an app launcher on the bottom left. Might try the KDE version next.

I'm not really in the apple ecosystem, so a lot of those features don't really do much for me. I'm also thinking about getting one of the latest Mac Minis instead of a Macbook Pro. The only thing I don't like is that you aren't really supposed to upgrade the internal components so you have to jump through some hoops to update some of them.

@BLUEVOODU Do you prefer doing your work on a MB Pro vs. the other machines you've used?

Well, those games were not entirely bullet-proof either. Yes, the amount of games that required an update was very small but the process for that was to no longer produce the original ROM once they ran out and then start selling the version that has the fix in it. If you had a game with a blocker that prevented you from continuing the game, you had to call customer service in order to send your cart for the one with a fix. Silent revisions were a thing and some people scour for certain carts because of that.

There's also the fact that the older the hardware, the less likely it works. Capacitors explode, pins corrode or have difficulty making contact, ports die due to wear & tear, internal batteries leak.

I don't mean to be a doomer, but nothing lasts forever and I hope we're able to preserve all of this art in some way.

The thing is, these games shouldn't need an update, should it?

Well, that's up to the developer. Even if a game seems perfectly fine, there still could be an update the developers want you to have. Sometimes the updates don't specifically alter gameplay. Could be any number of reasons why the update was created and pushed out. That's not specific to Nintendo platforms either. We're going to start seeing more of this now that the XBox 360, PS3 and Wii are entering "Retro" status.

Do you have an OS preference now that you're about 8 months in?

I would like to get a Macbook pro next time but I feel that it would be underused since I also have a decent desktop. The Air is doing just fine for me.

@CreepinDeth evidently there was something different in the game's manufacturing that changed. Probably later copies included something in the game that initiated the update? Maybe earlier copies had a broken place in the code?

The way I could see that happening is if the wrong product code was used. However, not sure how that could happen with Nintendo checking and approving the games. Also, I don't think the patch would work on the broken copy if that were the case. If it did, then the broken copy would have no problem initiating the download of the patch.

Another reason why digital backups are necessary. Servers that provide patches are not going to be around forever and in these cases leaving games completely unplayable.

So this fairly big youtube channel, JRPG Life, might have discovered the problem with Puzzle & Dragons Mario Edition.

They purchased a few loose copies. Some of them apparently ended up downloading an update. Once that happened, their original copy worked.

Sounds like there might be a patch that's required but not all copies initiate the download? That is pretty weird as well but seems like that's what's happening.

It's a good video. The link below should start at the point where they start loading up P&D. The video is a decent watch as well.

Timestamp is 12:50 if the link doesn't work.

I'm thinking of putting a CDG meet up every week on the calendar. 

We used to do this on our previous format a long ago.

We did?!

I genuinely don't remember. I'd do it but would depend on when.

I think I know what it is.

I have some extra extensions on my browser. It blocks certain things from rendering for extra security. Might whitelist this site.

Maybe... 

I've seen that picture before and I don't agree that Nintendo fits in regular generations anymore starting with the Switch.

@Grindspine Whatever it is you posted, I can't see it. Just a blank post on my end.

Finally watched this a few weeks ago. It was okay. I give it 6/10. There were some good ideas here and there but seemed like it was just a way to introduce...

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adamantium

into the MCU. Don't know if this was the right movie for that. And as much as I like Giancarlo Esposito, he feels shoehorned in.

People are now getting banned for inserting used games? This is not the only place that I have read this, there are also YouTube videos.


https://www.reddit.com/r/Switch/comments/1lut61s/switch_2_users_be_careful_buying_used_switch_1/?embed_host_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgamerant.com%2Fswitch-2-ban-used-games-why%2F

Last I heard this might not be true. A lot of the stories seem to be repeats of the original, just posted on other sites.

If Nintendo truly has this capability, I don't think they would have waited until now to start banning consoles. People have been dumping their carts for years. This would've been done a long time ago and we would've heard more stories.

I think some people aren't telling the full story.

Nintendo still sucks though for how they're handling "piracy."

@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.

That's a cool workaround but I would need the older WEP router, which I no longer have. It's okay though, no reason to connect those devices online anymore.

@CreepinDeth just purchased this game last week I do not know the history of the game.

It's possible the game sat around not being played by the original owner and then probably sat around some more until you bought it. Not sure if you can fix it. I would recommend returning it if the return policy is still in effect.

@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

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

How long has it been since it's been played? Did the cart work for a while and now has stopped working while it's been in your possession?

Something that has been coming up lately on the internet is that there is now a "best practice" to boot all of your carts at least once every 5 years or so to keep them from corrupting. Just like computer SSDs, they need to be powered with electrical current in order to help prevent that. If they are not powered for years then they can corrupt.

Not sure if this might be your case, but the older the NAND that hasn't been played much, the more likely you would encounter this.

None of my DS consoles can connect to the internet anymore. Not sure why.

Could 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.

Nintendo is anti consumer and gamers really need to boycott them. That plus the USB C encryption and bricking consoles remotely...

Unfortunately they won't. Gamers are notorious for caving in. Now, for the record, I do have one. I would prefer I didn't but it is what it is.

As for Game Key Cards, in general the only difference in terms of functionality, it's not much different than a cart that has all of the data on the ROM. You need the cart to play the game. There's no going around that whether it's a key card or full card. If you lose or sell either one, you won't be able to play it anymore. It's virtually the same.

Now, that still doesn't excuse the practice. 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 or one of those new Micro SD Express cards that are a lot more expensive than regular Micro SD cards (which wears down eventually based on the amount of writes you put on it.) If I'm already paying $70 or $80 for a game, give me all of the friggin data.

Not bad, I think. Some of the headers and whatnot seem to dominate the space though. Like for example above where the Home/Search/Calendar/Members buttons are. They seem a little big.

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.

The HDR is as convoluted as a bunch of people have said. To get good, accurate HDR you need a TV that can do HGIG Dynamic Tone Mapping. Which not many LCD TVs do. It's mainly an OLED feature from what I've seen. I would've thought that a company like Nintendo would've actually gone and done this the right way but seems like they just slapped it on to have a bullet point on the box. (This only affects docked mode on a TV.)

Overall though I do like the feel of the console itself. It feels good in the hand in terms of texture and the size of the screen is nice for someone with not so great eyes like myself.

I'm personally stoked for this movie. I've been coming around to it. It's not because it's a huge cast and they got the Russo Bros. back, but because this will be a reset for the MCU that is badly needed.

Even if the movie turns out meh, the movies that come after can have a cleaner slate and not have the phase 4 slop dragging them down. Can't wait.

My wife managed to snag a Mario Kart bundle from Target. What a pain the butt that whole experience was.

I will say that it looks like Nintendo is starting to jump on the performance train a little bit. And of course, now that that has happened, prices have jumped.

At this point, it's clear that they want you to go fully digital now. "Physical" carts are mostly just now keys to play the digital version. Reports from Japan are saying nearly all of the 3rd party games are key cards. Not sure how I feel about that. It's great from a reselling stand-point, but it's only temporary. Eventually servers will get shut down.

And then there's tariffs on top of all of this. Going to see how things play out before I start building a library. This might just be a way to play Nintendo games for me and nothing more.

I vote for an undated Master Topic!

Recently finished all of the original Netflix Daredevil show in preparation for Born Again. Season 3 is a solid season and I'm glad I went back to it.

@BLUEVOODU Seems the same. Unless I have manually followed a topic/board or I'm tagged, I don't get alerts.

@CreepinDeth chromebooks updates are based on the year that the laptop was released. Meaning that if it sat on the store shelf for a year before you purchased it, you have lost one year of service. The one that I am using will receive its last update June 2031. They can extend it. I have an old Lenovo, my first chromebook, that was extended until June of this year. It was the laptop in which I learned all about chromebooks. I am not sure about ChromeOS Flex. I am sure it would be totally different than the chromebooks. Just remember the ChromeOS is accessed by your gmail password. Or at least the chromebooks are.

It's interesting that they have the end of date right down to the month. For most software, normally it's just until a certain release version, but the fact that it's June 2031 is very specific (even if it can't be extended.) That's still a good amount of time at least.

@CreepinDeth @BLUEVOODU i am presently using my Macbook Pro mid 2012 to type this. It is running MX Linux based on DEBIAN. I use it daily. I also use my chromebook daily. I have a Mac Mini late 2012 running Sanoma 14.7.4 using Opencore-Patcher on an SSD with 16 gig ram. That is my desktop. I am seriously thinking about switching it over to Linux when the updates run its course on Sanoma. But that is still undecided.

I updated my late 2013 Macbook Pro with Open-core Patcher to 15.4 Sequoia. It's such a nice machine that it seemed wasteful to not update it to something more modern and secure. The M series Macs these days are sooooo nice though. I'm glad I have both.

so... still thinking of Linux as your daily driver like @CreepinDeth ?

Linux has been my daily driver for a few years already. I do have a few Windows machines (my gaming PC and a couple of laptops) due to work but I haven't really needed to make those machines my daily driver. There is the odd thing here and there. For example, just today I had to format a USB stick to NTFS because I wanted to transfer some Xbox screenshots. It's nuts that Microsoft requires NTFS just to move some files around but it's required for the console to see it.

I have been using a MacBook lately as a daily driver.  I should make a topic on this.  TLDR, some life events happened recently... so I'm working with this right now.  I can say, I am able to use Linux, Windows OR MacOS for my daily driver LOL.  Still not 100% on the iPad... if it had visual studio code capabilities (without haven't to do it remotely...), I think the iPad would have a potential to take over some tasks.  I was using the iPad integrated with AWS Cloud9... but they have since decided to kill the service.  I still have access, but it will eventually go away. Therefore, I'm looking for something else.

You should make one. I bought my first Mac in 25 years a couple of weeks ago. Best Buy was clearing out the M2 Macbook Air and I jumped on one. I've started getting into refurbishing laptops and PCs. Would be a cool topic to have.


@retro junkie How long do you have until you no longer get critical updates to ChromeOS? I'm thinking of turning an old, under-powered office PC into a chromebox with ChromeOS Flex.

There are still quite a few people who feel the need to actually touch and see the product they want to buy. The closest Best Buy to me has a good amount of people in it whenever I go to pick something up. People really like to see the TVs first hand as well as appliances. It's just not the place for media much anymore unless it's games. The fact that Best Buy hasn't gone under yet shows that it has enough diversity of gadgets to withstand Amazon. The stores will probably get smaller though as they cut staff but they'll probably use the leftover space for more online order inventory.

As for music, I still try to buy CDs when I can. I have an old computer specifically for ripping and playing back music. I connected a Digital Audio Convertor and headphone amp to it. I put on my fancy headphones and I'm in bliss. 

In the car, I just stream to my dash through bluetooth. My car is old and so is the sound system so no need to have the best audio there.